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![Anna Malaika Tubbs - [object Object] author](https://res.cloudinary.com/readsomnia/image/upload/authors/a_B08R26LFBG.jpg)
Three Mothers
A New York Times Bestseller
"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 Beginning
Much has been written about Berdis Baldwin's son James, about Alberta King's son Martin, and about Louise Little's son Malcolm. But virtually nothing has been said about the extraordinary women who raised them, whose lives spanned Jim Crow, the Great Migration, the civil rights movement, and the specific prejudices Black women faced during these and many more pivotal moments in American history. Berdis, Alberta, and Louise pushed their sons toward greatness with the conviction that all human beings deserve dignity and respect, teaching resistance and a fundamental belief in the worth of Black people. These women, their similarities and their differences as individuals and as mothers, represent a piece of history left untold and a celebration of Black motherhood long overdue.
A B&N Monthly Pick
A Phenomenal Books Club Highlight
A New York Times Bestsellers Editors' Choice
An Amazon Editor's Pick for February
Amazon's Best Biographies and Memoirs of 2021
One 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"
"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 Beginning
Much has been written about Berdis Baldwin's son James, about Alberta King's son Martin, and about Louise Little's son Malcolm. But virtually nothing has been said about the extraordinary women who raised them, whose lives spanned Jim Crow, the Great Migration, the civil rights movement, and the specific prejudices Black women faced during these and many more pivotal moments in American history. Berdis, Alberta, and Louise pushed their sons toward greatness with the conviction that all human beings deserve dignity and respect, teaching resistance and a fundamental belief in the worth of Black people. These women, their similarities and their differences as individuals and as mothers, represent a piece of history left untold and a celebration of Black motherhood long overdue.
A B&N Monthly Pick
A Phenomenal Books Club Highlight
A New York Times Bestsellers Editors' Choice
An Amazon Editor's Pick for February
Amazon's Best Biographies and Memoirs of 2021
One 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"
Editorial Reviews
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
A New York Times Bestsellers Editors' Choice
NPR Books We Love 2021
Business Insider's "23 Best History Books Written by Women"
One of the Skimm'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"
"This dynamic blend of biography and manifesto centers on Louise Little, Alberta King, and Berdis Baldwin―the mothers of, respectively, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, Jr., and James Baldwin―women whose legacies, as Tubbs notes, have been overlooked. Using them as a window into the varieties of Black American experience.... Tubbs's book stands against the women's erasure, a monument to their historical importance. As Malcolm X put it, 'All our achievements are mom's.'" ―The New Yorker's "Briefly Noted" column
"This ambitious book reframes African American history, supplying the female Black experience as a much-needed perspective." ―The Washington Post
"Tubbs's portrait is an intimate narrative that aims to link not only Little, King and Baldwin, but all Black mothers... the intersections she highlights are beautiful." ―The New York Times Book Review
"An engrossing triple biography of Alberta King, mother of Martin Luther King Jr.; Louise Little, mother of Malcom X; and Berdis Baldwin, mother of James Baldwin... Tubbs skillfully draws parallels between each woman's story, and vividly captures the early years of the civil rights movement. This immersive history gives credit where it's long overdue."―Publishers Weekly
A New York Times Bestsellers Editors' Choice
NPR Books We Love 2021
Business Insider's "23 Best History Books Written by Women"
One of the Skimm'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"
"This dynamic blend of biography and manifesto centers on Louise Little, Alberta King, and Berdis Baldwin―the mothers of, respectively, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, Jr., and James Baldwin―women whose legacies, as Tubbs notes, have been overlooked. Using them as a window into the varieties of Black American experience.... Tubbs's book stands against the women's erasure, a monument to their historical importance. As Malcolm X put it, 'All our achievements are mom's.'" ―The New Yorker's "Briefly Noted" column
"This ambitious book reframes African American history, supplying the female Black experience as a much-needed perspective." ―The Washington Post
"Tubbs's portrait is an intimate narrative that aims to link not only Little, King and Baldwin, but all Black mothers... the intersections she highlights are beautiful." ―The New York Times Book Review
"An engrossing triple biography of Alberta King, mother of Martin Luther King Jr.; Louise Little, mother of Malcom X; and Berdis Baldwin, mother of James Baldwin... Tubbs skillfully draws parallels between each woman's story, and vividly captures the early years of the civil rights movement. This immersive history gives credit where it's long overdue."―Publishers Weekly
Readers Top Reviews
EdwardCatherine M
Very interesting. I am a huge fan of the work of James Baldwin and interested in the lives of Malcolm X and MLK. This authoritative and engaging book highlights an oft-overlooked aspect of these figures lives alongside a wider discussion of the pressures of raising a child as a black American. As a white British male it gave me much to muse.
JMacEdwardCatheri
This book is an insightful journey into the lives of three important women. I finished it in one night. It opens the door to so many more questions about these women that I hope this is the first of many forays into research about them. Who knew the tragic circumstances in the King’s lives including the death of two sons and the killing of his mother.; or that Malcolm X’s mother lived many years after his assassination. These stories have never been told. The historical context in which the book is written is fantastic. One suggestion is to include the women’s names either above or below their pictures, which are on the book’s cover. Their names are in a micro font at the back page at the bottom of the book jacket. This placement obscured the women’s identities yet again —- when the purpose of the book was to bring their names, faces and identities to the forefront. Overall this book is a great read. I am excited to research and learn more about these women.
Torrie A.JMacEdwa
THIS IS A MUST READ! I have never felt so many emotions in one setting. The amazing thing about this book “The Three Mothers...” is that you don’t have to be a Mother to understand it, you don’t have to be a Woman or even a Person of Color, you simply just need to be a human to gather and understand the beautiful and brave stories of these women. It’s not just about the Three Mother’s, but it’s history, story telling of the generations that have passed and it’s captivating at all levels. In one passage I can recall feeling inspired, angry, hopeful, scared and proud. I don’t even know how that’s possible. The author, Anna Malaika Tubbs, uses her words to inspire, to educate and to reveal what has since been lost by telling the story of The Three Mothers, the women who undoubtedly shaped this nation!
judith vindicieli
The book is 220 pages long and I don't think 50 pages was actually about these women. Most of it is a history of the challenges of being a proud and self-respected black person during the 19th & 20th centuries. You will never learn how these women--who each sound remarkable-- actually parented. There was way to much generalizing about racist social patterns. For instance the author suggests that social workers were overbearing, intrusive , and unhelpful to the Little and Baldwin families. How? Were they treated differently from the way white poor families were treated?
CuseMeghjudith vi
I am so grateful to Malaika Tubbs for writing this book. Aside from the important lessons shared, The Three Mothers were incredible women who 100% deserve to be known for their contributions to their families, communities and this world. I'm heartbroken pieces of their stories are long-gone and like Malaika Tubbs, can't help but think of all the other incredible women whose contributions, courage and strength have been lost in history. Each women's story brought about different emotions - I felt the fear Alberta felt for son's work, I felt the strength of Louise as she stood up to the many injustices she faced, and I felt the heartache of Berdis when she laid her son to rest. And given the amount of information the author was able to uncover on each of the mothers - I feel she did an excellent job balancing the their stories while drawing important parallels to what we are seeing in the USA and world today. Spoiler alert: Sadly, not much has changed. Which is why this book is so important. We can ALL learn from these women (and LISTEN to the activists of today) and together we must continue their work - continue to fight against injustice and racial inequality - and believe in a better tomorrow! I whole-heartedly recommend this book.
