The Other Madisons

The Lost History of a President's Black Family

By: Bettye Kearse

Narrated by: Karen Chilton

In The Other Madisons, Bettye Kearse - a descendant of a slave named Coreen and, according to oral tradition, President James Madison - finally shares her family story, exploring legacy, race, and the powerful consequences of telling the whole truth.

For thousands of years, West African griots (men) and griottes (women) have recited the stories of their people. Without this tradition Bettye Kearse would not have known that she is a descendant of President James Madison and his slave Coreen. In 1990, when her mother delivered a box of memorabilia - painstakingly collected - Bettye became the eighth-generation griotte for her family. Their credo - "Always remember - you're a Madison. You come from African slaves and a president" - was intended as a source of pride, but for her, it echoed with abuses of slavery and rape.

Bettye embarked on a journey of discovery - of her ancestors, the nation, and herself. She learned that wherever African slaves walked, recorded history silenced their voices and buried their footsteps: beside a slave-holding fortress in Ghana; beneath a gaudy concession stand in Lagos, Portugal; in the depths of the Atlantic Ocean; below a federal building in New York City; and under a brick walkway at James Madison's Virginia plantation. And when Bettye tried to confirm the information her ancestors passed down, she encountered obstacles at every turn.

Part personal quest, part testimony, part historical correction, The Other Madisons is the story of an extraordinary American family by a griotte determined to tell the whole story.

©2020 Bettye Kearse (P)2020 Recorded Books

Enlightening

This book offered insight and pride into two families histories as well events that many would like to sweep away.

Interesting concept . . .

but the writing came from the perspective of a very detached and privileged person who wrote as if observing but not living a profound life; the writing style conveyed the same message, which was confirmed by the lifeless narration. The decades-long search is an admirable undertaking, however, even if it did not unearth any remarkable developments.

A family's history

Inspiring story of an African-American family who have preserved their family history. I greatly enjoyed listening to it.

A family’s story, an author’s journey and a changed reader

Powerfully and beautifully written, this book is far more than just history or genealogy (though the story is carefully researched and told), but also, a sharing of the author's personal discoveries and learnings from a 30 year journey of researching her family tree. Her travels took her to Ghana, Portugal, and the Madison plantation and the impact that each of these places had on her is imbued to her readers through moving and descriptive prose that leaves the reader changed by this family's history and the meaning attached to that story. A highlight of the book for me was the voice given to Mandy by the author. Mandy was the West African girl who was kidnapped by the slave traders and the reader is afforded the opportunity of her telling her life's story episodically through the book. Dr. Kearse's writing is lyrical and moving, filled with meaning as well as Mandy's courage and heartbreak. The book is a wonderful achievement and a great read.

Who Am I?

This book is quite a compelling read for anyone who has tried to retrace the steps of his/her African heritage. There are no supporting documents and few paper trails for this quest. Bettye Kearse and Alex Hayley have proven that with perserverence and love of who one really is, it can be done; these attributes are crucial. I love the things uncovered in this book. We will never know all that people/family stolen from Africa endured on the slave ships, in slave markets, nor plantation life. We do know they were robbed of their identity, cruelly treated, and torn from the people they loved in their native countries. They trusted in God for His grace and strength to endure. Thank you Mrs. Kearse and Karen Chilton for jobs well done! This book has touched my heart in so many ways. If we can't tell "our own story," we can certainly encourage others to read yours!