Forward Together worked with dozens of partner organizations in the Strong Family Network to launch its 2019 Mamas Day campaign. The theme—Powers and Flowers—reminds us that while Mamas Day is a day to shower our mamas with love and affection, it can also be a time to recognize their power and tireless efforts to ensure that our families have what they need to thrive.
Whether they be Black Mamas fighting for the maternal health care they need, immigrant mamas fighting to keep their families together, trans mamas holding down chosen families or Indigenous mamas leading their communities—mamas are powerful. Through beautiful art made by and for our communities, Mamas Day celebrates the many mamas around us—and the fight for recognition, rights and resources for our mamas and families.
Mamahood is not one size fits all, but most popular images of mothers exclude mamas based on their sexual orientation, gender, race, income, immigration status and more. Mother’s Day, one of the biggest commercial holidays in the United States, reinforces an image of family that excludes the way most of our families in the U.S. are composed. That’s why we created Mamas Day nine years ago to recognize and celebrate all the ways that mamahood can look.
Mother’s Day was founded on the power of mamas united in outcry against war and violence. This year for Mamas Day, we honor that tradition by celebrating the power of our movement mamas.
Our mamas are powerful. They have always fought tirelessly to reshape the world in the ways our families need, yet they haven’t always gotten the recognition and praise they deserve. Every day, mamas take care of us—they guide us, nurture us and uplift us. One day a year, we shower our mamas with flowers, chocolates and brunches.
We must do more. We must show mamas that we recognize their power; honor their daily fight for our communities to make sure we have the rights, recognitions and resources we need to thrive; and commit to fighting alongside them.
This Mamas Day, we encourage communities to challenge the narrow, single narrative about mamahood and uplift the expansive stories about mamas and our families by sharing this art.
Get involved! Visit MamasDay.org to send a card to the mamas in your life, and follow and share photos and stories of #MamasDay2019 on Facebook, Twitterand Instagram.
