Mamathon 2015! Walking toward my best life in honor of her sacrifice.

Is there a tougher job on the planet than being a Black mom, raising Black children, in the world we live in?

Our moms didn't just drive carpool and pack lunches and dish out sage advice and warm hugs and kisses. In fact, they may not have done any of those things to show or express their love.  Our moms had hard edges where others had soft curves. They loved us. We know that. But their experiences had taught them, just as our experiences - especially recently - have taught us, that raising Black children in this country requires something more than love. 

Our moms knew that keeping us safe and bringing us into adulthood whole meant that she might not be the mom on the soccer field at practice or even at the PTA meetings. She may not have been able to do those things but what she did do was essential to making us who we are. What she did do was back-breaking work to keep a roof over our head. What she did do was swallow her pride as she stood in the food stamp line so we wouldn't go without.  What she did do was decline dates and weekends out because her baby wasn't going to be left alone and who she brought around her child mattered. What she did do was strategize sophisticated plans to help us avoid the wrong turns that so many in our neighborhoods had taken. What she did do was grease our scalp and press our hair and lotion our face and make us feel like our brown skinned, ashy-kneed, full-lipped beauty was perfectly crafted in His Image. What she did do was fill in the gaps when teachers and textbooks failed to educate on our rich history and heritage ("Don't you know you come from kings and queens"?) What she did do was march into schools and demanded the bar of expectation be raised - and march into parties and snatch us up when we didn't come home on time. Why? Because she understood that passed curfew for Black girls and boys was a path that led too often to drugs and gangs and babies too soon and she wasn't having any of that for her precious child.  What she did do was live the gospel and all of its tenants and stay on her knees in prayer.   

And it worked!

Here we are.  We've been through some things (mainly because we didn't always listen) and we are still working on some things, but because of her - because of her sacrifice, because of her dedication, because of her love - shown in everyday actions that are often ignored and rarely celebrated - here we are.  Whole, capable, confident Black women - ready to take the pledge and do the work for our mamas! It's time for the 2015 Mamathon! All you need to do now is take the pledge and read below! You know your mama deserves this.  

And now that you've read the pledge and undertand t

Step 1: TAKE THE PLEDGE and then tell your mama and the world! Complete the official pledge form here and upload a photo of you and your mom or loved one. We'll create and email back to you a custom Mamathon meme with your photo so that you can share on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. You have three styles to choose from! See below. 

#1.

#2. 

#3.

Step 2: Get your special edition "I Get it From My Mama" Mamathon shirt! Tell the world what exactly it is that you get from your mama! Beauty and brains? Style and class? Hustle and heart...  We have three options for you to choose from! You know she's going to be beaming with pride when you're out there working up a sweat and letting the world know you "Get it from your mama!"

And the best part of the shirt? The backs comes with a fill-in-the-blank white block for you to shout out your loved one by writing in her name with a permanent marker.  Above the block it reads: "These Miles Dedicated To:" (Don't worry, it will withstand many, many washes!)  

Shirts are available on the GirlTrek store here.

Step 3: CELEBRATE! This is going to be huge.  Our gift to you and your mom: a photo shoot in the park with a professional photographer! That's right we will be hosting a free, professional Mother-Daughter Photo Shoot in the park, in select cities, for every woman who completes the Mamathon  You will help us create a campaign to show the world what Black motherhood looks like in action - beautiful, loving and healthy!  We will share a high-resolution photograph for digital download for you and your mother to treasure.

Save the Date!

National Mother-Daughter Photo Shoot Campaign & Mamathon Celebration

Saturday, May 30, 2015

8am to 10am

Exclusive Cities: Chattanooga, Houston, Atlanta, Kansas City, New Orleans, Jackson, Detroit, Chicago, Oakland, St. Louis, Birmingham, Raleigh, Baltimore. 

If you don't see your city on the list, we will do our best to spread the GirlTrek love around in an upcoming challenge.  For this challenge, we encourage you to submit your own mother-daughter photo this month to [email protected].

Sometimes we do it for our ancestors. Sometimes we do it for our daughters and community. This month, we do it for her! 

Thank you mom (and mama's in our lives - here and gone) for standing so strong and giving so much for us. You are loved and appreciated.

Vanessa and Morgan