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A review by curlyhairbibliophile
The Three Mothers: How the Mothers of Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, and James Baldwin Shaped a Nation by Anna Malaika Tubbs
informative
reflective
slow-paced
1.5
UGH, this was the classic example of a book with an incredible premise, but poor execution. :(
Much of the lives of Berdis Baldwin, Louise Little, and Alberta King have been lost to time and erasure. In history books and our recounting of their sons' lives and legacies, these three women have often been left out or only included as mere footnotes. I was hoping this book would introduce us to these women, the lives they led, and the passions they had.
Unfortunately, it didn't do much of anything it set out to do. THE THREE MOTHERS recounted the histories of MLK, Malcolm X, and James Baldwin and included a section about how their mothers supported them and loved them. Or, it speculated about the beliefs the three mothers may have had, but no citation of actual primary sources.
If you have NO background or information on Black history (ie: great migration, Jim Crow laws, garveyism), this is a great book for you. It is a digestible introduction to many histories and ideas.
However, if you want more information about these women, I recommend reading the works of these three men where they reference and discuss their mothers. Autobiography of Malcolm X, Go Tell It on The Mountain, and this article on Alberta King are great places to start.
Much of the lives of Berdis Baldwin, Louise Little, and Alberta King have been lost to time and erasure. In history books and our recounting of their sons' lives and legacies, these three women have often been left out or only included as mere footnotes. I was hoping this book would introduce us to these women, the lives they led, and the passions they had.
Unfortunately, it didn't do much of anything it set out to do. THE THREE MOTHERS recounted the histories of MLK, Malcolm X, and James Baldwin and included a section about how their mothers supported them and loved them. Or, it speculated about the beliefs the three mothers may have had, but no citation of actual primary sources.
If you have NO background or information on Black history (ie: great migration, Jim Crow laws, garveyism), this is a great book for you. It is a digestible introduction to many histories and ideas.
However, if you want more information about these women, I recommend reading the works of these three men where they reference and discuss their mothers. Autobiography of Malcolm X, Go Tell It on The Mountain, and this article on Alberta King are great places to start.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Hate crime, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Grief, and Murder