National Fist Bump Day: Who Started It And Why? (VIDEO)

Very rarely do you get to meet the person who created a holiday, unless perhaps you work in the greeting card industry which I do not. But today it was revealed to me that the people behind National Fist Bump Day are Huffington Post's own David Weiner, the man who revealed that Mrs. McCain lifted her "family" recipes from the Food Network, and Sarah Greenwalt, a blogger for the site.

To champion the cause of National Fist Bump Day, David and Sarah created a Website (kids these days!) on which they explained:

On June 3rd, 2008, Barack Obama and his wife Michelle took part in what immediately became known as "the fist bump heard 'round the world." Though it was an intensely personal and affectionate gesture of love and respect at a pivotal moment in Obama's presidential campaign, it firmly placed the fist bump on the national stage...Sometimes all the world needs is a little human touch, a little flesh on flesh action, and a little understanding. So this Wednesday, June 3rd, show the world some love and bump it!

From there is spread like wildfire. Gawker, Buzzfeed, HuffPost, Mother Jones, and The Root all celebrated. I know what you're thinking: "But this is all on the Web, and those people are desperate." That's true we are, but it wasn't just us, the TV folks got in on the action too. First came "Morning Joe," then last night Jimmy Fallon celebrated "Howie Mandel's favorite holiday:"

This is a watershed moment people. Fist bumps are the new vomiting on a prime minister.

Comments

[toyboat]

Gimmie a break!!! We been givin' "dap" for years & now they lames who know nothing at all about urban culture wanna give it a national fist bump day pa-lease that's just as stupid as calling bad english ebonics!

[jlarue]

LOL!!!

[starbright]

Relax, toyboat. It just means we need to come up with something new. It's kind of like when my Mom started using the term "bling". I stopped that same day. Ah, the 1990's, I remember them well.

[Sheila Williams]

give me a break is right, it's something we have been doing in the hood for years as a sign of affection, but we called it giving dap as you said. leave up to white America to catch on to something that is old in the hood and then try to make it their own. Always a day late and a dollar short.

[wish4change]

TWO OF THE MOST UNDIGNIFIED PEOPLE WHO HAVE EVER SET FOOT IN THE WHITEHOUSE.

[tuvum]

boohoohoo you must be a lowly republican­...suc it up beach

[fumes]

define: ''dignified''

warning: this is a trap

[SILVANUS]

.... it crowed as it schemed to create a new ponzi scheme while waving a flag and a Bible...

[AKAchip]

Yeah, that George W. Bush was some kind of dignified, alright. Coukdn't speak the King's English to save his life and Laura didn't have time between cigarettes puffs. What a pair!!

[expired]

How dare you refer to them as Michelle and Barack . . . Do you know them personally, are you close and personal friends? Show some respect, JF.

[LabCabinCalifornia]

Thanks white people for ruining "dap".

[SoccerNana]

Stop being so mean, please! Call it whatever you like.

[Moshe]

"This is one of the things I hate about white people"

Would you care to list the others?

And then please read them to yourself.

And then when you see how ugly and ignorant those comments really are, please consider not hating others because of their race, as it's never right, it's never justified, and it's never cool.

Thank you friend, and "bump."

[TOMMYA]

PEOPLE, when are they going to call the fist bump by it's real name? "DAP!!!!" Have you ever heard the trm "GIMME SOME DAP"? The "DAP" is a hygenic handshake. Just think when people sneeze or cough, they cover their mouths with their hands thus making it suseptible to pass on their germ during a traditional handshake. Hmmm!!!!!!

[madatnewsmedia]

Thanks! The media gave it the name "fist bump"

[BradleeA]

Can I have that 2 minutes of my life back?

[MyDogIsADemocrat]

Oh please....­..

[boilinabag]

that's terrorist fist bump, thanks to foxnudes..­..

[rabrophy]

Just for my triva file - who was the Fox News person who asked if it might be a "Terrorest fist bump"?

[azriel]

you know, I was thinking about that moment--and remembered how shamed I was of the media then. How could anyone see this man--this man of peace, be so culturally aloof, and think that he has anything to do with terrorists. Some people believe anything.

[Moshe]

"bump"

[sfpoolgrrl]

punch it in!

[4real]

Nice pics!

[demrepub]

He's ok but she's like hearing finger nails on a chalk board. Yikes!!!

[roshni]

I happen to love her.

[peskyliberal]

You find strong sistas scary? Don't worry, mommy will get your binky.

[azriel]

This is one of the things I hate about white people, or whoever uses the term "fist bump". What the hell is a fist bump...is it like a baby bump? The damn thing is called a "dap" as in "gimme some dap", similar to, but not the same as "gimme some skin" and its usually has 3 or more moves. Theres up, down, and bam! straight ahead. Yes, I know it's a trivial issue by itself. However it belies a greater issue, namely how white folks just trivially rename, remake, or make fashionable certain elements of black and urban culture. And for what reason, to appear to be "cool" or "in", dare I say "down" with it. To the uninformed, stop trying to copy black/urban cultural norms in order to fit in. Unless you are also willing to live and experience the pain, the hurt, and the oppression; then you have no business utilizing the commonplace benevolent aspects of black/urban culture. Thereby giving you some level of "cool credibility". To Alex Leo, you've gotta do your research..­.it's called dap, and not a fist bump.

[EmeraldWorld]

Please, this cultural appropriation has been going on for the longest time. Look at music for instance from the 30s onward; rock and roll especially. I don't think the white community will stop doing this anytime soon.

[azriel]

so true, so so true...tha­t's why we've gotta teach them. Every chance we get. You know, teach them the acceptable cultural behavior.

[ItHadToBeSaid]

I agree with you (and azriel, too, for that matter) one hundred percent. But just because its been going on forever and continues to this day, doesn't mean we shouldn't call them out when they do it.

Cornrows/braids, slang, rap, rock 'n' roll, and blues all have their roots in our community, but have been hi-jacked in some form or other by other whites. There's a reason why we still celebrate the First Black 'this' or the First Black 'that' -- because we know how little and how seldom our culture gets the credit for our contributions to society. So, yeah, I say call them out on it.

Like you said, its not going to stop. But, hey, neither should we.

[AmberGaze]

I'm an Atheist...­BUT...for effect

LAWWWD!!!!! GIVING SOME DAP IS NOW CALLED A FIST BUMP AND IT'S GOING TO BE A DAY!!!

It's official..­.dappin' is going into the cheesy bin...FORE­VER!

[GOPBossLimbaugh]

Puhleez, listen to yourself!

You are now sounding exactly like some white people who claim that Obama is acting white!

[azriel]

I'm sorry, I was away...wha­t do you mean--please explain?

[GOPBossLimbaugh]

I think we just have to continue calling it a dap, and the word dap will in time find its way into the media.

[Moshe]

This is one of the things I hate about white people"

Would you care to list the others?

And then please read them to yourself.

And then when you see how ugly and ignorant those comments really are, please consider not hating others because of their race, as it's never right, it's never justified, and it's never cool.

Thank you friend, and "bump."

[anoise]

Not something I'd like to do with Chuck Norris