Black Women Unite To Form A New National Holiday: ‘Mothers Of Civilization Day’
Every year, we honor our mothers who gave birth to us, but we often do not think of the woman who gave birth to humanity, which is the original woman, the Black woman. Did you know that according to an anthropologist named Donald Johanson and his assistant Tom Gray, the oldest bones to be found, as of this date are of a Black woman? These bones were discovered on November 24, 1974, in Hadar, Ethiopia. According to Dr. Cheikh Anta Diop, the evidence of early humans who lived between 2 and 6 million years ago come totally from Africa. Since the bones of the earliest female were found on November 24, 1974, that day will be used to celebrate Mothers of Civilization Day.
Mothers of Civilization Day (November 24) is a day to recognize and be thankful for the first women on the planet, the original women, regardless of their ethnic background. Original women are women of color from Africa, India, and Asia, etc. These women have kept traditions alive, taught customs, and created a beautiful culture of love and pride.
The idea for the new holiday was developed by Audrey Muhammad, founder and publisher of Virtue Today Magazine, which highlights positive images of Black women and men.
How do you celebrate this new holiday? It is a day that you take your grandmothers, mothers, sisters, and aunts and put them in a “circle of love” and have each family member share a positive word about each woman. It is also a time for a history lesson and to let the children know that they are looking at the first woman to be on the planet. This can be done at a family gathering or on a Zoom. Some may even celebrate it during that Thanksgiving weekend since many families will be together. It is a non-religious, non-commercialized holiday. More information about the day can be found on the National Archives Day website, which now lists it as a national day, click here.
“One of the first women I reached out to about the idea was human rights activist, YoNasDa Lonewolf,” said Audrey Muhammad, “Queen YoNasDa is Oglala Lakota (Native American) and Black; she immediately agreed to support the idea.”
Men also came on board to support the idea. “The first group I mentioned the idea to was Masters of Business Network founded by Brother Bedford,” said Mrs. Muhammad. “The Masters of Business Network helps Black men and women develop their entrepreneurial ideas. He and the organization also agreed to support the day.” Other supporters joined in including Harmony in Diversity Productions, Queendom Come, Inc., Black and Global Business Network, Brother Teacher Ajamu Minkah Kafele (MA), Muhammad Boxing Academy, and many others.
To register for the Mothers of Civilization Day official launch party which will be on November 24, 2021, click here.