African American Mothers Day

Ruby Cameron-Coleman on her 83rd birthday 2010



Mothers are iconic in African-American culture because it ain’t easy being a black women trying to get an education (if you can), hold down a job and raise up children in this culture. The deck is stacked against black moms, statistically speaking, and yet most black people can tell you at least one story with tears in their eyes about their momma makin’ a way outta no way. Sacrificing, scrimping, saving — performing miracles on a regular basis, all too often on their own. Being the child of a black mother in America gives you a front row seat to some of the worst discrimination America has to offer a segment of her citizens. Black moms are stereotyped as lazy welfare queens yet work harder for longer for less money than most. Today is the day African-Americans come together to appreciate those whom society mostly under-appreciates.

I would like to take a moment to show apprecation to my wonderful mom. My mom is now 83 years old and I think the Lord God she is still here with us. Below is poem I wrote for her many years ago.

A MOM LIKE YOU

A MOM LIKE YOU

IS  A DREAM COME TRUE

WHAT WOULD WE HAVE DONE WITHOUT YOU?

A MOM LIKE YOU WHO WAS AND IS ALWAYS THERE

AND ALWAYS WILLING TO SHARE

HOW DID YOU MANAGE YEAR AFTER YEAR

TO GIVE US SUCH TENDER, GENTLE

AND LOVING CARE?

A MOM LIKE YOU WHO AROSED EACH MORNING BEFORE DAWN

MOVING AROUND IN THE KITCHEN WITH THE SPIRIT

OF A GENTLE FAWN

HOW DID YOU COOK ALL THOSE MEALS

AND MADE SURE ALL OUR WOUNDS WERE HEALED?

A MOM LIKE YOU WHO MADE SURE WE ATTENDED

CHURCH ALWAYS IN OUR SUNDAY BEST

ON THIS DAY YOU DID NOT REST

HOW DID YOU ENJOY THE SERVICE

WHEN WE ACTED UP, YOU DID NOT

SEEM AT ALL NERVOUS?

A MOM LIKE YOU I WILL ALWAYS CHERISH

FOR YOU GAVE ME A PURPOSE FOR LIVING

YOU WERE THERE

WHY DID YOU NEVER TIRE OF

GIVING?

Dedicated to my mom the love of my life.

By LELA COLEMAN

Copyright 1998

BY LELA R. COLEMAN