"Happy Father's Day Mom?"

On the heels of father's day a report surfaced that Hallmark offered a happy father's day card specifically designed for African-American single mothers. While I could write a novel with my opinions on this subject, I will spare you and share just a few. Let me state the obvious. African-Americans are not the only people who have single mother's raising children, but if you listen to the media and beauty shop talk, you would believe that black men do absolutely nothing for their children. From my perspective, this has less to do with celebrating single mothers and more to do with the further demeaning of black men in our country. While I will admit “some” have played a role in the negative public perceptions, it is ridiculous to reduce black men’s parental involvement based on the actions of some and create a bogus father’s day card. What if Hallmark presented a mother’s day card with a new born baby on the front with the caption, “Happy Mother’s day mom, Thanks for not aborting me?” The media would be in an uproar and women’s groups would demand its immediate removal because of the negative message being sent on that special day. Yet, there is no mention of this negative message directed at the black family as a whole or the undermining of the black male. Furthermore, just because a woman is a single mother does not mean paternal involvement has ceased and to assume that it has just because two parties are not under the same roof is presumptuous. The truth is this card was uncalled for and professionally tacky.

Brandon J.

http://www.thefrisky.com/post/246-hallmark-made-cards-for-black-single-moms-on-fathers-day/