By Tamara Shiloh
James Baldwin is known as “the most eloquent literary spokesperson for the civil rights of African Americans.”
A staunch supporter of Black nationalism, Malcolm X was a minister and leader in the civil rights movement. He strongly suggested that Blacks stand against white aggression “by any means necessary.”
Social activist and Baptist minister Martin Luther King Jr. played a key role in the civil rights movement. He sought equality and human rights for all people of color through peaceful protest.
The common thread that bound these men was their dedication to changing the course of the nation, and that each were raised by a strong Black mother.
Emma Berdis Baldwin, Louise Little, and Alberta King are described by author Anna Malaika Tubbs as “women who have been almost entirely ignored throughout history” in her book “The Three Mothers: How the Mothers of Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, and James Baldwin Shaped a Nation.”
Tubbs writes that the women were “ignored even though it should have been easy throughout history to see them…in ways that are blatantly obvious when the fame of their sons are considered.” These three mothers “have been erased.”
Research presented in the book on how Black women have been systematically dehumanized “fights that erasure.” Still, the mothers “allowed their children to thrive even when all odds were stacked against them.” The exploration of their lives begins on the island of Grenada, generations before Louise (Norton) Little was born.
To understand Little, “to know how the color of her skin influenced her thinking, in order to comprehend why her grandparents were so important in her life and, as a result, in Malcolm X’s life, we cannot begin with her birth,” Tubbs explains about researching the family back to the 19th century.
Little refused to let her children “fall victim to a mentality that told them they were inferior to anybody else. She made sure they knew how Black people were standing up for their rights not only in the United States but also around the world.”
She wrote for the Negro World newspaper and spoke at least three languages.
Like most Black families, the kitchen was the place to gather in the King’s home. It was there that both parents “taught their children about the injustices of segregation and reminded them of the importance of doing their part in changing such inequities.”
Alberta King was the most educated of the three mothers, attending Spelman Seminary, the Hampton Normal and Industrial Institute, and Morris Brown College.
James Baldwin lived in a society that degraded him, yet Berdis made sure he had the best education possible. She recognized that young James could make a difference and would do whatever she could to support his dreams. When Baldwin was honored with one of his first writing awards, Berdis accepted it on his behalf.
“The Three Mothers” is a celebration of Black motherhood throughout past and present generations and a historical account of the powerful roles of women in the Black family.
Tamara Shiloh
Tamara Shiloh has published the first two books in her historical fiction chapter book series,
Just Imagine…What If There Were No Black People in the World is about African American inventors, scientists and other notable Black people in history. The two books are
Jaxon’s Magical Adventure with Black Inventors and Scientists and
Jaxon and Kevin’s Black History Trip Downtown. Tamara Shiloh has also written a book a picture book for Scholastic,
Cameron Teaches Black History, that will be available in June, 2022.
Tamara Shiloh’s other writing experiences include: writing the Black History column for the Post Newspaper in the Bay area, Creator and Instruction of the black History Class for Educators a professional development class for teachers and her non-profit offers a free Black History literacy/STEM/Podcast class for kids 3d – 8th grade which also includes the Let’s Go Learn Reading and Essence and tutorial program. She is also the owner of the Multicultural Bookstore and Gifts, in Richmond, California,
Previously in her early life she was the /Editor-in-Chief of
Desert Diamonds Magazine, highlighting the accomplishments of minority women in Nevada; assisting with the creation, design and writing of a Los Angeles-based, herbal magazine entitled
Herbal Essence; editorial contribution to
Homes of Color; Editor-in-Chief of
Black Insight Magazine, the first digital, interactive magazine for African Americans; profile creations for sports figures on the now defunct PublicFigure.com; newsletters for various businesses and organizations; and her own Las Vegas community newsletter,
Tween Time News, a monthly publication highlighting music entertainment in the various venues of Las Vegas.
She is a member of:
- Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI)
- Richmond Chamber of Commerce
- Point Richmond Business Association
- National Association of Professional Women (NAPW)
- Independent Book Publishers Association (IPBA)
- California Writers Club-Berkeley & Marin
- Richmond CA Kiwanis
- Richmond CA Rotary
- Bay Area Girls Club
Tamara Shiloh, a native of Northern California, has two adult children, one grandson and four great-grand sons. She resides in Point Richmond, CA with her husband, Ernest.
www.multiculturalbookstore.com
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