The Three Mothers — An Ode to Black Women
The Mothers of the Revolutionaries
Trust Black women. Black women saved the planet. Black girl magic. The Three Mothers: How the Mothers of Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, and James Baldwin Shaped a Nation by Anna Malaika NtiAsare-Tubbs — a book that crystalizes and illustrates the significance underlying those phrases — was released this week. Written while she was herself a Black mother-to-be, carrying her first child, Tubbs outlines how these three Black women shaped America.
As Anna writes in her book, “Writing about Black motherhood while becoming one gave me a much deeper perspective than I had before…Because of who Alberta, Berdis, and Louise were, Martin, James, and Malcolm were able to become the great leaders we all revere. Because of who Alberta, Berdis, and Louise were, the world was changed forever and it is time they receive their due credit…An ode to these three women is an ode to Black womanhood — perhaps Black women of today will also be able to find themselves in Berdis, Alberta, and/or Louise’s life stories like I have.”
As for me, when I was in elementary school, I read every biography of Martin Luther King Jr. that the school library had available. I was so moved by his Letter from a Birmingham Jail that I copied by hand the passage that ends “…then you will understand why we find it difficult to wait” and sealed it in a plastic bag. In college I discovered the eloquence and insight of James Baldwin; he became my favorite writer as I consumed his books including The Fire Next Time with its warning: “You know, and I know, that the country is celebrating one hundred years of freedom one hundred years too soon.” And it was Malcolm X’s autobiography that shaped my understanding of the scale of change needed in this country and intensity required to advance racial and social justice.
And yet while I have a degree in African and Afro-American studies I know little to nothing about Alberta King, Louise Little, or Berdis Baldwin. I’m so grateful to Anna for this important work that shines a light on the Black women — the Black mothers — of the revolution.
In honor of Anna’s book debut, I want to share some reflections of my own on Black women and shine a bit of light on the substance behind the slogans about their centrality to the centuries-old struggle for justice and equality in America.
The Unique Position of Black Women
I’ve been involved in politics for a long time, and the most important and formative person in my life was a Black woman, my mother, Doris Cochran Phillips. I’ve gone from being the youngest person ever elected to public office in San Francisco (my mother administered the oath of office when I was sworn in at age 29) to hosting the president of the United States in my home (notably, our first Black president), to writing a best-selling book and becoming a regular contributor to the New York Times. None of the success I have had would have been possible without the support, education, inspiration, and example provided by my mother.
The seminal feminist anthology, “All the Women Are White, All the Blacks Are Men, But Some of Us Are Brave: Black Women’s Studies”, edited by Black feminist scholars Akasha Gloria Hull, Patricia Bell Scott, and Barbara Smith, illuminates the unique position Black women inherit. In a society still defined by racism and sexism, Black women (and women of color more broadly) live at the intersection of race and gender and therefore have the broadest experience with and deepest insight into the full spectrum of oppression that continues to prevent our nation from becoming a true democracy.
The fact that we, overall, know so much about Martin, Malcolm, and James but hardly anything about their mothers is reflective of a reality: the dominant stories and legends about Black revolutionary figures, heroes and role models have predominantly been about men. For generations, Black boys had role models in the form of leaders, speakers, and other people in power who look like them to inspire them and try to follow in their footsteps. That is why the increasing emergence of prominent and powerful Black women has been so important — so that Black girls (and girls and boys of all races) can see Black women as First Lady, Vice President, a media mogul, and democracy-saving Nobel Peace Prize nominee.
Black Women Continue to Lead
The world came to see — and finally started to appreciate — the centrality and significance of Black women’s leadership over the past year. Nowhere was the evidence of Black female leadership as clear as in Georgia where we saw a historical passing of the torch in the cradle of the Civil Rights movement — the place where Alberta King birthed Martin.
In 2020, sadly we lost legends of the Civil Rights movement such as John Lewis, Rev. C.T. Vivian and Rev. Joseph Lowery. These giants who worked, partnered, and marched with Dr. King in some of the most consequential fights of our time were all from Georgia, and their deaths left a gargantuan hole.
But then a new set of leaders emerged.
This new group of leaders helped oust a white nationalist from the White House and flip control of the Senate from his enablers and apologists. Their revolutionary work has opened the door to policy and priority changes that will help tens of millions of people, strengthen democracy, and advance justice and equality.
Stacey Abrams, Nikema Williams, Nse Ufot, Latosha Brown, and so many other Black women whose names most of us will never come to know, saved us. Period.They are the Black women saving the world, again and again.
Although throughout American history Black women have been the spearhead of social justice movements, the world is finally starting to open its eyes to their importance and contributions. Anna Tubbs’ book The Three Mothers roots the pivotal role of Black women in compelling history and engaging analysis. Her book couldn’t be more right on time, and she herself is going to be a powerful and important voice on this planet for years to come.
Get the book, tell your friends, respect Black women, and understand why we owe not just a debt of gratitude, but a commitment to empower, elevate and embrace their leadership today and going forward.
