10 May 2001 Black Network Opposes Attack on Motherhood: School’s Rejection of Mother’s Day Activities Just Part of Larger Attack on Traditional Families

Unlike the administrators of the Rodeph Sholom Day School in New York City, members of the African-American leadership network Project 21 are proud to celebrate Mother’s Day this Sunday. Project 21 members were shocked to learn that the school has suspended Mother’s Day-related activities because of concerns for the feelings of children raised by homosexuals, single parents and grandparents.

Mother’s Day was first celebrated 94 years ago in Grafton, West Virginia, and was proclaimed a national holiday in 1914. Rodeph Sholom Day School director Cindi Sampson, however, told the New York Post that her school was banning activities – like making greeting cards – related to Mother’s Day because “we are a school with many different family make-ups, and we need to recognize the emotional well-being of all our children in the school.”

“The Bible gives the commandment with the promise, ‘honor thy father and thy mother that thy days may be long upon the earth.’ How can scholars suggest that teaching honor and longevity have no educational value to children?” said Project 21 member Alveda King, niece of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

In a recent New Visions Commentary on the importance of motherhood, Project 21 member Rita Thompson wrote, “I am never a ‘second-class’ citizen, but a proud mom who is willing to make personal sacrifices to see our children grow up with good self-esteem and no doubts that their daddy and mommy love them. Why not celebrate that one Sunday out of the year? It’s a wonderful thing to stop and remember that a mother gave us life, forgiveness, courage, taught us right and wrong and loved us without condition and beyond expectation.”

King added: “To suggest that children who live with two females or two males as a family unit will be less traumatized if there is no Mother’s Day or Father’s Day is not honest. The children are confused because the whole set-up is confusing in the first place. The supporters of this initiative are copping our on the futures of the children of America in a big way.”

Project 21 has been a leading voice of the African-American community since 1992. For more information, contact David Almasi at (202) 507-6398 x106 or [email protected], or visit Project 21’s website at http://www.project21.org/P21Index.html.