Will you join me in spreading an essential message this Father’s Day? One that clearly demonstrates phenomenal black fathers do exist.
Do you happen to be married to an amazing man who also happens to be an excellent father? Or were you raised by a dynamic dad who ensured you felt loved, protected and supported? If so, those men deserve some serious acknowledgement and celebrating.
It’s our responsibility to make sure we inform the world just how amazing our men are.
Too often fathers are somehow overlooked, even on Father’s Day. It’s our responsibility to make sure we inform the world just how amazing our men are.
It has been said that we shouldn’t praise a man for doing what he is supposed to do. But we do it all the time when we honor our mothers on Mother’s Day. We highlight the sacrifices they’ve made for our sake and just how much love they’ve poured into us.
Well, as a mom, that is exactly what I am supposed to do for my children. Although, it is my responsibility, it does feel good when it is appreciated and acknowledged. The same is true for our men. There is something about having the people who matter to you most, notice the amount of love, effort, and energy you are putting into your role as parent. Dads, we do notice.
This Father’s Day, let’s celebrate the amazing men in our lives through a few unique ways.
1. Facebook – use your status update to highlight why the dad in your life deserves some praise. Is he pouring wisdom into his children? Is he making sacrifices to ensure his children are provided for? Is he giving with his affection toward his children? If yes, then let’s share that with the world. A positive status update that shares just how wonderful that man is, should do the trick.
I’m always bothered by the posts that say “Happy Father’s Day to all the real dads, who are actually doing what they are suppose to be doing, unlike all those others who ain’t _____.” You can fill in the blank. Those messages are counterproductive. If the goal is to highlight the good fathers, there isn’t a reason to mention the others. It isn’t about them.
2. Instagram – should be bombarded with images of amazing dads and their children. Whether they are newborns or adults, let’s showcase our men with their families. We just don’t see this often enough, and it’s long overdue.
3. Blog Posts – Father’s Day presents the perfect topic for bloggers. We can use our platform to send a very specific message out to the men who matter most. It shouldn’t matter if you have a fashion blog, or one about food, look for a creative way to tie-in the amazing men in your life.
4. Twitter – let’s select a block of time, maybe 4 hours, and schedule a tweet to come out every hour that highlights something you learned from your own father, or a lesson you witnessed your husband teach your children. Can you imagine what Twitter would look like with all of this positive love being shown for black men?
5. Pinterest – can be used to create boards for celebrating Dads. Sharing gift ideas, recipes we learned from dad, or even quotes Daddy shared along the way, are all excellent ways to showcase our men.
6. Youtube – Use your talents of song, dance, or poetry to record a special Father’s Day message. And if you feel comfortable enough, share it on YouTube, so others can experience just how much your Dad means to you.
Great fathers do what they do without really expecting much recognition. At this time, in particular, a positive message of manhood is necessary, especially in our communities. Young black men need to see what it looks like to be responsible, to manage a household and how it feels to be a part of a healthy, loving family. Happy Father’s Day.
BMWK, outside of gift giving, how will you celebrate the Fathers in your lives, this Father’s Day?