Reviews tagging 'Child death'
The Three Mothers: How the Mothers of Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, and James Baldwin Shaped a Nation, by Anna Malaika Tubbs
1 review
amandasbookreview's review
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
5.0
“Their lives did not begin with motherhood; on the contrary, long before their sons were even thoughts in their minds, each woman had her own passions, dreams, and identity.”
THE THREE MOTHERS
For me, Valentine’s Day is not just about romantic love. It can be about any love. The love for a parent, for a sibling, for a friend, for a fur-baby, and especially love for one’s child. The Three Mothers by Anna Malaika Tubbs shines a light on three women whose sons are some of America’s most beloved activists. It was their love and encouragement that made those boys into the men they would become. But before they were mothers, they were women. They were women with their own passions, dreams, and hopes.
Alberta Williams King was the mother of Martin Luther King Jr. She was born in 1904 in Atlanta, Georgia. Before she married Martin Luther King Sr. She went to school to get her teaching certificate and taught for a short time. Education was very important to her and something that she instilled in her children. When I simplify it like this, it sounds so generic. But what is missing is the struggle. As a Black woman in the United States at this time, she had faced every obstacle to keep her from getting an education. She became a huge part of the Ebenezer Baptist Church and founded its choir. She knew the dangers that her family faced in the fight for Civil Rights. Six years after the assassination of her son, she was also assassinated.
Louise Little was the mother of Malcolm X born in the year 1984 in Grenada. She is the granddaughter of Jupiter and Mary Jane Langdon who was kidnapped in Nigeria and sold into slavery. Louise was raised by her grandparents and later married Earl Little. They moved around a bit. They were often attacked and harassed by white supremacists. Earl died in 1931. Later, Louise would be institutionalized in a mental hospital against her will. She taught her children to always question everything, to educate themselves, and to never stand down. Malcolm X would go on to be a minister of Islam, human rights activist, and spokesman for black empowerment. While Louise was eventually released from the hospital, after what seemed an endless fight, she would have to endure the grief and horror of the assassination of her son in 1965.
Emma Berdis Baldwin was born in 1903 in Maryland. She would give birth to James Baldwin out of wedlock but they would move to Harlem in 1922. She not only had to endure racism as a Black woman but also as a single mother. She would marry David Baldwin in 1927. He was a Baptist preacher and he and James had a very difficult relationship. Go Tell It On The Mountain is a semi-autobiography written by James Baldwin about his childhood. Despite tensions at home, James Baldwin would always care for his mother and support her in any way he could. He would also go on to become a writer and activist. He died from stomach cancer in 1987. Berdis would live for another 12 years and after her death, she was buried next to her son.
These women lived through some of the most prominent events of the 20th century. Their experiences shaped them and their parenting. While a lot of information about them is not well-documented, it is important to not forget about them. They would all bury their sons, the sons that helped changed the world. The author did a fantastic job of researching these women. This book was inspired by the author becoming a mother herself and what it means to be a mother today. This book is absolutely phenomenal from beginning to end. I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars.
Alberta Williams King was the mother of Martin Luther King Jr. She was born in 1904 in Atlanta, Georgia. Before she married Martin Luther King Sr. She went to school to get her teaching certificate and taught for a short time. Education was very important to her and something that she instilled in her children. When I simplify it like this, it sounds so generic. But what is missing is the struggle. As a Black woman in the United States at this time, she had faced every obstacle to keep her from getting an education. She became a huge part of the Ebenezer Baptist Church and founded its choir. She knew the dangers that her family faced in the fight for Civil Rights. Six years after the assassination of her son, she was also assassinated.
Louise Little was the mother of Malcolm X born in the year 1984 in Grenada. She is the granddaughter of Jupiter and Mary Jane Langdon who was kidnapped in Nigeria and sold into slavery. Louise was raised by her grandparents and later married Earl Little. They moved around a bit. They were often attacked and harassed by white supremacists. Earl died in 1931. Later, Louise would be institutionalized in a mental hospital against her will. She taught her children to always question everything, to educate themselves, and to never stand down. Malcolm X would go on to be a minister of Islam, human rights activist, and spokesman for black empowerment. While Louise was eventually released from the hospital, after what seemed an endless fight, she would have to endure the grief and horror of the assassination of her son in 1965.
Emma Berdis Baldwin was born in 1903 in Maryland. She would give birth to James Baldwin out of wedlock but they would move to Harlem in 1922. She not only had to endure racism as a Black woman but also as a single mother. She would marry David Baldwin in 1927. He was a Baptist preacher and he and James had a very difficult relationship. Go Tell It On The Mountain is a semi-autobiography written by James Baldwin about his childhood. Despite tensions at home, James Baldwin would always care for his mother and support her in any way he could. He would also go on to become a writer and activist. He died from stomach cancer in 1987. Berdis would live for another 12 years and after her death, she was buried next to her son.
These women lived through some of the most prominent events of the 20th century. Their experiences shaped them and their parenting. While a lot of information about them is not well-documented, it is important to not forget about them. They would all bury their sons, the sons that helped changed the world. The author did a fantastic job of researching these women. This book was inspired by the author becoming a mother herself and what it means to be a mother today. This book is absolutely phenomenal from beginning to end. I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Child death, Forced institutionalization, Hate crime, and Police brutality
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