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Black. Single. Mother.: Real Life Tales of Longing and Belonging
Not yet published
Expected 10 Mar 26A personal meditation on, examination of, and tribute to Black single motherhood, unapologetically told through poignant essays and candid interviews, by a celebrated cultural critic.Through her signature candid, humorous and yet often biting takes, Lemieux suffers no fools while also courageously revealing the scars of her own parenting journey and search for self-acceptance in a world that doesn’t see the full worth of women like her. With a particular verve and relatability—honed, in part, from her many years among “Black Twitter’s” most prominent voices—Lemieux puts the lived reality of Black single uncertainty, fierceness, and sensuality on full display. Interspersed with beautifully written personal narrative, readers will find cultural and historical analysis, and interviews with single mothers from all walks of life, telling it how it really is. Baby Mamas Day is a bold testament to the multifaceted Black single mother and an invitation to all readers to finally recognize this powerful figure for who she is—not bad, but so, so good.
- GenresNonfictionMemoir
352 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication March 10, 2026
3 people are currently reading
334 people want to read
About the author
Jamilah Lemieux
4 books9 followersJamilah Lemieux is an African-American columnist, cultural critic, and editor based in New York City.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
October 23, 2025
Jamilah Lemieux is giving us the truth and nothing but the truth. With sharp honesty and deep compassion, she unpacks how our cultural ideas of “good mothering” are too often bound to the presence—or absence—of a man. As a Black woman, married mother, and therapist specializing in bibliotherapy, I found this book both grounding and revelatory.
What stands out most is how validating and real these essays are from the jumpstart. There’s no romanticizing motherhood here. Lemieux writes about the emotional upheaval of becoming a mother after heartbreak and the layered weight of doing so while carrying the stereotypes placed on Black women. Yet within that pain, she reveals the deep well of love and possibility that motherhood holds: an invitation to become whole, well, and free (if we are doing it right)!
The closing testimonies from single mothers are especially powerful and each one is a declaration of worth and strength. This is a book that honors Black women not as symbols but as full human beings. I’m deeply grateful for how Lemieux reminds us who we are and who we’ve always been to our families and our communities.
What stands out most is how validating and real these essays are from the jumpstart. There’s no romanticizing motherhood here. Lemieux writes about the emotional upheaval of becoming a mother after heartbreak and the layered weight of doing so while carrying the stereotypes placed on Black women. Yet within that pain, she reveals the deep well of love and possibility that motherhood holds: an invitation to become whole, well, and free (if we are doing it right)!
The closing testimonies from single mothers are especially powerful and each one is a declaration of worth and strength. This is a book that honors Black women not as symbols but as full human beings. I’m deeply grateful for how Lemieux reminds us who we are and who we’ve always been to our families and our communities.
November 4, 2025
Black. Single. Mother. is Jamilah Lemieux's memoir of her experience as the only child of a Black single mother and then, in turn, raising her own daughter as a Black single mother as well. The close relationship between she and her mother really shines through, but she also talks about her experiences with her father, a former Black Panther who became a policeman, and how his role in her life shaped her as well. She also includes essays from other prominent Black single mothers, who relate their own experiences in essay form. I loved hearing from so many different voices, some whom I have followed on social media for years. Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC.
November 22, 2025
BlackTwitter queen Jamilah Lemieux weaves her personal story with an essays that marinate the themes. She sites statistics and real-life examples. The pop culture references will resonate with anyone over 25, and even more if you're 40+: Claire Huxtable, Megan The Stallion, Anita Hill, and others who have influenced or exemplified the privileges and challenges of Black womanhood in America.
She goes from her "high yellow in Hyde Park" Chicago-area family members to her setting off to college at Howard U, and beyond.
Lemieux's dissertation is wide-ranging and, perhaps, pedantic to those outside The Culture. This book offers a narritive that centers Black thought like a modern female W.E.B. DuBois.
This collection of 22 personal stories (J. Lemieux's is the most prominent and detailed) gives voice to single Black mothers, also known as "baby mamas". They got knocked up unexpectedly, went through with the pregnancy expecting support from a reluctant father, scornful church, family, and often indifferent community. With few exceptions, they were wrong to expect the world to help their situation.
"It was hard." That is said repeatedly throughout the stories.
Now that the 20+ Black mothers are past the "new struggling mom" stage, they are able to articulate what their teen mom/college dropout selves (in some cases) were not able to.
The reader can feel the negative connotation of "baby mama" being yanked off as they read these pages. This book is trying to change the conversation on the stereotypical "shameful Black welfare mother unable or unwilling to close her legs until marriage".
It succeeds in some cases. Other cases made me want to slap some sense into the Black Single Mom: if the immature father is unavailable emotionally, financially, and says so at the outset, you can't act surprised when his prediction comes true.
One of many "lessons learned" in the text: "I'm going to tell my daughter to be intentional in choosing her partners."
Aside from the author, Tarana Burke and Femenista Jones share their stories.
This is a courageous collection. If I had to re-title the book, I'd call it "No More Baby Mama Drama."
If I have one critique, it's the prose. It sometimes reads as if a stenograph typed a recorded conversation. I would have liked to tighten up the text, cut some fluff words.
[I read an Advanced Reader Copy. Thanks to NetGalley.]
She goes from her "high yellow in Hyde Park" Chicago-area family members to her setting off to college at Howard U, and beyond.
Lemieux's dissertation is wide-ranging and, perhaps, pedantic to those outside The Culture. This book offers a narritive that centers Black thought like a modern female W.E.B. DuBois.
This collection of 22 personal stories (J. Lemieux's is the most prominent and detailed) gives voice to single Black mothers, also known as "baby mamas". They got knocked up unexpectedly, went through with the pregnancy expecting support from a reluctant father, scornful church, family, and often indifferent community. With few exceptions, they were wrong to expect the world to help their situation.
"It was hard." That is said repeatedly throughout the stories.
Now that the 20+ Black mothers are past the "new struggling mom" stage, they are able to articulate what their teen mom/college dropout selves (in some cases) were not able to.
The reader can feel the negative connotation of "baby mama" being yanked off as they read these pages. This book is trying to change the conversation on the stereotypical "shameful Black welfare mother unable or unwilling to close her legs until marriage".
It succeeds in some cases. Other cases made me want to slap some sense into the Black Single Mom: if the immature father is unavailable emotionally, financially, and says so at the outset, you can't act surprised when his prediction comes true.
One of many "lessons learned" in the text: "I'm going to tell my daughter to be intentional in choosing her partners."
Aside from the author, Tarana Burke and Femenista Jones share their stories.
This is a courageous collection. If I had to re-title the book, I'd call it "No More Baby Mama Drama."
If I have one critique, it's the prose. It sometimes reads as if a stenograph typed a recorded conversation. I would have liked to tighten up the text, cut some fluff words.
[I read an Advanced Reader Copy. Thanks to NetGalley.]
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A great read. And I’m not ashamed to say I’m inspired after having devoured this book. I never had any ill feeling toward single black mothers, but I must admit, I did digest some of the society vitriol that is spewed towards Black single motherhood. In fact, so much so that in my 30s I avoided dating women with children. I was afraid of encountering the drama I heard so much about. I also wanted to move around without concern for babysitting and/or any child related obstacles.
A young lady I met, changed all that for me, she was a mother of a young boy actually she had two, but I didn’t learn of the older one until months later. This book has helped me to now see, that she was obviously dealing with a lot of shame and stigma of being a single Blackmother. She did in fact confirm this, when we had the conversation about deceit.
Anyway, I believe Jamilah Lemieux has done a tremendous service in honoring the Black Single Mother! And she does it in captivating prose that is unflinchingly blunt and at times humorous. She also shares her pages with some wonderful women who are single black mothers, some by choice others by circumstance. But through their stories, we learn the difficulties that these women face.
Men, who have fathered children must do a better job of being present for their children. And, if that woman doesn’t want a relationship with you, you STILL must do the work of parenting your child. By sharing her story, her experience becomes the proxy to rift on the collective experience of “baby mamas “, isn’t it interesting that black single mothers are stigmatized in a way that white single mothers aren’t? Things that make you go hmmn.
Let me assure you, this IS NOT a man hating, Men ain’t sh** type of text. It is the siren call of a Black woman challenging not just men, but all of society to see the value in Black single parenting and to respond accordingly. I see you Sisters, and thank you Jamilah Lemieux for exposing me and potentially(hopefully) millions of others with your timely and prescient book. Thank you to NetGalley and ROC Lit books for an advanced DRC. Book will hit stores March 10, 2026
A young lady I met, changed all that for me, she was a mother of a young boy actually she had two, but I didn’t learn of the older one until months later. This book has helped me to now see, that she was obviously dealing with a lot of shame and stigma of being a single Blackmother. She did in fact confirm this, when we had the conversation about deceit.
Anyway, I believe Jamilah Lemieux has done a tremendous service in honoring the Black Single Mother! And she does it in captivating prose that is unflinchingly blunt and at times humorous. She also shares her pages with some wonderful women who are single black mothers, some by choice others by circumstance. But through their stories, we learn the difficulties that these women face.
Men, who have fathered children must do a better job of being present for their children. And, if that woman doesn’t want a relationship with you, you STILL must do the work of parenting your child. By sharing her story, her experience becomes the proxy to rift on the collective experience of “baby mamas “, isn’t it interesting that black single mothers are stigmatized in a way that white single mothers aren’t? Things that make you go hmmn.
Let me assure you, this IS NOT a man hating, Men ain’t sh** type of text. It is the siren call of a Black woman challenging not just men, but all of society to see the value in Black single parenting and to respond accordingly. I see you Sisters, and thank you Jamilah Lemieux for exposing me and potentially(hopefully) millions of others with your timely and prescient book. Thank you to NetGalley and ROC Lit books for an advanced DRC. Book will hit stores March 10, 2026
December 3, 2025
5 stars
The title tells prospective readers most of what they need to know before cracking this book. What may also be helpful is that you do not need to share any of these identities to find this book informative, helpful, and intriguing. Though I'm neither Black nor a mother, I found a lot of relatable content here that not only helped me feel connected to other people's experiences; it also provided a window into experiences that are distant from mine, and that ended up being my favorite part of the read.
Having had limited contact with this writer previously, I wasn't completely sure what to expect, but I'm so pleased with what I got. This is an ideal mix of Lemieux's experience as the child of a single mother, the single mother to her child, and the compiler of many, MANY experiences of individuals who share the titular identities.
A mashup of content like this can feel overwhelmingly depressing or disheartening, but that's not the vibe here. Of course, there are many somber themes and motifs coming through the contributors' insights and experiences, but there is also hope, resilience, and some hardcore dedication. Readers will leave this encounter with a sense of reality and a feeling that even when some folks disappoint us (some of the partners of some of these contributors - oof), others really deliver.
This is a great read. I learned a lot and enjoyed myself in the process. I'll be on the lookout for more from Lemieux.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Lauren Chrisney at Penguin Random House for this widget, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
The title tells prospective readers most of what they need to know before cracking this book. What may also be helpful is that you do not need to share any of these identities to find this book informative, helpful, and intriguing. Though I'm neither Black nor a mother, I found a lot of relatable content here that not only helped me feel connected to other people's experiences; it also provided a window into experiences that are distant from mine, and that ended up being my favorite part of the read.
Having had limited contact with this writer previously, I wasn't completely sure what to expect, but I'm so pleased with what I got. This is an ideal mix of Lemieux's experience as the child of a single mother, the single mother to her child, and the compiler of many, MANY experiences of individuals who share the titular identities.
A mashup of content like this can feel overwhelmingly depressing or disheartening, but that's not the vibe here. Of course, there are many somber themes and motifs coming through the contributors' insights and experiences, but there is also hope, resilience, and some hardcore dedication. Readers will leave this encounter with a sense of reality and a feeling that even when some folks disappoint us (some of the partners of some of these contributors - oof), others really deliver.
This is a great read. I learned a lot and enjoyed myself in the process. I'll be on the lookout for more from Lemieux.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Lauren Chrisney at Penguin Random House for this widget, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Black, Single, Mother by Jamilah Lemieux is one of those books that reaches into your chest and sits with you not loudly, not dramatically, but with a quiet truth that feels impossible to shake. Lemieux writes with a tenderness and clarity that made me feel seen, even in the moments where our lives don’t mirror each other. What moved me most was the way she shares a defining moment in her early adulthood, when she found herself rebuilding her life from the ground up while holding her daughter close. The vulnerability in that story the mix of fear, grit, and unexpected self‑discovery stayed with me long after I closed the book. It’s the kind of honesty that doesn’t ask for sympathy; it simply invites you to witness it. Lemieux’s reflections on Black womanhood, motherhood, and the weight of expectation are written with such emotional intelligence that I found myself pausing just to breathe them in. She doesn’t romanticize the struggle, and she doesn’t flatten the joy. Instead, she gives us the full spectrum the exhaustion, the laughter, the loneliness, the pride, the moments of doubt, and the moments of absolute certainty. What I loved most is how she insists on her own complexity. She refuses to be boxed in, and in doing so, she gives permission quietly, powerfully for other women to claim their own fullness too. Her voice is sharp, warm, and deeply human. This book is more than a memoir. It’s a reminder of the resilience that grows in the cracks, the beauty of choosing yourself, and the strength it takes to tell the truth about your life. I felt every page. #netgalley #BlackSingleMother
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Net Galley and Random House for this Advanced Readers Copy of Black. Single. Mother.
Jamilah Lemieux provides a heartfelt and transparent account of her experience as the daughter of a black single mother, and her own experience as black single mother. Her ability to describe her thoughts as she looked back at what her mom did for her as she navigated through spaces as a single parent showed a particular vulnerability. I also enjoyed reading about her relationship with her father.
Lemieux shares the joys and struggles of not only her own experience, but shares the experiences of other mothers through the essays that are included in the book. Not all experiences are the same, and including stories of other women who came to motherhood in a variety of ways was interesting and a continuation of the transparency and vulnerability she shared with her own experience.
I look forward to reading the book once it’s released; I have already ordered my copy.
Jamilah Lemieux provides a heartfelt and transparent account of her experience as the daughter of a black single mother, and her own experience as black single mother. Her ability to describe her thoughts as she looked back at what her mom did for her as she navigated through spaces as a single parent showed a particular vulnerability. I also enjoyed reading about her relationship with her father.
Lemieux shares the joys and struggles of not only her own experience, but shares the experiences of other mothers through the essays that are included in the book. Not all experiences are the same, and including stories of other women who came to motherhood in a variety of ways was interesting and a continuation of the transparency and vulnerability she shared with her own experience.
I look forward to reading the book once it’s released; I have already ordered my copy.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Well that was interesting! This book was not what I expected it to be. 2nd generation single mom goes on a rant about Black SIngle Moms not getting enough respect in the world for all that they do. This is basically an angry memoir and not the flex that she hoped it would be. While I agree with her thesis, she basically proves the naysayers right by exposing her hoe phase and all the selfish things that make her not a good mom. I had hoped that this book would be more positive and encouraging but it wasn't. Readers are still left with the impression that they would rather be anything but a Black, Single, Mom. While I cant recommend this book to anyone, I do agree the topic is important and needs to be addressed more widely.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book was interesting, written more like a thesis paper than a memoir. It was heartfelt, and yet it didn't quite come together for me. Jamilah Lemieux does a wonderful job of giving her perspective and opinion on being a Black Single Mother as do some of the essays by providing interesting context and perspective. Yet, at times I felt she lingered too much on Black Men and their ineffectiveness. Similarly, the book's message seem to be repeated over by not only the author but the essay writers as well to the point, the book lacked emphasis and direction. I believe this is an important topic and needs to be discussed.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I didn't initially realize these were stories--and not a novel--but I was impressed with them as they all show the struggles of single motherhood and how very real and heartbreaking it can be. There's humor and pathos, but eventually we see that motherhood makes us stronger and able to deal with the everyday situations that make us relate to each other!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I don't know how to feel about this one. I have lots of mixed emotions.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews