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

Written by Anna Malaika Tubbs

Narrated by Anna Malaika Tubbs

THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

‘A fascinating exploration into the lives of three women ignored by history … Eye-opening, engrossing’
Brit Bennett, bestselling author of The Vanishing Half 

In her groundbreaking debut, Anna Malaika Tubbs tells the incredible storIES of three women who raised three world-changing men.

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, each fighting their own battles, born into the beginning of the twentieth century and a deadly landscape of racial prejudice, Jim Crow, exploitation, unpoliced violence and open police vitriol.

It was a society that would deny their sons’ humanity from the beginning as it had denied theirs, but Berdis, Alberta and Louise were extraordinary women who instilled resilience, resistance and greatness in their sons. They would become mothers not just to three world-famous men but to the civil rights movement itself.

These women represent a piece of history left untold and a celebration of Black motherhood long overdue.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Release date: Feb 2, 2021
• ISBN: 9780008405342

Anna Malaika Tubbs

Anna Malaika Tubbs is a Cambridge Ph.D. candidate in sociology and a Bill and Melinda Gates Cambridge Scholar. After graduating Phi Beta Kappa from Stanford University with a Bachelor’s degree in anthropology, Anna received a Master’s degree from the University of Cambridge in multidisciplinary gender studies. Outside of the academy she is an educator, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion consultant, and the First Partner of Stockton, California. She lives with her husband, Michael Tubbs, who is the mayor of Stockton, and their son, Michael Malakai.

Reviews for Three Mothers

[Thasiyana Mwandila · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

"The Three Mothers" brilliantly foregrounds the mothers of iconic civil rights leaders – Baldwin, X, and Martin Luther King. It underscores the pivotal role these women played in molding the legends we admire today. The book illustrates that brilliance is cultivated, shaped, and carefully nurtured. By delving into their lives, we gain insights into why these leaders were exceptional and the driving forces behind their tenacity. Their mothers' influence is palpably present in their work, their expressions, and their relentless pursuits. The narrative is deeply moving and offers a unique lens on history, making it an essential read for seasoned history enthusiasts.

[librolindsay · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I really loved the scope and focus of this book, uplifting the lives of these three extraordinary women and putting their sons' lives into a greater context. So much of this book is simply breathtaking.

[kaulsu · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a fabulous look at the women who birthed and raised three icons. The story of Malcolm X I was familiar with--but I had no idea he even had a mother. Talk about invisibility! The three women were in no way alike outside of their racial heritage, yet they were strongly influential in their sons' upbringing. The story of Malcolm's mother Berdis was heart wrenching. The social networkings of the United States were (are?) cruel and unjust. And Alberta King! I was shocked to hear that she was also assassinated in Ebenizer Baptist Church! One would think this fact would resurface each time a person is killed in their church.I listened to this book from Audible.com. It sounded very much like a dissertation, and I believe Tubbs mentioned that this was the topic of her PhD work from either Oxford or Cambridge. This highlights the weakness of listening to--rather than the reading of--a book. I took one half star off from my ratings because of Tubbs accent: she swallows her "t's." I'm fairly sure this is a regional accent, but I found it annoying. Then I found my irritation annoying!

[bookworm12_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a nonfiction account of the three mothers behind 3 of the most pivotal figures who shaped African-American culture in America, fought for Civil Rights and the end of segregation. Berdis Baldwin, Alberta King, and Louise Little were all incredible in their own right. The author shares their stories of strength and grief with the tenderness only a fellow mother could have. She weaves her own experience into the book and issues a call for continued change so that women are not overlooked in their roles, particularly black women. I loved learning about their drastically different lives. From New York to the Midwest to the South, the author compares their childhoods, financial standing, family dynamics, and more to show the impact each world had on Malcolm X, James Baldwin, and Martin Luther King, Jr. and the men they became.

[muddyboy · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I am conflicted in a lot of ways by this book. I wanted to learn about the mothers of Malcolm X, Martin Luther King and James Baldwin who were so important in forming the characters and greatness of their exceptional sons. I did learn a lot and am grateful for that.. But, the book is one of grievance about how these women suffered persecution and lack of credit by American society over the years (The author author tell us about her own personal slights). In total, the author's agenda seems to overpower the achievements of these great women.

[akblanchard_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Author Anna Malaika Tubbs uses what little is documented about the mothers of Black icons Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, and James Baldwin as a springboard for a discussion of Black life in the U.S. in the twentieth century, with all its injustice and violence. The indominable spirits of women like Alberta King, Louise Little, and Berdis Baldwin gave their children reason for hope despite their often-bleak circumstances. The three mothers passed their self-sufficiency, courage, and resilience on to all their children but especially to their famous sons.I wish that more could have actually be said about the three rather obscure women in question (to say that the three "shaped a nation," as specified in the subtitle, is an overstatement). The book is admirably researched, but Tubbs's discursive and somewhat redundant writing style takes some getting used to. There's a fair amount of editorializing as well. Still, this book is a laudable tribute to three often-overlooked figures.