On Sunday, we celebrate the men who were there for us. Who taught us right from wrong, helped us with our homework, and laced up our first ice skates (what? I’m from Michigan). Yes, on Sunday, we celebrate fathers.
Target, however, wanted to give people options. Some of the cards say “Father’s Day,” sure, but some refer to “dad” or “daddy.” Some are specifically from a son or a daughter, and for wives to give their husbands, the fathers of their children. Where they missed the mark, however, was with this one, features the phrase “Baby Daddy.” As Takeisha Saunders pointed out when she shared it on Facebook, it was also the only card she found that depicted a black couple. Come on.
https://www.facebook.com/takeisha.roddy/posts/10108719351346850
For those of you unfamiliar with the term, a woman’s “Baby Daddy” is the father of her child, but not one with whom she has a relationship. Not her husband, not her boyfriend, just the daddy of her baby. So, in this one card, we’ve managed to institutionalize this culture while also being pretty racist.
Saunders wasn’t the only one who thought so.
Seriously @Target???? Baby Daddy is not a term of endearment. This is an insult to black fathers and a slap in the face to the African-American community as a whole. There are plenty of black men that are EXCELLENT FATHERS, not “baby daddies”!!! pic.twitter.com/Q9OWRpBl0M
— LiciaYvette💋 (@MsLiciaYvette) June 11, 2018
There were others who didn’t mind so much.
So people offended that Target selling “baby daddy” Father’s Day cards? It was a joke, like some of these dudes y’all fool with. You laid down wit the clown you’d think y’all would have a sense of humor by now 🤷🏿♂️
— Lamar Jackson (@LDJackson_) June 14, 2018
https://twitter.com/Mikeyd0e/status/1007256516888424448
This guy doesn’t mind, but I can’t decide we should definitely listen to him or definitely not listen to him seeing as he goes by “DaOvaryBuster.”
https://twitter.com/DaOvarybuster1/status/1007168204442095616
Target removed the cards from stores and issued an apology, telling Fox News:
We appreciate the feedback and apologize. It’s never our intent to offend any of our guests with the products we sell.
It’s not just about race, though, it’s about honoring the role of “Baby Daddy.” Yes, a real man will step up and be a daddy to his baby in the event of an unplanned pregnancy. Does our culture expect so little of men that they need to be specifically rewarded for this? So much so that a regular father’s day card wouldn’t apply? They’re still fathers, and should celebrate the day as such. We shouldn’t expect less of a man for being unmarried.
Let’s readjust our expectations of men, because this is just embarrassing for everyone.
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