Dear Diary,

Recently, my sister and I had a conversation about what we call Stacy Shenanigans. If you haven’t heard, actress Stacy Dash spoke about about segregation on Fox News. And of course, her statements, that go against what many people believe, went viral.

There shouldn’t be a Black History Month. We’re Americans. Period. That’s it.~Stacy Dash

Yes, Stacy, I am American. But no, that’s not it.

The Reason

I get why Fox featured her. Everyone is entitled to an opinion. I just hate when people think one (insert race) person is a spokesperson (for insert race). When I worked as a television reporter, I was often asked to speak on behalf of all Black folks. I was assigned to go into poor Black neighborhoods on a regular basis, because as an older white reporter told me, You look like them. I look like a cop.  I responded and said, Just because I’m Black, doesn’t mean I relate to every Black person and share the same experience. I grew up in a two parent, middle class, Christian household, which doesn’t fit your stereotypical image of a single mom on welfare–something not only offensive but inaccurate. And let’s not even touch on classism. As a reporter, you should be able to report on everyone, including those of different racial and economic backgrounds. Get to know us. He didn’t get to know me, or get it. Neither did the news director who continued to assign me stories, like Kwaanza–a holiday he thought every African-American celebrated. Indeed, it’s a beautiful celebration, something I will observe with my daughter, but I wasn’t lighting candles in Kentucky.

The Celebration

Now back to sister Stacy. This is why we still have Black History Month, and in the case of this article, Black Mom Bloggers. It’s not because we want to separate ourselves from society. In fact, it’s probably the opposite. I write to prove that moms, of all races, have more in common than people think. I write, because our differences should be respected, embraced and celebrated. Our stories should be told. It’s not racist to be proud of who you are (It is racist to think that you are better than someone else just because of the color of your skin!) I love being a Black woman–wouldn’t trade my caramel coated skin in for the world. It’s critical for my daughter, and every little brown girl, to know women who look like them are achieving and accomplishing great things.

Although Diary of a First Time Mom is written with all moms in mind, the ultimate goal is to take control of the stories being told about African-American mothers. Our voices must be included in conversations about raising America. Black lives matter, but that doesn’t mean white lives don’t. Black moms have a wide range of experiences—some mothers are married, single, working, staying at home, young, middle-aged, educated or raising children in interracial and interfaith households. But unfortunately, we are sometimes placed into one bucket. And when single black mothers are discussed, they are sometimes stereotyped when in fact they each took different paths to parenthood. Some women failed at relationships, exited abusive situations, divorced or were widowed. But rarely in mainstream media are these women credited for making rational decisions to leave. Rarely are women credited for obtaining government assistance to care for their family when facing temporary trials. So my artistic goal is to tell stories about mothers of color that appeal to mothers of all colors.

One day, maybe when my daughter grows up and becomes a blogger, we won’t need to create lists. Everyone will receive equal and accurate air play. Until then, get to know some of my fellow #BlackHistoryMonth Black Mom Bloggers. Click a link everyday throughout February and beyond!

#BlackHistoryMonth Black Mom Bloggers

Day 1

A’s: A Proverb’s Wife, A Real Urban Mom, ABC Remix, And Starring as Herself, As Told by V

Day 2

B’s: Baby and a Blog, Baby Brown Sugar, Baby Making Machine, Baby Shopaholic, Beauty by Amber, Becoming Family, Belly Button Boutique Blog, Belly Itch Blog, Bernetta Style, Britney Dearest, Brown Mamas, Black and Green Mama, Black and Married With Kids, Black Glamour Mom, Blessed Be The Tie, Brown Media Mama

Day 3

C’s: Candid Belle, Camesha Mama Motivator, Chaton’s World, Chewsy Lovers, Chic Busy Mom, Chocolate Mom Loves Vanilla, Cinco Mom, Cleverly Changing, Cocoa Mommy, Coily Locks, Co-parenting 101,  Compete to Succeed, Crunchy Disney Ma, Crystal Blake, Cutie Booty Cakes

Day 4

D’s: Dancing With Motherhood, DC Thrifty Mom, Dear Dumplin, Deborah Jerome, Diary of a First Time Mom, Diary of a Stay at Home Mommy, Dior and Diapers, Divas With a Purpose, Dude Mom

Day 5

E: Epic Mommy Adventures, Encourage Growing Families, Everyday Eyecandy

Day 6

F: Fab Haute Mama, Fit Faith Life, From Bree With Love, Front Rom Mama, From Carpools to Cocktails

Day 7

G: Girlfriends With Goals, Glamzini, Good Enough Mother

Day 8

H: Harlem Lovebirds, Headbands for Today, Her Life Inspired, His Mrs. Her Mr., Here Wee Read, Honey and Lime, Houseful of Nicholes, Hysterical Mom

Day 9

I: I Choose the Sun

Day 10

J: Jamaican Mommies, Just Jeanae, Justice Jonesie

Day 11

K: Keen Mom, Kiddie Matters

Day 12

L: La La Land Mommy, Ladies Live and Learn, Laugh Out Loud Mommy, Life With Tanay, Living the Solo Mommy Life, Love, Peace and Tiny Feet

Day 13

M: Mama Knows It All, Mamademics, Mamalicious Maria, Mani K Mom, Mel, a Dramatic Mommy, Melisa Source, Messy Momma, Mimi Cute Lips, Mocha Glam Mom, Mocha Manual, Mom’s New Stage, Mom Talk With Denise LaRosa, Moments With Mommy, Mommie Knows Fresh, Mommy 2 K, Mommy Delicious, Mommy Posh, Mommy Talk Show, Mommy Week, Mommy Wife and Life Blog, Mommy’s Dressing Room, Moms ‘N Charge, Moms With Tots, Mother of the World, Mrs. Wright Writes, My Brown Baby, Mushy Mamma, My Mommy’s Neighborhood

Day 14

N: Neosha Loves, Nicki’s Random Musings, Nicole’s Lifestyle Lounge

Day 15

O: OK Dani, Outside the Box Mom

Day 16

P: Pecan Momma Tales, Pharr Away, PhilZENdia, Pretty Frugal Diva, Product Review Mom

Day 17

Q: Quick, register a site that starts with the letter Q!

Day 18

R: Rattles and Heels

Day 19

S: Sailing Autistic Seas, Savvy Chic Mom, Seeing It Their Way, Serene Mom, Shaquinta Monique, Simply T Nicole, Smart and Sassy Mom, So Full Sista, Soca Mom, Sophistishe, Spelhouse Mom, Swai-Rai

Day 20

T: Tinseltown Mom, The Afropolitan Mom, The Bajan Texan, The Chic Stay at Home Mom, The Cubicle Chick, The KD Collection, The Mahogany Way, The Mamihood, The Mommy Factor, The Sexy Single Mom, The Single Mom’s Corner, The Strength of She, The Solo Mama, The Young Mommy Life, Thirty Plus Mom, Throw up and Theology,  Triplets in Tribecca, Truly Tafarkari

Day 21

U: Unlikely Martha, Unscripted Motherhood

Day 22

V: Vaneese (an amazing DFTM writer) pens her stories at As Told by V 

Day 23

W: We Got Kidz, Weather Anchor Mama

Day 24

X: X’cuse me!!! What about the blogs that begin with a number? We got you covered, click 4 Hats and Frugal, 2 Black Mammas, 2 Groovy Moms

Day 25

Y: Y stop here? Y not rewind to letter A again?

Day 26

Z: There are no Zzzz’s, but let’s not sleep on the dads! Visit 4 Father’s Journal, I’m a New Daddy, Jackie Bledsoe, Life With Dad, Makes Me Wanna Holler, Mocha Dad

Day 27

Social Media Lists & Directors: Baby and Blog’s Black Mommy Bloggers, Diary of a First Time Mom’s African-American Mom Bloggers Twitter List, For Harriet’s 10 Awesome Black Mom Bloggers to Follow, Madame Noir’s 11 Mom Bloggers You Should Bookmark, Mama Knows It All’s Influential African-American Mom Bloggers, The Root’s Mom Bloggers You Should Know

Day 28

Show love to bloggers of all colors throughout February! Who are you favorite bloggers across color lines?