The Three Mothers: How the Mothers of Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, and James Baldwin Shaped a Nation

by Anna Malaika Tubbs

New York Times Bestseller“This dynamic blend of biography and manifesto centers on Louise Little, Alberta King, and Berdis Baldwin . . . Tubbs’s book stands against the women’s erasure, a monument to their historical importance.”—The New Yorker"Tubbs' connection to these women is palpable on the page — as both a mother and a scholar of the impact Black motherhood has had on America. Through Tubbs' writing, Berdis, Alberta, and Louise's stories sing. Theirs is a history forgotten that begs to be told, and Tubbs tells it brilliantly."— Ibram X. Kendi, #1 New York Times bestselling author of How to Be an Antiracist and National Book Award winner Stamped from the BeginningMuch has been written about Berdis Baldwin's son James, about Alberta King's son Martin Luther, and Louise Little's son Malcolm. But virtually nothing has been said about the extraordinary women who raised them. In her groundbreaking and essential debut The Three Mothers, scholar Anna Malaika Tubbs celebrates Black motherhood by telling the story of the three women who raised and shaped some of America's most pivotal heroes.A New York Times Bestsellers Editors' ChoiceAn Amazon Editor's Pick for FebruaryAmazon's Best Biographies and Memoirs of 2021One of theSkimm's "16 Essential Books to Read This Black History Month"One of Fortune Magazine's "21 Books to Look Forward to in 2021!"One of Badass Women's Bookclub picks for "Badass Books We Can’t Wait to Read in 2021!" One of Working Mother Magazine's "21 Best Books of 2021 for Working Moms"One of Ms. Magazine's "Most Anticipated Reads for the Rest of Us 2021"One of Bustle's "11 Nonfiction Books To Read For Black History Month — All Written By Women"One of SheReads.com's "Most anticipated nonfiction books of 2021"Berdis Baldwin, Alberta King, and Louise Little were all born at the beginning of the 20th century and forced to contend with the prejudices of Jim Crow as Black women. These three extraordinary women passed their knowledge to their children with the hope of helping them to survive in a society that would deny their humanity from the very beginning—from Louise teaching her children about their activist roots, to Berdis encouraging James to express himself through writing, to Alberta basing all of her lessons in faith and social justice. These women used their strength and motherhood to push their children toward greatness, all with a conviction that every human being deserves dignity and respect despite the rampant discrimination they faced.These three mothers taught resistance and a fundamental belief in the worth of Black people to their sons, even when these beliefs flew in the face of America’s racist practices and led to ramifications for all three families’ safety. The fight for equal justice and dignity came above all else for the three mothers.These women, their similarities and differences, as individuals and as mothers, represent a piece of history left untold and a celebration of Black motherhood long overdue.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Biography, Feminism, Race, Audiobook, Social Justice

267 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 2, 2021

Reviews

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The mother is the first teacher of the child. The message she gives that child, that child gives to the world."
Malcolm X

Three intelligent mothers who believed in equality and respect for all; three mothers raising three sons who would make an indelible mark in history as they fought in their different ways for their rights as American citizens. Three mothers born within a few years of each other, all outliving their famous sons. These mothers had much in common, although their circumstances and resources were quite different. Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, and James Baldwin were all taught, molded and deeply loved by Alberta, Louise, and Berdis respectively.

As a white woman living in 2021 I can only imagine the anguish and hardships of poor black woman raising children in the Jim Crow South. Although all three were promising students, only Alberta King was able to obtain a college degree. With the support and love of her family she was able to pursue a career and develop her musical talents. Neither Louise nor Berdis had families that were able to support them or provide the finances that would have given them choices. Poverty was a constant for Louise and Berdis. Racial discrimination and violence by white supremacists were present for all three, but they would not be defeated by it, nor would they allow their sons to be defined by it.

The influence of a mother, both negative and positive, has long been know. Alberta, Louise, and Berdis represented the very best a mother can be under some of the worst conditions. They were united in their belief in the value of education. They held fast to their convictions of self worth, respect, and dignity. They believed change was possible and there was hope in the future. These beliefs guided these three icons of the Civil Rights Movement.

This book arose out of the author's doctoral dissertation on Black motherhood. It is a perspective of history that has needed a voice. While never underestimating the travails these mother endured, I did feel this well-researched book might have given a smidgen of credit to mothers in general. How many mothers of other Black men and women have been overlooked? How many mothers of famous men and women of any race have been neglected?

[Russ G · Rating 3 out of 5]

Content/Topic: 5
Technical: 2
Audiobook Performance: 2

A must-read topic, but the book is severely hampered by its rudimentary writing and sophomoric audiobook narration (which is further undermined by unacceptable T-glottalization). I wanted better, and these three women deserve better.

[Colleen Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so excited to get this book. I've always been curious about the mothers of three great men. But where do you start? How do you find the information that you need? I was so eager to dive into this book and I must admit I feel like these three mothers. This book is full of love and compassion for their sons. How they were raised and taught shows the type of love that they received. This book also helps me to understand that no matter what as a mother when are always teaching our children and trying to have their lives better than ours. We lose sleep and suffer because of the love that we have for them. This book shows me that not only were these three mothers exceptional mothers but they didn't get the credit that they deserved. We have to prepare our children for the world. And unfortunately, they had to live to see their son's death. This book is beyond amazing and so needed at a time where mothers are hardly given the credit for raising such incredible men. Thank you book browse for giving me the opportunity for this advanced reading book.

[Zuri · Rating 3 out of 5]

So this book definitely has an interesting premise, but I don't think Tubbs was really apt to write it? And actually I don't know if anyone would be apt to write it, because there just isn't enough information about these three women. There weren’t many primary sources like their own journals or letters, so it seemed like a lot of speculation. Obviously these mothers were very influential to their iconic sons, but it was very much just listening to civil rights history that I already knew about and then a line about their mother probably supporting them through this. I was underwhelmed.

[Traci Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

The lack of information about these women makes this book really ambitious and forces the author to speculate a lot. It’s a great idea. Not sure it’s pulled off.

[Bookworm · Rating 2 out of 5]

Spotted this via a New York Times article and thought it sounded like an interesting read. We know the names and more of the histories of their sons, but we don't know much about the mothers of these famous men. How were they, all Black women, part of the historical narrative that involved Jim Crow and would shape their sons to become the men we know today?

I know various bits of these three men from school as well as reading things like Malcolm X's autobiography, a biography of Coretta Scott King, Baldwin's 'Giovanni's Room', etc. but I didn't know what to expect. It probably wasn't a surprise that all three women had a hand in shaping their sons and influence who they would each grow up to be and if you're not someone who is familiar with any or all three of these men there's probably insights you wouldn't know elsewhere.

That said, the negative reviews are on point. I'm not entirely sure either as to what telling the stories of these women necessarily add (especially in this combination vs. individual biographies but perhaps there wasn't enough material for that). It also does painfully read like an academic dissertation rather than a readable biography but your experience may vary.

Ultimately this wasn't really for me but I can absolutely see this as a book of reference or for research purposes or as a related reading for a class, etc.

Library borrow for me and that was best.

[Farris Blount III · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Three Mothers is an eye-opening read that encourages us to take seriously not only the ways in which Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, and James Baldwin were shaped by their mothers but also how these women resisted assaults on their own personhood as Black women and claimed their dignity when very few would. Drawing from a myriad of sources that indicates her prowess as a researcher and scholar, Malaika Tubbs does a masterful job of weaving together the stories of these women, their work, and their impact on their children to paint an accessible, thought-provoking portrait of the promise and pain of Black motherhood. Furthermore, by detailing these mothers’ lives through the historical context in which they were born, struggled, and strived, Malaika Tubbs skillfully reminds us that it is impossible to tell the story of America, much less the world, without centering the experiences of Black mothers in particular and Black women in general. This profound truth makes The Three Mothers required reading if we are to give an honest account about who we and the men we admire are indebted to, and who is owed our deepest respect, support, and love - Black women.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish I could give this 3.5 stars-I liked it, but I felt that it was hard to follow-the jumping between families made it difficult to remember who was who. I also thought there was a LOT of assuming about what is and isn't a good mother, and a lot of assumptions about the women's lives-how they felt about their husbands, their families, their roles. (she would have seen x, she would have been able to do y, etc.) I also wasn't wild about a line early on that said that the importance of a birth parent can't be overstated-that's just not true, and a lot of incredible parents aren't birth parents. Just rubbed me the wrong way right off the bat.

[Amanda Hupe · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Their lives did not begin with motherhood; on the contrary, long before their sons were even thoughts in their minds, each woman had her own passions, dreams, and identity.”

THE THREE MOTHERS
For me, Valentine’s Day is not just about romantic love. It can be about any love. The love for a parent, for a sibling, for a friend, for a fur-baby, and especially love for one’s child. The Three Mothers by Anna Malaika Tubbs shines a light on three women whose sons are some of America’s most beloved activists. It was their love and encouragement that made those boys into the men they would become. But before they were mothers, they were women. They were women with their own passions, dreams, and hopes.

Alberta Williams King was the mother of Martin Luther King Jr. She was born in 1904 in Atlanta, Georgia. Before she married Martin Luther King Sr. She went to school to get her teaching certificate and taught for a short time. Education was very important to her and something that she instilled in her children. When I simplify it like this, it sounds so generic. But what is missing is the struggle. As a Black woman in the United States at this time, she had faced every obstacle to keep her from getting an education. She became a huge part of the Ebenezer Baptist Church and founded its choir. She knew the dangers that her family faced in the fight for Civil Rights. Six years after the assassination of her son, she was also assassinated.

Louise Little was the mother of Malcolm X born in the year 1984 in Grenada. She is the granddaughter of Jupiter and Mary Jane Langdon who was kidnapped in Nigeria and sold into slavery. Louise was raised by her grandparents and later married Earl Little. They moved around a bit. They were often attacked and harassed by white supremacists. Earl died in 1931. Later, Louise would be institutionalized in a mental hospital against her will. She taught her children to always question everything, to educate themselves, and to never stand down. Malcolm X would go on to be a minister of Islam, human rights activist, and spokesman for black empowerment. While Louise was eventually released from the hospital, after what seemed an endless fight, she would have to endure the grief and horror of the assassination of her son in 1965.

Emma Berdis Baldwin was born in 1903 in Maryland. She would give birth to James Baldwin out of wedlock but they would move to Harlem in 1922. She not only had to endure racism as a Black woman but also as a single mother. She would marry David Baldwin in 1927. He was a Baptist preacher and he and James had a very difficult relationship. Go Tell It On The Mountain is a semi-autobiography written by James Baldwin about his childhood. Despite tensions at home, James Baldwin would always care for his mother and support her in any way he could. He would also go on to become a writer and activist. He died from stomach cancer in 1987. Berdis would live for another 12 years and after her death, she was buried next to her son.

These women lived through some of the most prominent events of the 20th century. Their experiences shaped them and their parenting. While a lot of information about them is not well-documented, it is important to not forget about them. They would all bury their sons, the sons that helped changed the world. The author did a fantastic job of researching these women. This book was inspired by the author becoming a mother herself and what it means to be a mother today. This book is absolutely phenomenal from beginning to end. I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars.

[Alexia · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Three Mothers is genius, well researched and crafted, and so full of love. I truly commend Tubbs for being able to see through the devastation and pain and create something that honors the lives of these women and gives Black women everywhere hope and inspiration. I'm going to break this review up by some of the sections in the book.

The Circumstances of Our Births cw:rape

I learned so much about the history of GA in this chapter, and really love how Tubbs grounded us in what was happening historically and culturally first in order to set the scene for what the three mothers would have to go through and overcome. This section also highlights the rape of Black girls and women. It's hard to read but also sets up Tubbs' later points about Black women having the choice of when to give birth being a revolutionary act.

The Denial of Our Existence

I never even thought of Black women also working factory jobs during WWI. There really is so much history we (Black women) are excluded from. Hidden figures for real. She also touches on the representation of Black kids in the media, and it really shows why representation is so important, especially when people try to make you doubt your greatness and think of you as inferior.

This section reminded me how easy it is to get angry when learning about Black history. It's really unfathomable to me how you could have so much hatred for someone based on the color of their skin and culture. But this section also led to me talking to my mom about our family history and the strength of my great grandmother, so I'm thankful for Tubbs' writing.

Our Trials, Tribulations, and Tragedies

I wish our people were given access to therapy and medication. Thinking about the pain and traumas that were passed unknowingly on because the root problems couldn't be addressed and were only exacerbated by the treatment of Black people in this country. And Louise's life really upset me the most. The way the state treated her and her family was terrible and yet I know that there must have been other mothers also ripped from their families. Our country is good at separating mothers and their children.

Loving Our Sons

This section took me almost an hour to get through because I was reading so many articles and watching clips about the events it talked about. That's another thing I loved about this book is that it makes (almost necessitates) you do your own research. I'm also thinking about the strength of these women who had to go on after the assassinations and deaths of their children even if they may have not wanted to. We are all the better for the sacrifices, grief, and pain these women had to experience.

The Circumstances of Our Deaths

I know that the book is about these three women, but I still appreciate how the book didn't end with the deaths of their sons. We got to see the impact the mothers continued to have on their families and communities. Also I had no idea about how the death of Alberta King happened, and I feel like that should be talked about just as much as her son's. The two situations do not live in a vacuum.

Our Lives Will Not Be Erased

I wholeheartedly agree with Tubbs that the stories of our existence and perseverance need to be told. I'm going to do a better job about asking for stories from my family.

Overall, this book was amazing, and I cannot recommend it enough.

[Celia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastically good book about three mothers, little known, who greatly influenced their famous sons.

Louise Little - mother of Malcolm X
Alberta King - mother of Martin Luther King, Jr
Berdis Baldwin - mother of James Baldwin

All were strong women, highly intelligent, and outlived their famous sons.

These quotes by each of their sons say quite a lot

I saw my mother’s face again, and felt, for the first time, how the stones of the road she had walked on must have bruised her feet. —JAMES BALDWIN

The mother is the first teacher of the child. The message she gives that child, that child gives to the world. —MALCOLM X

It is something like the mother giving birth to a child. While she is temporarily consoled by the fact that her pain is not just bare meaningless pain, she nevertheless experiences the pain. In spite of the fact that she realizes beneath her pain is the emergence of life in a radiant infant, she experiences the agony right on. —MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

5 stars

[Nerdette Podcast · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cannot recommend this book highly enough! The detailed examination of each of these three families, paired with heartrending historical and social context, creates a story that's important and utterly gorgeous.

[Lata · Rating 5 out of 5]

The text is gripping and illuminating. The content is heartbreaking, horrifying and infuriating. This is a reminder that great men come from somewhere, and their fathers are not the only influence upon their lives. In fact, in the cases of each of these greats: Malcolm X, Martin Luther King and James Baldwin, their mothers were critical to their senses of self worth and self-respect, and their education and strength.
These mothers were Berdis Baldwin, Alberta King and Louise Little. Each of these women came from different economic backgrounds, and had to deal with so much adversity personally, while raising their families amidst a culture that brutalized and murdered all African Americans. The author does a fantastic job of telling each woman's story, and showing how they were instrumental in keeping their families together to the best of their abilities and how they were sources of inspiration for their children and for their communities. This was a terrific book, a necessary book, and a reminder of the great importance and impact of Black women and mothers on society.

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an advance copy of this book from another online book group. I’m glad to have read this book because I learned background on Alberta King, Berdis Baldwin, and Louise Little that I didn’t previously know, but a good deal of what these mothers contributed to the lives of their sons seems to be what the reader would assume a “good” mother would do and the presumption that only their sons’ better traits were shaped by their mothers. I’m still not clear how these women had insights that shaped a nation; however, this book is a good introduction to the lives of Martin Luther King, Jr., James Baldwin, and Malcolm X.

[Dana DesJardins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tubbs is absolutely right that society seeks to efface Black mothers from history, and this book struggles to redress that injustice. By writing a social history inclusive of racialized gender violence, she locates each woman in her everyday context to show how she might have behaved. Unfortunately, if you know something about these women's sons, you will not learn much new here. That is all the more reason we need more efforts like this to reclaim these lost stories of perseverance and courage.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel the title is slightly misleading. I was expecting a lot more information on the three women. I found that there was very little about the details of their lives. She uses them as a way to highlight black female history in the USA. I noted a lot of books, articles and authors for further reading. At times it felt a little like reading a paper one hands in at university. There is quite a bit of repetition and sometimes spoon fed observations of consequences of how their actions affected those around them or the movement. However some might need that. It also jumps a lot from different time periods and digresses at times onto different subjects. I think I might have been less disappointed if the title had not led me to believe I would have learned more detail about the women in question. Despite the fact that she wanted to give women a voice she was doing it by discussing the famous men more than their mothers

Just as I was getting ready to move in to the last bit, wham! she slams you with the wonderfully passionate conclusion! Obviously opinionated but full of inspiration, rage and power. . I hope that she writes more about black women and their influence on history. I believe she's an author to watch.

[Kelly_Hunsaker_reads ... · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three Mothers is a difficult book for me to review. The story is of course uplifting and inspirational. These three women were courageous, strong mothers. Their stories are eye-opening. I found myself sad for their suffering, and angry at the world they found themselves living in. It made me feel the devastation that comes from acknowledging all the ways my country hasn't changed. The perspective of the book is unique, thought-provoking and interesting. I do wish it were longer, and that I could have spent more time in each of their shoes.

[Zoe Giles · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Through the lives of the three mothers - Alberta, Berdis, and Louise - I honor Black motherhood as a whole and celebrate knowledge passed from generation to generation through the bodies and teachings of Black women.”

This book does exactly what it sets out to do in the title: it teaches you about the absolute brilliance of the three women who raised leaders of the civil rights movement in America. It also does so much more than that. It writes these women back into history which by extension writes the experiences of many Black women back into the spotlight. It highlights the intersectionality of the prejudice Black women have historically faced. It gives credit to not only these women, but the women who raised them and so on, for the teachings and perseverance that shaped a movement. It also demonstrates the ways in which these structural systems of oppression still affect Black experiences, with a focus on Black women and mothers, today.

This is a hard book to read in terms of the anger, sadness, and horror that it includes, but simply ignoring works like this because it is often harrowing is counterproductive to achieving the change we need, particularly if you are a white person who is largely unaffected by political systems and cultural norms that benefit you.

We know slavery and the Jim Crow era was awful, but knowing that it was awful and reminding ourselves of the specific events, case studies, lives affected, and statistics is different, and is extremely important. It is clear that these ‘historic’ events have a direct relation to the systems in place today, and therefore need to be remembered and examined in order to keep enacting the change we need.

I will never be able to explain or demonstrate the importance of this book better than Anna Malaika Tubbs does herself within the first chapter. Number 1 because I’m not a writer, and Number 2 because I’m white and while I can read about and listen to Black people's and other POC’s experiences, I can never experience it myself. I’m just here to implore all of my followers to please pick up this book and listen to and learn the history recorded here for yourself.

This book explored the lives of the three women who birthed well-known sons in the civil rights movements. It detailed their individual histories: where they came from, their family, the lessons and experiences they encountered as children and young adults. It also acknowledges their trials and tribulations growing up in the era of extreme racism whilst demonstrating how these women were so much more than their oppression. They were the ways they overcame this, the values they held dear, the lives they lived prior to becoming mothers as well as the lessons they instilled in their children.

The author describes finding the information about these women’s lives to write this book as ‘like finding a needle in a haystack’. Though the three men they raised, as well as their other children, repeatedly refer to their mothers as the source of their knowledge and power, history has erased them from the narrative. They were not given the credit they were deserved while they were alive, and this book is the first (incredibly written and executed) step to giving credit not just to these three women, but to Black mothers everywhere. This book demonstrates how Black mothers have been in the unique position of raising children who have the odds stacked against them from even before birth, and having to teach their children that they are more than the world around them will tell them.

“In a Black mother’s teachings lies a world beyond what currently exists.”

What is also stressed within this book is how these racist structural systems of oppression still continue to affect Black women today; they are more likely to experience discrimination based on stereotypes, they are more likely to experience domestic violence, and are less likely to get help in systems such as mental health or police protection. Black women are more likely to be imprisoned and given harsher sentences than their white counterparts; not because they commit more/worse crimes but because they are less likely to have the resources to lessen these sentences and less likely to get fair trials. There are countless ways in which they are negatively affected, all rooted in the events covered in this book, which need to be listened to and changed.

However, the survival and perseverance of Black motherhood is also celebrated within this book. It is celebrated in the work that Alberta, Berdis, and Louise did for their families and their community. It is celebrated in the way that Black women have survived innumerable obstacles and continue to do so. It is celebrated through the love these women, and many like them, inspired, and the communities of support they built.

“It is crucial to understand the layers of oppression Black women face, while remembering that solely studying oppression keeps us from honoring ‘the ways in which we have created and maintained our own intellectual traditions as Black women.’”

This book was truly incredible. I couldn't have enjoyed learning about these three women and their accomplishments more, and I have an even deeper appreciation for Alberta, Berdis, and Louise, as well as Black mothers everywhere.

I could not recommend picking up this book more.

[Cindy Burnett (Thoughts from a Page) · Rating 5 out of 5]

While much is known about Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcom X, and James Baldwin, most people are unfamiliar with the exceptional women who raised these three great men: Alberta King, Louise Little and Berdis Baldwin. In her seminal debut, Anna Tubbs brings these women’s stories to life and emphasizes their efforts to inspire and protect their children who were born into a society that resented them from day one. This beautiful homage to black motherhood is highly relevant for today’s world.

Want to hear more about this book? Listen to my spoiler-free podcast interview with Anna here: https://www.thoughtsfromapage.com/s1e70. For more book reviews and book conversation, check out my Instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/thoughtsfro....

[Brian Eshleman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Preachy. Three real women who were interesting to learn about when the author got out of the way become puppets for her polemic parable on contemporary issues.

[Diane Wilkes · Rating 2 out of 5]

If I asked you why I decided to read The Three Mothers: How the Mothers of MLK, Jr., Malcolm X, and James Baldwin Shaped a Nation, you'd have to guess it was because I wanted to know about the mothers of these three men, correct?

On that count, I'd have to say I am exceedingly disappointed.

I already knew about the lives of these three men. I have read several MLK, Jr. biographies and read The Autobiography of Malcolm X at least 20 times, beginning in 6th or 7th grade. I found the story of his life incredibly compelling. While I had read two novels by James Baldwin by the time I graduated high school (one assigned, one for pure pleasure), I didn't know much about him until recently, when I watched a documentary and read Eddie Glaude's book, Begin Again: James Baldwin's America and Its Urgent Lessons for Our Own, which is such an important book and one I recommend to anyone reading this review.

I thought Ms. Tubbs might separate the women into individual sections and tell their life stories, but she conglomerated them all in a way that made for a very confusing and unfulfilling stew. I figured out why: she didn't have enough information about any of these women that would fill an actual book. So it's scatttered with stories of Emmit Till and Serena Williams and a backdrop of constant invasive lessons about racism in America, beginning with slavery, mostly focusing on the time periods in which these women lived, but even including up to now.

I can honestly say that I learned very little about these women, but between what I already knew and the book itself, I think there is almost nothing that links them besides being Black women in a racist America.

Tubbs gives short shrift to how abusive the husbands of two of these women were, except to blame that abuse on racism. I think that insults the millions of Black men who lived during that time who lived through racism and managed not to physically abuse their wives and children. I know that's not the author's intention, but by attempting to whitewash their abuse with the excuse of racism, it does just that.

Louise Little, Malcolm's mother, was institutionalized for over twenty years and received dubious treatment during that time. Again, this is all attributed to racism but the reality is that the treatment of mentally ill people was exceedingly new and dubious.

I am not someone who has to be convinced of racism and how deeply it pervades every single thing in America, and I am not the target audience of this book, I think. She is writing primarily to and for Black people and they definitely know better than I how pervasive racism is and much of the history of race in America.

There is so much more I could criticize precisely because I don't like any author to be so heavy-handed, and--in my eyes--Tubbs is. Find me a modern treatise on psychology or mothering that suggests that the best thing for a child is to be moved to a dangerous place (the Littles moved to Omaha because they were promoting Garveyism, and after race riots, some Blacks have fought back with guns in Omaha--a place that Garvey thought might be tillable soil for his movement) or to stay with a man who consistently and violently beat the crap out of his kids (James Baldwin's mother, Berdis). I am not blaming Berdis, or any woman during that time who felt she had no choices, but Tubbs creates a false hagiography, constantly imbalanced in favor of deification.

One of the things I love about the author Robert Caro is that he shows who LBJ is without judgment. The incredibly impressive and the incredibly nauseating facts of LBJ's life are displayed for us, the readers. He requires the reader to understand that life and people's lives are filled with complexity and duality.

Perhaps because Black women have always received the short end of the stick in our racist America, that's a luxury Tubbs didn't feel she could afford. But that's no excuse for the paucity of material about these women that is larded with history and impassioned harangues that I almost always agree with, even as I have quibbles with the way she makes some claims about race being the issue when it's often the treatment of all women, or all mentally ill people, etc.

She notes that she wrote this book when Trump was President and let's face it, that period screwed with the heads of most POC and/or women and/or those not in his death cult. I was an emotional basket case myself during that time, so kudos to her for managing to write a book during that time.

One point she makes is that 53% of White women voted for Trump. This fact disgusted me at the time and, while I sure didn't vote for him, it made me ashamed to be a White woman. But after reading the bulk of this book by the time she brings this up, I couldn't help but realize that means 47% of White women voted for Clinton. Most statisticians would say that three percent is not a wide marginal difference.

In other words, after reading this book, I was looking for the cup to be half-full. That's a joke. But I remember making phone calls for the Clinton campaign all over the country and several times, enough to be a pattern, I'd hear women lower their voices to a whisper when I told them why I was calling. They were scared that their men--fathers and/or husbands--would discover that they were registered Democrats (and the calls were only to registered Democrats) who planned to voted against Trump.

I was shocked and horrified by the experience. I couldn't imagine being terrified of someone in my life based on my vote. And now, as I think about it, these were all WHITE women. Black women, in my experience, "don't take no mess." (Of course that's just another stereotype. But that's been my overwhelming 63 year old experience of Black women, who I revere as strong and compassionate in equal measure--and again, that's based on my experience.)

All of which to say, I found this book very disappointing, even though I agreed with the author on almost everything. I suspect that Tubbs could have written far more about Alfreda King, Martin's mother, because there would be more information about her from the histories of the Ebenezer Baptist Church and the many people whom she impacted in her life, but didn't want to write an uneven book--I'm guessing there's much less material on Louise Little and Berdis Baldwin.

But I'd also think that there are enough living relatives on both those women to discover and share many more anecdotes. I didn't get more of a sense of Alfreda King, Louise Little, or Berdis Baldwin the I had before I read this book, so I feel a little cheated. Others may feel differently.

Tubbs often cites Melissa Harris-Perry's book Sister Citizen, and it reminded me how much I admire Harris-Perry, having seen her countless times on MSNBC. The book is only $1.99 on Kindle and I snapped it up. So I'm glad for the reminder. I am happy to read books on this subject--I just don't want to read a book that I think will be about one thing only to discover that it's not.

I agree with the author that their names should be spoken and known. I just wish that we knew MORE.

[Tomes And Textiles · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this look at these three mothers and how they and their experiences influenced their children. More thoughts to come soon, but this was a really beautiful nonfiction.

[Donna Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever wondered what upraising someone like Adolf Hitler had that would shape him into the monster he became? What about someone on the opposite end of the spectrum? Like Martin Luther King, or Malcolm X, or the brilliant James Baldwin. Well, Anna Malaika Tubbs decided to find out who were the mothers who shaped the lives of these three remarkable figures, and how influential each mother’s life experiences and teachings were on her son’s views and actions.

The book is about Louise Little, mother of Malcolm X; Alberta King, mother of Martin Luther King; and Berdis Baldwin, mother of James Baldwin. It is also about their ability to raise their children in the face of racism.

The first of the three mothers was born in the late 1890s, and the last of the three passed in the late 1990s, and each was alive to bury her son.

Born in Granada, Louise’s West African ancestors were descendants of slaves, fought against the French an British colonizers. She learned that “sacrificing one’s life in the name of freedom was more admirable than living in captivity.” Her grandfather passed away in 1901 leaving her grandmother to raise six children and a grandchild alone. This influence was the radical feminist energy that shaped her. She was born in 1897, possibly the product of rape, judging by her pale skin tone.

Alberta Christine Williams was born in 1903 in Atlanta, Georgia. Her father was the head pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church. Founded in 1886, this church became a symbol of hope and resistance to oppression in the face of Jim Crow. “Between 1890 and 1917, two to three Black southerners were murdered each week,” and the highest number of rapes and lynching occurred in this period of time because “Violence against all Black people was justified by the law.”

Emma Berdis Jones was born on Deal Island, Maryland, in 1903, where “As early as 1796, the federal government issued Seamen’s Protection Certificates which defined these black merchant mariners as ‘citizens’—America’s first black citizens.” Emma, who went by Berdis, her middle name, was shown love and strength by her father and four older siblings after mother died when she was born.

The years after WWI saw the Great Migration and the expansion of Black nationalism. All thee of these women learned self-determination from their elders. In 1917 Louise moved to Montreal where “she could channel her anger against white supremacy, where she could use her writing to advance the cause of her people, where she could join others in the fight for Black independence.” Meanwhile, Alberta’s parents were raising her with a strong religious faith, while teaching her to be an activist. She was raised with “examples of resistance in the name of humanity and love.” Berdis joined the Great Migration ending up in New York City.

These three women were brilliant students, in spite of “the terror the KKK and Jim Crow inflicted.” In the fifty years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation, Black people saw little change in their lives. “The families of Berdis, Alberta, and Louise encouraged them to believe in their dreams and future possibilities.”

The book goes into great detail of the lynchings, rapes and other atrocities that frequently occurred throughout this period. It also details the involvement of Back women in the fight for women’s suffrage and their contributions to the Harlem Renaissance.

In 1924, Berdis gave birth to a son out of wedlock. Her marriage to David Baldwin suffered because he was “constrained by the lack of opportunities and fair treatment for Black men.” David was increasingly violent and later succumbed to mental illness. Berdis became a single mother of nine at the age of forty-one. James did most of the child rearing.

Alberta married Michael King in 1926, and when she was barred from teaching, taught her husband and children to read and write. Michael, Jr (later renamed Martin Luther) was born in 1929. Martin and his siblings were “the products of a long line of activists and ministers.”

Louise married Earl Little in 1919, and they committed themselves to committed to “spreading Garvey’s message of the African empire and Black self-reliance.” They were under constant threat by the KKK and the Black Legion, moving from city to city. Malcolm was born in Omaha in 1925, shortly after a white mob had surrounded his mother and siblings alone in their home, threatening to kill them. Louise, pregnant with Malcolm, stood up to the mob, which eventually left after only damaging the house. Subsequently they were burned out of a farm in Lansing, Michigan, but remarkably they continued to recover and rebuild their lives. When Earl was pushed under a streetcar, Louise became a single mother of seven. She was denied his insurance money because they said he had committed suicide. She was institutionalized in an insane asylum against her will for 25 years, causing the family to disintegrate.

From the moment they were born, David, Michael, and Earl “each faced the challenges of being seen and treated as less than, as unworthy of respect. Learning how the world viewed them threatened even their own view of themselves.” We are able to see the three women were able to advance their lives and the lives of the children while facing constant stresses on the marriages.

The Kings had the most economic and familial support. The Littles had the support of the UNIA (United Negro Improvement Assoc., founded by Garvey). The Baldwins had none of support, but relied on Berdis, who had the “incredible ability to forgive, to provide, and to love no matter how impossible things might seem.” The women continually stressed the importance of education, and pushed to instill integrity, fairness, and the value of hard work in their children.

The book details James Baldwin’s travels, writing development, and his meeting with Martin Luther King. We also read about Martin’s educational achievements and his ministry. Then there’s Malcom’s sporadic education, brushes with the law, and ten-year prison sentence. The death of Emmett Till and it’s effect on his writing. Also we read about the relationship between his books and what was going on around him. James wanted to cast his mother in his Broadway play, “Blues for Mister Charlie.”

“In 1957, Alberta was named “Mother of the Year” by the Atlanta Daily World newspaper.” She also was acknowledged as one of the mother’s of the Civil Rights Movement. Also detailed is Martin’s 1963 speech in Washington DC and his acceptance of the Nobel Peace Prize. He was later shot to death in Memphis in 1968.

Malcom converted and then repudiated Islam, and then began “traveling around the world on his mission to better understand global civil rights movements.” He was able to reunite with his mother, when she was released from the asylum, just prior to his shooting death in Harlem in 1965.

“Some say that by the 1960s, Malcolm, Martin, and James found themselves more in line with one another than they ever had before.” In 1986 James succumbed to cancer. Berdis, Louise and Alberta each suffered the pain of burying a son. These three Black mothers “allowed their children to thrive even when all odds were stacked against them.”

In 1974 Alberta King was shot and killed. Louise Little passed away in 1991 in Michigan. Berdis Baldwin passed away peacefully in Washington DC in 1999. “The fact that each woman lived a very full life despite losing their sons speaks to their resilience and their view of their own worth.”

Sorry that I went on so long. The book is well worth the read. The research is extensive, and the conclusions are insightful.

[Evalynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been wanting to read this book since it was first released, having been drawn in by the cover: I love glancing at it, and being able to immediately tell who is the mother of each prominent activist, as each woman bears a striking resemblance to her son. The calm, steady, peaceful gaze, nose, and full lips of Alberta King, which she gave to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The distinct eyes of Berdis Baldwin, which she gave to James Baldwin. The righteous ire and communicative power of Louise Little's expression, which she gave to Malcom X. It was also good to look back at the cover each time I set the book down, and picked it back up again to answer the question of, "What were their mothers like, and what experiences had they lived?" I was fortunate enough to find a copy secondhand and to be able to read it throughout the week of MLK Day 2025, a time in which it is still very needed. 

At times, the writing of this book was a bit hard to follow as it wound through history or other related events, while sometimes also risking being redundant in order to restate its main points, as it was quite scholarly in tone. However, it was extremely successful in driving home its core message, and that is what ultimately matters most. I learned so much about these three women, who otherwise are not spoken of, recognized, or remembered nearly often enough. I had never been told that not only was MLK, Jr. assassinated, but his mom was, too. That his brother A.D. also died under tragic circumstances. That Louise Little was wrongfully institutionalized for more than a quarter of her life, only to lose her son so soon after being released. That Berdis was such a light, who reminds me a bit of my own grandmother in her unwavering ability to embody positivity and love. 

I went looking for more books on Alberta King's life in particular, hoping that since her son is arguably deemed the most acceptable by white Americans of being celebrated there would be something more written about her, only to be sorely disappointed and wanting to learn more. All this to say, I am so grateful to Anna Malaika Tubbs for endeavoring to write this book; to not forget these three women, ever. 

[Aubrei K (earlgreypls) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

This book was packed with information about the civil rights movement and the families of Martin Luther King Jr, James Baldwin, and Malcom X. However, I think it partially failed in its goal to focus on the mothers of these three men. The author did their best with the information they could find, but without journal entries or primary accounts directly from these women.. a lot of it felt like speculation.

There were also big chunks of time where we focused on the lives of the sons and didn’t learn about what their moms were doing at all. For example, Louise (Malcom’s mother) was in a mental institution for ~25~ years, and sadly there just wasn’t any info about that chunk of her life (understandably).

One thing I think this book did really well was connect stereotypes and micro aggressions against black americans to their origins. It did a great job of illustrating how important our history is and how we are so connected to the past and our ancestors. Not as much has changed since the 1960s as we would like to believe.

Overall I would recommend this book, but as a snippet into the lives of these 3 women through the frame of what was going on in the world around them. There were graphic depictions of racist violence, so please be prepared for that before picking it up. I think this is an important read, especially for white people!

[April (whataprilreads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3✨

I went into this reading experience with so much excitement and intrigue. And while I won’t say it was terrible by any means, I just don’t think it was executed in a way that ended up working for me. I think I struggled to with following each woman’s story (we often jumped between families) on top of feeling as though this was mostly speculation and not much could be confirmed through research (which the author does explain at the end). Another reviewer astutely said, it felt like we were learning about a specific period of the civil rights movement and 3 prolific players/leaders- and then tossed a line or two about how their mother’s influencer/impacted/supported them. It was interesting to hear about where these women were from and to celebrate their lives and conviction, especially in relation to the men they raised, but somehow it still didn’t feel like enough. I am glad that I finally cracked this open and I would love to read more about the mothers in so many other spaces, who have greatly impacted the thinking and actions of other historical figures/leaders/etc.

[Tara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was quite excited to read this book. I spent a good deal of time in college researching the Civil Rights Era, so I had a lot of interest going into this one. To be clear it's a well-written, well-researched, and overall good read. However, it reads and feels very much like a dissertation. The potential with this subject matter was very much there, but the execution of it will not necessarily garner a large audience.

I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

[Diane Law · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was interesting to read about these three remarkable mothers and the impact they humbly had on their sons.
I found the book a bit choppy and somewhat repetitive so therefore confusing at times. It also seemed speculative in parts, which is ok if assumptions need to be made, but it also distractacted from the story.
However, I learned a lot about the strength of these women and am glad I read it.

[Sharon Orlopp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anna Malaika Tubbs has researched and written an incredible book about the critical role the mothers of Martin Luther King Jr, Malcolm X and James Baldwin played in shaping history.

The mothers' demonstration of love, ability to overcome challenges, and sheer determination to demonstrate that each of their children were worthy resonated and set their children on a path that changed the lives of millions.

[Bitchin' Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful. Enlightening. Thoroughly explored and wonderfully expressed. Worth a read!