The Three Mothers
How the Mothers of Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, and James Baldwin Shaped a Nation
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3.9 • 16 Ratings
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
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 Beginning
Much 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' 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"
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.
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
There are many excellent books about the leaders of the civil rights movement. Still, an essential aspect of their lives often gets left out: The inspiring women who raised them. This stunning collective biography by scholar Anna Malaika Tubbs gives Alberta King, Louise Little, and Berdis Baldwin the recognition they deserve, not only as the mothers who shaped Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, and James Baldwin into the men they became, but as Black women taking a stand against everyday prejudice and institutionalized racism during the Jim Crow era. We’ll never forget stories like the bravery Little showed in the face of a threatening police officer on horseback or the defiant encouragement Baldwin gave her brilliant and sensitive son despite his father’s disapproval and abuse. The Three Mothers is a historical pageturner with an important message—often it takes a hero to raise a hero.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Educator Tubbs debuts with 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. Though these women have been "almost entirely ignored throughout history," Tubbs writes, their teachings and approaches to motherhood "were translated directly into their sons' writing, speeches and protests." All three overcame prejudice and social restrictions on an almost daily basis and "strove to equip their children not only to face the world but to change it," Tubbs writes. Alberta King (ne Williams) earned a college degree and became a leader of Ebenezer Baptist Church, where her father, husband, and son all served as pastors. Louise Little (ne Langdon), an immigrant from Grenada, was a leader in the Marcus Garvey movement. Berdis Baldwin (ne Jones) raised her children single-handedly after her husband's death, and pushed them to fight hard for their educational opportunities. Though the world "tried to deny their humanity and their existence," Tubbs writes, Alberta, Louise, and Berdis gave their sons the foundation to achieve greatness. 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.
Customer Reviews
Tubbs Uncovers The Mystery of What Made Three Leaders Great
No one work truly tells the breadth of the Black experience in America throughout its history. In light of our erasure, we can only hope to piece together the fragments of the puzzle. The Three Mothers, poignantly written by Anna Malaika Tubbs, is an essential entry into the canon of African American history, told through the eyes of three phenomenal Black women whose own lives informed that of their sons. James Baldwin, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcom X helped shape and strengthen our identity as a people and usher us toward a more inclusive society, but—as Tubbs convincingly illustrates, the love, wisdom and guidance of their mothers was their North Star.
I expected more
I began The Three Mothers with genuine anticipation, hoping to gain deeper insight into the love, devotion, and lasting influence that these specific mothers carried within their souls and passed on to their children. The premise was compelling, and I expected a moving exploration of motherhood’s transformative power.
While I recognize the importance of confronting the painful realities of racism and acknowledge that these historical truths deserve thoughtful attention, I found the narrative to focus heavily—at times overwhelmingly—on the atrocities and systemic injustices surrounding the era. Although these elements are undeniably significant, I was not expecting the book to center so extensively on them.
I respect Anna Tubbs’ perspective and the research that clearly went into this work. However, at times the tone felt politically one-sided. Given the book’s emphasis on injustice and division, I had hoped for a broader call toward collective healing and encouragement for all women, rather than what felt like a focus limited to specific groups.
That said, I did learn a great deal and gained meaningful historical insight. What stood out most to me was the enduring strength of a mother’s love despite injustice and hardship.
Ultimately, our greatest hope does not rest in society but in Jesus. Scripture reminds us that “love covers a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8), and through Christ’s love we find healing, redemption, and the power to do better. Even in a broken world, His love remains our sure foundation.