ReMARCs: Celebrating Mother’s Day — Every Day

By Marc Morial

President & CEO, National Urban League

Mother’s Day is celebrated the second Sunday of every May, but in reality – mothers should be celebrated each day.

This year, I am especially proud that my mother, Sybil H. Morial, a teacher and community and civic activist, was awarded an honorary doctorate degree by Xavier University on this Mother’s Day.  Like so many mothers, she has served as a role model for my siblings and me, but also for an extended community.

It is often easy to take mothers for granted.  They are always there – to pick us up when we fall, to wipe our eyes when the world tells us we aren’t good enough, to encourage us when we are ready to give up, to celebrate our successes and to reel us in when we begin to stray from our home-grown values.  Quite simply, mothers have an irreplaceable role that serves as the foundation for who we grow to be, and while they encourage us to higher education, they teach us that our first degree – the one in common sense – will be necessary throughout our lives.

Most importantly, mothers come in many different forms – biological mothers, adopted mothers, godmothers, second mothers, mothers-in-law, and on and on.  The incredible women who are “mothers” are everywhere, and their sacrifices, guidance and influence chart the path of generations.  So, today, I say “thank you” to my mother, my wife, my sisters, my friends – and all mothers – who handle the world’s hardest job with undeniable grace, compassion, leadership and wisdom.  You are the backbone of our nation, and I wish you a very Happy Mother’s Day – today and every day.

As we continue our push for Congress to raise the minimum wage, click here to see how we can begin to immediately honor 4.7 million working moms every day by giving them a raise.