🎙️ Episode 11

Black Mothers and Our History | A Legacy of Healing

As we approach Mother’s Day, this episode invites us into a deeper reflection on the legacy of Black motherhood, one shaped by history, resilience, trauma, community, and profound love.

From the motherland to enslavement, from separation to survival, Black motherhood carries a story that is both painful and powerful. In this moving and personal reflection, Rita Coburn explores how generations of Black women have mothered not only their own children, but entire communities, often under unimaginable circumstances.

Through storytelling, history, and lived experience, this episode asks an important question:
What does Mother’s Day mean when we understand the full truth of our history?

🔍 What You’ll Hear in This Episode
The historical roots of Black motherhood, beginning in Africa and through enslavement
The legacy of separation, survival, and communal caregiving
How Black women have mothered across generations, often beyond their own families
Personal stories about Rita’s mother and the lessons of “mother wit”
The impact of community mothers, including figures like Maya Angelou and Merri Dee
Reflections on single motherhood, resilience, and cultural strength
What it means to honor mothers with truth, gratitude, and understanding

💬 A Defining Idea from This Episode

Motherhood is not only about birth. It is about vision, sacrifice, and the ability to give what is needed, even when it is not understood in the moment.

📚 Reading Resources

📖 Black-Eyed Peas for the Soul: Stories by and about Black Women by Donna Marie Coles Johnson
Includes Rita Coburn’s short story “Two Women and a Little Olive Oil,” a reflection on spiritual guidance, caregiving, and the lessons passed between women.

📖 Rise Up Singing: Black Women Writers on Motherhood by Cecelie S. Berry and Janice Liddell
A powerful collection exploring the many dimensions of Black motherhood through personal essays and storytelling.

📣 Resources / Links

🎬 Share the film
W.E.B. Du Bois: Rebel with a Cause premieres May 19, 2026
Watch the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kMsik6rDQM

📄 Transcript available here
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2598323

📺 Watch the episode
https://youtu.be/qRAmp6Q5-Nw

🎧 Listen on your favorite platform
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2598323/episodes/19009870

🔗 Stay connected
https://linktr.ee/ritacoburnmedia

🎬 About the Series

Our Truth, Our History, Our Story (Our THS) explores the people, ideas, and cultural forces shaping Black history and storytelling today.

👥 Production Credits

Host: Rita Coburn
Executive Producer: Andrew T. Carr
Producers: Christine Coburn Whack, H. Lee Whack