Sacred Bond: Black Men and Their Mothers [Paperback]

Keith Michael Brown (Author), Adger W. Cowans (Photographer)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2000

A book of thirty-five family portraitsbeautifully designed and printed, with photographs throughout. The men who speak come from a variety of backgrounds, lifestyles, and age groups, but they have two things in common: all can be considered successful, and all, not coincidentally, grew up under the influence of a powerful mother figure.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In Sacred Bond: Black Men and their Mothers, Keith M. Brown has gathered 35 interviews with black men on a subject close to their hearts. Accompanying b&w photos by Adger W. Cowans, these short pieces become meditations on motherhood but also on the challenges of raising a black man in America. Author tour. (Little, Brown, $25 288p ISBN 0-316-10556-2; Nov.)
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"As the mother of a son myself, I know how precious that special connection is. Sacred Bond: Black Men and Their Mothers is a powerful tribute to the most cherished of relationships." -- Gayle King, former talk show host

"Sacred Bond celebrates one of life's most precious relationships. These mother-and-son stories will touch every heart and inspire every soul." -- Congressman Jesse L. Jackson, Jr.

"The women you are about to meet you've seen every day of your life. . . These are women committed to the honor of motherhood, and the young men who Keith Brown has carefully amassed speak about them in ways that only a son can speak, with a love that only a son can feel. For that reason, the 36 stories you are about to experience will hit you square in the chest. Some will make you laugh out loud. Others will bring tears to your eyes. None will leave you unmoved." -- From the foreword by James McBride, author of The Color of Water --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown (April 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316109843
• ISBN-13: 978-0316109840
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 7.7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,047,184 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sacred Bond is the most encouraging book I have ever read., May 11, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Sacred Bond: Black Men and Their Mothers (Hardcover)

From the beginning to the ending of this book, I cried and laughed. It is the most uplifting book I have ever read in my life. It helped me to reminisce on my upbringing and how I am blessed to have had my mother and both grandmothers set examples for me as strong matriarchs. Sacred bond is very precious to me, especially now that I have my own son. I haved learned some of the things I should focus on and encourage him with from this book. It has helped me to see that I too need to be involved with my son not just while he is a baby but always. It helped me to see that I should make sure he is educated and stand up for what he believes. This was a resounding theme I got from all the mothers in Sacred Bond. I also learned from Sacred Bond that once my son achieves adulthood I should be active in his life, but learn to let him live his own life. James Love's story about his mother Henrietta Love was my favorite. Through his tragedy of being shot while under cover as a narcartics agent, he was helped to see his mother's strength and learned how it affected his life as a narcartics agent and in general. He thought his mother would go off her rocker when she found out he had been shot. Instead, she was cool and kept her head. She was strong through it all and helped her baby heal and get back on his feet. My favorite picture in the book is the one with Eric H. Holder, Jr., United States Deputy Attorney General and his mother Miriam Holder. This photo captures the love and pride a mother has when she sees all the work and devotion she has given to her child or children come to fruition. I could tell from the photo that both were proud to be apart of the other.

I loved this book and throughout the rest of my life will always refer back to it from time to time as I grow with my own son. I hope that one day my son will be able to look back and say that I too was a strong, devoted and determined mother. Most of all I hope he can say he is proud to be my son. I don't think any of the sons in sacred bond would trade their mother in, regardless of the situations they grew up in. I hope my son will fill the same about me.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Reveals the right direction in the making of a Black man., March 20, 1999

By 

Maggie Alston Claud (Hartford, CT USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sacred Bond: Black Men and Their Mothers (Hardcover)

Shows the sacrifices and determination of Mothers who are working against the odds to raise a successful boy into a successful Black Man. The home is the first school of education for children and Mother, indeed, is the first teacher which goes with a person until the end of life.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful!, January 19, 2000

By 

Sheila (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sacred Bond: Black Men and Their Mothers (Hardcover)

As I read this book, I could see myself in every one of the mothers. I laughed, I cried, and I was blessed to be touched by their experiences. As a mother, it was reassuring to read that I am on the right track. Through their trials and tribulations, the bond strengthened. To the authoris: Thank you for capturing these magnificent stories. To the mothers/sons: Thank you for letting us into your life.