Raynard Jackson
As, I reflected on the celebration of Father’s Day last
Sunday, I thought about what that day should really mean. But, before I could
do that, I had to find out where that day came from.
Father’s Day was a direct derivative of Mother’s Day; but
the reason for their creation was polar opposite of each other. Mother’s Day
was created with the expressed mandate of not being turned into a “commercial”
day while Father’s Day was created with the expressed purpose of being a
“commercial” day.
Anna Jarvis was credited with being the founder of
Mother’s Day. Her mother, Ann Maria Reeves Jarvis, had founded Mother’s Day
Work Clubs in 1868 to improve sanitary and health conditions at both Union and
Confederate camps, treat the wounded, and to feed and clothe both Union and
Confederate soldiers.
On May 12, 1907, two years after her mother’s death, Anna
held a memorial service in honor of her mother, thus began her crusade to
officially recognize Mother’s Day. On May 8, 1914, the U.S. Congress passed a
law designating the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day.
Father’s Day was created by Sonora Smart Dodd. When she
was 16, her mother died in childbirth. Being the only daughter, she was given
the responsibility of raising her 5 brothers.
One day, Sonora was in church and
the sermon was about Mother’s Day. She thought that fathers should also be
recognized. The first Father’s Day was celebrated on June 19, 1910 in Spokane,
Washington. The day became so popular that in 1916, President Woodrow Wilson
was the featured speaker at the Father’s Day celebration in Spokane that year. In 1966, President Lyndon Johnson signed a presidential
proclamation declaring the third Sunday of June as Father's Day. In 1972,
President Nixon established a permanent national observance of Father's Day to
be held on the 3rd Sunday of June each year.
Shortly after its celebration had
started, Mother’s Day had become so commercial that Jarvis said she, “…wished
she would have never started the day because it became so out of control… A printed card means nothing except that you are too lazy to
write to the woman who has done more for you than anyone in the world. And
candy! You take a box to Mother—and then eat most of it yourself. A pretty
sentiment.”
She was arrested in 1948 for
disturbing the peace while protesting against the commercialization of Mother’s
Day. She died in poverty, spending all of her inheritance fighting against the
very day she had created.
According to industry reports, Mother's Day is now one of the most commercially successful
American occasions, having become the most popular day of the year to dine out
at a restaurant in the United States and generating a significant portion of
the U.S. jewelry industry's annual revenue, from custom gifts like mother's rings. Americans spend approximately $2.6 billion on flowers, $1.53
billion on pampering gifts—like spa treatments—and another $68 million on greeting
cards.
Father’s Day, however
was opposed by the general public as an imitation of Mother’s Day (which it
was) and viewed strictly as a commercial celebration. It took fierce lobbying
by the Father’s Day Council, founded by the New York Associated Men’s Wear
Retailers to change public opinion. In the mid-80s, the Council stated,
“Father’s Day has become a Second Christmas for all the men’s gift-oriented
industries.”
With this as a backdrop, the best gift you can give a
mother or a father is the gift of time. Mother and Father’s Day have become so
commercial that it has lost its true meaning.
I recently had the opportunity to sit down with former
ambassador, Gregory W. Slayton to discuss his new book titled, “Be A Better Dad
Today (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregory_W._Slayton).”
According to Slayton, “he is an author, businessman,
diplomat, philanthropist, professor, but more importantly, a father of four
great kids.” His book is an easy read from the prospective of a regular father
who is sharing practical lessons learned from his own personal journey. His
personal wealth has no bearing on his parenting. Financially, he had the
wherewithal to shower his kids with every material thing imaginable, but he
decided that spending time with them was the best gift he could give.
So, to those who want a fresh take on fatherhood, “Be A
Better Dad Today” is a great read!
Raynard Jackson is president &
CEO of Raynard Jackson & Associates, LLC., a D.C.-public
relations/government affairs firm. His website is: www.raynardjackson.com.
Raynard Jackson & Associates,
LLC is a internationally recognized political consulting, government affairs,
and PR firm based in Washington, DC. Jackson is a internationally recognized
radio talk show host and TV commentator. He has coined the phrase “straticist.”
As a straticist, he has merged strategic planning with public relations. Call
RJA to discuss how they can get you to the next level of your career.
