The Three Mothers: How the Mothers of Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, and James Baldwin Shaped a Nation by Anna Malaika Tubbs

 

URBAN LIFE BOOK GROUP

 

Twelve women met to discuss Anna Malaika Tubbs' The Three Mothers on Saturday Oct. 24th. It seemed like a very lively discussion and one of the regular attendees, Nancy, graciously offered to take notes that day. 

 

Book Discussed: THE THREE MOTHERS – How the Mothers of MLK, Jr., Malcolm X, and James Baldwin Shaped a Nation, by Anna Malaika Tubbs

Barbara - Both hated and enjoyed the book.    Troubled about the hard lives of the mothers, particularly Louise, i.e. mother of Malcolm X.  All the difficulty normalized in the mothers’ lives sickened her.  The fact that they all buried their sons was very sad – they never had easy lives.

 

Wendy – Disturbed about the impact of the System on individuals, e.g. Louise’s family receiving a bill for her 25 years of confinement in the state hospital; the frequency of vilifying even strengths among Black women and families.  Found the book somewhat repetitive.  Felt it would have been better if followed each mother one at a time instead of switching among the three mothers.  The mothers seemed incredible.  Thought about how many other women were likely in similar situations but were never known.

 

Barb – Had mixed feelings about the book.  Felt it was a combination of new and familiar information.  Wondered why the mothers themselves weren’t named in the title.  Like Wendy, would have appreciated each mother’s story being told in a linear story.  Was outraged about what happened to Louise.  Was deeply disturbed by difference in literacy rates between Black and White people and by the large number of lynchings.

 

Robin – Learned a lot from reading the book.  Was shocked that she hadn’t known about MLK’s mother being assassinated.  She felt love and hate for the book. Reminded her of a Women’s Studies text.  She felt she had to slog through the last chapter. 

 

Paperback edition 

Sophia – Used the audio book.  Felt that switching stories among the mothers was confusing.  She was touched by the author’s pregnancy.  Wanted more information about the mothers.  Had her own son – felt very protective.

 

Bonnie – Said had a degree in Women’s Studies.  Liked the book – liked the historical information.  Disliked women being criticized for emasculating men.  Disliked Moynihan.  Cited various specific passages.

 

Ann – Appreciated diversity of personalities and histories among the mothers.  Noted multiple ways in which the mothers were strengthened by aspects of their culture.  They had impressive survival skills.  Appreciated the feminism in the book.

 

Kay – Enjoyed the book – learned a lot.  A friend of her family’s had a connection to Baldwin – she liked learning about the mother’s background, especially in relation to Grenada.  Was overwhelmed that Louise survived 25 years of institutionalization.  She wondered what the mothers looked like so she googled pictures and shared them with the group.  She was interested in the marriages between the mothers and their husbands – would have been interested in learning more about the fathers.  Felt that it was unclear exactly how the mothers shaped the nation.  She hadn’t known that Berdis had lived so long.  Felt that it was good that some of the sons’ sibs continued their legacies.  She was bothered by the hardships impacting all mothers.

 

Millie – Liked the epigrams at the beginning of each chapter.  Googled the people who were quoted.  She was very impressed by the mothers’ endurance.

 

Susi – Loved the book!!! The title grabbed her.  Said that MLK’s brother was murdered.  Felt that the mothers shaped the nation indirectly.  She read about the author’s next book, ERASED.  Recommended it to the group. 

 

Caroline – Liked what she read but not yet finished with the book.  Liked the intertwining personal experiences. 

 

Nancy – Liked the book very much.  Agreed with a lot of what others said.  Surprised to learn that Louise and Malcolm were both considered light-skinned in view of Malcolm’s transformation on Haj, i.e. when he realized that people of all colors had value as Muslims.

The group discussed colorism.

 

Nancy wondered about the tension between the sons following their calling and thereby making a huge contribution to the world vs. the cost of their activism/martyrdom to their mothers and families.  Nancy asked the group to share views about this tension.  We had a lively discussion.  Group members felt that the sons were fighting FOR their mothers.  The group discussed the relationship between assimilation vs. self-protection, God’s will vs. personal will.  Barbara asked whether the families ever actually signed on for the sons’ activism. 

 

Sophia, a young mother herself, wondered about what it means to be a good mother – whether it is defensible to want to care for family as opposed to taking on a much larger struggle.  She asked the group which mother in the book everyone identified with most strongly.  The group had a good discussion of this question.

 

Overall, it was a good meeting – although everyone missed Marian!!!!