The Three Mothers

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

By: Anna Malaika Tubbs

Narrated by: Anna Malaika Tubbs

2021 NPR Best Book of the Year

This program is read by the author.

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.

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.

A Macmillan Audio production from Flatiron Books

"The Three Mothers is a fascinating exploration into the lives of three women ignored by history after raising sons who helped shape a movement. By tracing the intellectual, political, and emotional strands of each woman’s life, Anna Malaika Tubbs uncovers hidden complexities within black motherhood that illuminate our understanding of the past while also shedding light on the overlooked contributions of black women today. An eye-opening, engrossing read!" (Brit Bennet, New York Times best-selling author of The Vanishing Half and The Mothers)

"Anna's 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 Anna's writing, Berdis, Alberta, and Louise's stories sing. Theirs is a history forgotten that begs to be told, and Anna tells it brilliantly." (Ibram X. Kendi, number one New York Times best-selling author of How to Be an Antiracist and National Book Award winner Stamped from the Beginning)

©2021 Anna Nti-Asare-Tubbs (P)2021 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

"Anna Malaika Tubbs’ magnificent debut The Three Mothers is an intimate explication of motherhood as the shoulders upon which children stand...a literary declaration that Black women know best how to survive in this broken world while actively mending it for everyone." (Julie Lythcott-Haims, New York Times best-selling author of Real American and How to Raise an Adult)

You Honored Them

Thank you for your dedication in researching these fascinating and fearless women that we all needed to know more about. You presented all three in a manner that captivated me as each life unfolded. I’m inspired by their drive and love that they shared with the world!

Dr. Rachelle M. Johnson

Exceptional People: Black Mothers

A feast for the senses. I am inspired and feel seen. Malaika has honored incredible lives that birthed ancestors whose lives exemplified humanity at its best. It is no wonder that Malcolm, Martin and James were the courageous, innovative and brilliant human beings they were. I strongly recommend this book!

So beautiful, profound and important beyond words

This book is a MUST read for all people especially black women. This provides such a complete examination of black womanhood. We can also see how each mother was very much at the root of the civil rights movement and provides a clear connection. The societal references of the times provided great dimension to the story telling. This is a great work!

Wonderful storytelling!

I truly enjoyed the storytelling of the author! You can feel her passion of what she is saying in her voice!

Very valuable listen

Read by the author, this text is at once personal and historical and reminds us of the importance of mothers, especially black mothers. Deepened my understanding of African American experiences. I recommend it highly for anyone interested in history, the Civil Rights movement and women's history. Or for ANYONE who wants to learn about three amazing and resilient women.

Three stories of Love, Perseverance and Triumph

This book was enlightening, insightful and emotional. At times I couldn't believe what each of these women had experienced, yet I couldn't imagine these three influential men being raised by other women.

Important Information!

The context of history and the weaving together of these 3 women’s story -producing 3 powerful men- is eye opening and important for everyone to know. As a white woman, I’ll say all white oriented people need to listen to this and take it in.

The only ‘negative’ is the impulse of good writers assuming they’d be the best at reading their words. This Audible, for me, was challenged by the lack of inflection in reading as well as the tenor of the reader’s voice.

Do not be dissuaded from listening however. Just be prepared

A wonderful and well written book.

From the opening chapter of this book I was captivated by the stories that I had never heard before. The imprint these mothers left on their sons touched my heart. The struggles in the lives of these women are well told by the author.

The author has a gift in storytelling and she researched her subjects well. Not only bringing the stories of the mothers to life but adding valuable context to these stories by pulling in what was going on in the country and world during their lives.

I was most touched by the story of Malcolm X’s mother. There surely should be more done to explore the life of this woman. To remove her from just being a footnote in her son’s life. Her bravery should uplifted.

This book would be a great gift for new moms.

The narration of the author was also flawless.

I bawled multiple times

This was a carefully researched book wrote with such love and care. The lives these women led were brave and devastating. A must read.

Reminder of the gift of good mothering

This left me feeling so loved.
Who knew how much they contributed to the world? Their sons did, and now we’re able use these women’s life lessons as prologue to our journey.
🇬🇩❤️