According to Wikipedia, Father’s Day is a celebration honoring fathers and celebrating fatherhood, paternal bonds, and the influence of fathers in society. In Catholic Europe, it has been celebrated on March 19 (St. Joseph’s Day) since the Middle Ages. This celebration was brought by the Spanish and Portuguese to Latin America, where March 19 is often still used for it, though many countries in Europe and the Americas have adopted the U.S. date, which is the third Sunday of June. It is celebrated on various days in many parts of the world, most commonly in the months of March or May. It complements similar celebrations honoring family members, such as Mother’s Day, Sibling’s Day and Grandparent’s Day.
It is commercialized to say the least and you will find any Father’s Day gift ideas imaginable in every department store or gift shop. Commercial or not – Father’s Day is personal.
This is a day in which a child recognizes his or her own very existence and why they are here in this world.
Baba, to your children YOU are an important person in their life. You are the best. You have provided for them and you continuously provide what they want and what they need. You have been teaching them “the ways” to be a better person in life and good citizens in the community. You speak to them about how they should be “righteous” and doing good deeds and knowing right from wrong through your life lectures and lessons.
Over the years you have sacrificed; to your children you made sure they had the best education that they could possibly have, because at the end of the day, that is the only inheritance that you can give them.
Asume, you are and will always be an influential person to your children’s life. You have dreamed their dreams. You gave them hope in moments of hopelessness. You have seen them as individuals, loving them as equals, respecting them as people (even when they were little). You gave them an unconditional love and forgiveness when they were unlovable…not seeing their imperfections as permanent flaws but as opportunities to grow and to learn more about themselves.
“Any man can be a father – but it takes a special person to be a Baba.” You have and you will always be the one they will always seek advice from…the one and only enduring pillar of strength. You are the hero of your children; they feel loved because they know that their Baba loves them.
On this important day I want to tell you to have a Siku ya furaha ya baba. Happy Father’s Day. We wish you well.
I will stop here and let your kids tell you the rest…
There are special moments I remember about my Baba growing up…Solo birthday outings to Pizza Hut and a movie…Learning that playing someone in basketball and chess is how you can define a person’s character…Having daily lessons on the piano, recorder, and typing tests…Summer (written) projects on: the five senses, “Eyes on the Prize” movie…Defining your name and who you are…Learning and celebrating Kwanzaa, going to black culture festivals, and outside music concerts…Driving in the car to New York and places in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Delaware to visit family…Kite flying, camping out, hiking, bike riding, sledding, roller skating and ice skating…Going to The Red Caboose, Six Flags, Wildwood, Hershey Park and other amusement parks…Having long discussions about life lessons (they can last up to 3-5 hours), and having daily open phone conversations…Learning about the four R’s: RIGHT place, RIGHT time, RIGHT person, RIGHT protection.
I remember my Baba doing my hair – which meant having one big afro puff ball on top of my head (my Baba can’t braid hair)…ALL of the cars that my Baba drove were 2-door stick shifts. He would tell me, “Learn to drive a stick shift and you can drive anything.” I remember him making us listen to jazz music and taking pictures all of the time, everywhere. I remember getting random emails, texts or letters in the mail. My Baba is always educating, guiding and motivating me to be better or is just taking time out to say three words…I LOVE YOU!
I think I could go on about him giving me wonderful moments and good memories of growing up with my siblings and cousins. I definitely learned to appreciate everything more as I got older and having my own children. My Baba is my rock, my protector, my teacher, my promoter, my listener, my friend. He’s always been there whenever I needed him (and still do to this day) no matter what state he lives in and at any time. He was never to shameful to tell me about his journey in life so that I can learn from his mistakes and always do better. He taught me to go with the “flow of the wind” and “ride the currents of the river” so life can be easier and to trust myself and know how to deal with whatever happens in life.
– I am a “BAKARI” – which means “the promise of good things to come.”
“Lean forward, move forward, stay strong and be happy!”
I love you BABA.
HAPPY BABA DAY! ~ Ayana ~
I’m taking the time to recognize that I’m the man that I am today because of my father. Of course, I remember the memories like spending hours at the park doing things like playing on the jungle gym, playing basketball, and flying kites. There were also things that many kids didn’t do at my age like learn to drive a manual (real yearly in life).
The biggest thing that made me who I am today is the father-son talks. Although mostly one sided, I listened attentively and over time I incorporated it into my life. Baba’s words allowed me to not make the same mistakes that he either observed or made, which in turn, made my life easier. These talks helped me to see the world as a big picture and even though it may seem daunting, he set in my mind that a man needs to be able to handle it.
He taught me to try to appreciate things when I have them, because they aren’t always given. He taught me that how you present yourself to people will have an effect on how they will treat you. He told me that having your own personal standard is important, even if it may conflict with what is written in black and white; and sometimes your beliefs are worth dying over.
He set inside me the value of community vs. corporation, although I’d still rather shop at Walmart and on Amazon, I still think about the “mom and pop” stores when I do. People sometimes observe me at work and compliment my patience in dealing with others. It’s that “teacher” in him that brings out the “teacher” in me and allows me to say the same things three or four different ways or to challenge someone to look at something a different way or from someone else’s point of view.
I am who I am today, because of my father. ~ Jamal ~
I am, because you are…
Persistent – Even if I don’t type fast enough the first time, the second time, the third time or the fourth time…I ALWAYS keep typing, because I CAN do it!
Goal oriented – From the age of 9 years old, every step I took was to become an attorney. That meant work first, play second. That meant I didn’t get to do everything my friends got to do. But it would and has all paid off in the end.
Organized – Every year I always looked forward to back-to-school shopping so I could get all my notebooks, and folders, and dividers, index cards, highlighters, etc….ready! Use a ruler to write in a straight line, fold the paper in half for even columns, practice your penmanship before you write the final draft…cause if you mess it up you have to start all over, and don’t forget your homework in your locker!!
Frugal – I bargain shopped for all my supplies too! I can save more because I spend less.
Spirited – If I have a strong opinion on the topic of discussion, watch out! I might get loud, I’ll probably get animated, and once I get going I’m going to get it ALL out. But don’t worry, I’m not mad, I’m just passionate! Luckily, I only inherited the good stuff! He he
HAPPY FATHER’S DAY ~ Amina ~
HAPPY FATHER’S DAY TO THE GREATEST BABA IN THE WHOLE WORLD!
My baba always took the steps needed to care for a “Broadway Blues” girl like ME! He is the hardest working man I’ve seen in my life while taking care of not only just me, but his 4 kids before me. My baba takes the time to look at everything and making sure that what I do is the right thing. He helps me out with everything from school to performing to life in general.
MAHAL KITA BABA! ~ Nia Sade
