Mothers Day

David L. Horne, Ph.D.  |   OW Contributing Columnist
May 16 2013

Practical Politics

May brings us holidays from May 1 (May Day) through Memorial Day, May 27 (originally, Decoration Day), the preeminent celebration of loyalty and courage in America’s Civil War. In between May Day and Memorial Day, there is also Cinco de Mayo and the always adventurous Mother’s Day.

In fact, May hosts more than 25 distinctive political observances, including the annual Malcolm X birthday gala and festival (there’s also another Malcolm X festival held annually in April), held in most major urban areas in America.

May 10 2013

Special luncheon, manicures, makeup and special gifts

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — For the 69th year, Fred Jordan Missions will be honoring hundreds of impoverished moms with a luncheon banquet for them and their children and offering free manicures, makeup and gifts. Dozens of volunteers will give their time and skills to treat struggling mothers from Skid Row and the inner city to a complete beauty makeovers, helping to restore their dignity and self-confidence. 

May 10 2013

It’s the day when we honor Mom

With Mother’s Day included among the world’s most popular and sentimental holidays, nearby flower shops, candy shops, restaurants, women’s apparel stores and popular local attractions are gearing up for the last-minute rush to honor the family matriarch.

The Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve will conduct special Mother’s Day events on May 11 and 12, including wildflower exhibits, videos and an orientation describing the sprawling facility at 15101 Lancaster Road in Lancaster.

May 9 2013

On Sunday, May 6, Kiona Daniels celebrated her Grandmother Ella’s 98th birthday. This weekend, she will join millions across the nation in celebration of Mother’s Day, May 12.

As young as 5 years old, Twan Woods would wake up at night and hear his mother having a seizure. He would know exactly what to do. He would run into her bedroom, hold her, put a cold rag in her mouth, comfort her and keep her from falling until it was over, he recalls.

“My mom, she’s a sick lady. She’s like, handicapped, she’s been like that all her life,” said the 37-year-old who grew up in Ward 8, a crime-ridden section of South East Washington, D.C.

Jeff Mays  |   OW Guest Contributor
May 10 2012

Women formed the backbone of the efforts

Mothers are the most-honored family members around the world for their selflessness and the love they give to their children. That’s why this year, NewsOne will provide a number of daily posts about mothers until Mother’s Day. Enjoy!

Across Black America

Here’s a look at African American people and issues making headlines throughout the country.

California
San Diego college students and volunteers will carry out their sixth home restoration project on Wednesday, July 10 through Sunday, July 14. as part of the “Healing our Heroes’ Homes” (H3) program created by the nonprofit Embrace. The five-day effort will take place at the home of medically retired Marine Corps Capt. Sarah Bettencourt. Bettencourt served with many different units across the country during the Global War on Terrorism and developed a rare neurological disorder in 2008. With a focus to restore the homes of disabled veteran homeowners, H3 falls in line with Embrace’s mission to mobilize college-student volunteers and community members to serve less fortunate members of civilian and veteran communities. The project for the Bettencourts’ home includes kitchen and bathroom remodeling, building ADA-compliant disability ramps, widening their driveway to ADA standards, widening doorways and landscaping.
 
District of Columbia
The 2013 Smithsonian Folklife Festival will showcase its five-year community research project on African American identity with the program “The Will to Adorn: African American Diversity, Style, and Identity.” This multicity collaboration examines the history and culture of the aesthetics of African Americans. The festival will be held June 26-30 and July 3-7, outdoors on the National Mall between Seventh and 14th streets. “Whether we realize it or not, we are all dress artists. The way we compose our look is a creative expression of our ideas about who we are and who we aspire to be,” said Diana N’Diaye, program curator. “This program explores the diversity of African American traditions of style, but also teaches young people the importance of documenting their own culture and saving that information for themselves and future generations.”