Earlier this year, I wrote a blog post about resolutions and how I wanted to read more. I just read my “1st book” for the year called “Three mothers” by Anna Maliaka Tubbs. Before I go into the awesomeness of this book, I would like to first thank God and computer science for audiobooks. I have struggled with reading books this year. In fact, the reason I just finished my “first book” is that I haven’t had time to read books. I have discovered audiobooks especially the application called scribd and I am never going back.

Now to the lessons, I learnt from this book

LEARNT THEIR NAMES

I read a lot of black and women’s history and it never crossed my mind to know about the mothers of Malcolm x, Martin Luther King jr, and James Baldwin. When I first saw this book, I thought “this is intriguing”. The first thing I learnt was their names. Malcolm X mother’s name was Louise Little (born Lousie Langdon). She was born in Grenada and migrated to America. Martin Luther King’s mother was named Alberta Williams King. Her parents were the head pastors of the famous Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta. James Baldwin’s mother was Emma Berdis Jones. Love that the books fought the erasure by telling us their names and their stories.

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE BLACK CHURCH

This book showed the importance of the black church when it comes to restoration, hope, black dignity, and civil rights. The church was involved in organizing boycotts, helping black businesses, and providing welfare and housing.

SHOWED HOW THE MOTHERS SHAPED THEIR VIEWS

I now understand why MLK geared towards non-violence, Malcolm x geared towards insisting on black dignity & confidence and James moved towards transcending suffering. This book showed how much of a role the mothers played in shaping their sons’ views and the men they became.

HOW BLACK WOMEN DEFINED BLACK WOMANHOOD

The book explained how the mothers and the women around that time went about defining black womanhood. How the three mothers and the women of the Harlem Renaissance eg Bessie Smith, Zora Neale Hurston, etc went against the Jezebel and mammy trope. “Three mothers” stated how black women also had opinions and talents.

JIM CROW, DEATH AND THE DESTRUCTION OF BLACK BUSINESS

Alberta was born into the mess called Jim Crow. There were various lynchings and political leaders publicly proclaiming that they would put “uppity black people” in their place.

Also somehow we had cities of black businesses thriving eg Sweet Auburn etc. They had preserving despite racism. Basically thriving not just surviving. Unfortunately, these cities were destroyed by white racist riots.

I think it’s a good book which I recommend. Did disagree with some parts especially with including trans women in the analysis at the end. I don’t see the point about adding transwomen’s narrative to a book on black women. Still recommend it because it’s rich in history and very good.

Have you read Three mothers?

If yes, what did you think about the book?

If no, are you willing to read the book after this review?