Black Mothers: Songs of Praise and Cellebration (Hardcover)

by Kristin Clark Taylor (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
Kristin Clark Taylor is a former senior White House advisor, corporate public relations executive, journalist, and author of The First to Speak: A Woman of Color Inside the White House. In Black Mothers, she has produced a beautiful book honoring the love and longevity of African American mothers. It contains intimate photographs and quotes from a host of writers, poets, and celebrities such as Toni Morrison, Marian Wright Edelman, Johnnie Cochran, Maya Angelou, Sonia Sanchez, and Gloria Naylor. "Black mothers leave a legacy of strength and sustenance for their children," she writes. "It is part of who we are, and who our foremothers were. If we listen very closely, we can still hear their words of wisdom." Taylor unveils the full spectrum of black motherhood in nine chapters: Giver of Life, Spiritual Anchor, Powerful Protector, Comforter and Friend, Wise Teacher, Living Surrogate, Image of Beauty, Disciplinarian, and Keeper of the Flame. These chapters offer soul-stirring images: mothers nursing their babies, reading to and educating their children, and preparing meals for the family. The book also features African American folklore and anonymous sayings such as "I brought you into this world, child. And Lord knows I can take you out," and "What are the most frightening words in the English language when they come from Mama's mouth? Go out and get me a switch!" The book's overall theme is the ancestral debt the African American community owes to these women for maintaining its very existence from slavery to freedom. Maya Angelou put it best: "I lay down in my grave and watch my children grow proud blooms above the weeds of death." --Eugene Holley Jr.

From Booklist
Taylor, a former USA Today editor, White House secretary and speechwriter, corporate communications officer, and vice-president of external affairs, has written her second book. This book "celebrates and glorifies black mothers everywhere." The 10 inspiring chapters on motherhood cover the gamut from their roles as givers of life, spiritual anchors, protectors, comforters and friends, teachers, surrogates, and disciplinarians to keepers of the flame. The chapters are complete with Bible verses, quotes from famous African Americans, poems, and revelations from friends. In the spirit of the book Sisters (1994), these "songs" live up to Taylor's introduction because they celebrate black motherhood in a way that all women can treasure. Lillian Lewis

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Doubleday; 1 edition (April 18, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 038549579X
• ISBN-13: 978-0385495790
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 7.6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,730,760 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I've Been There!, May 3, 2000

By	Stephanie Dunn-Hunt "sldunndeal" (Owings Mills, Maryland) - See all my reviews

Black Mother's: Songs of Praise & Celebration, is humorous and on point! It's humorous because IT IS ON POINT! (smile). I wasn't seeking the book out, I just happened upon it. It reminded me of things my mother said to me, or I've heard friends say their mothers said to them. And you know the old cliche "you'll never hear me say that to my kids"; well you do find yourself saying it to young people and you think two things - one, "I feel so old"; two, "I've turned into my mother - how'd that happen?"(ha-ha) Great book! Congrats to Kristin Clark Taylor. It was my first time encountering her work.

5.0 out of 5 stars My Mother, July 1, 2004

By	Mary (Washington, DC USA) - See all my reviews

My mother, Kristin Clark Taylor, is a wonderful and amazing woman. She has conquered many obstacles throughout her windy path of life, and she has the amazing ability to give birth to this amazing book. My mother writes this book so eloquently, is brings tears to my own eyes, just hoping to be just as an amazing mother as her mother was to her, and she is to me. This book is trully inspirational.

5.0 out of 5 stars So Wonderful and Inspiring, March 24, 2001

By	"July Lady" (MS United States) - See all my reviews

I can't say enough about Black mothers. I especially liked the pictures that the author included of black mothers and their kids from way back. There is scriptures included, and all so personal accounts from different people about their mother. The last chapter had me crying because it was dealing with people that had lost their mothers. A great book to have in your collection