Mama

A Queer Black Woman's Story of a Family Lost and Found

De: Nikkya Hargrove

Narrado por: Grace Porter

In this searing and uplifting memoir, a young Black queer woman fresh out of college adopts her baby brother after their incarcerated mother dies, determined to create the kind of family she never had.

Growing up, Nikkya Hargrove’s mother was in and out of prison. Hargrove, one of the 5 million children dealing with the effects of an incarcerated parent, spent a good portion of her childhood in prison visiting rooms. After her baby brother was born, Hargrove decided to fight for custody–even though she had only just graduated college.

We see how she is subjected to preconceived notions that she, a Black, queer, young woman, cannot handle the responsibility. She shares about the shame she feels accepting food stamps, her family’s reaction to her coming out, and the joy she experiences when she meets the woman who will become her wife. Whether she’s clashing with her brother's biological father or battling for Jonathan’s education rights after he’s diagnosed with ADHD and autism, this is a woman who won’t give up.

Hargrove’s memoir picks up where Bryan Stevenson’s Just Mercy left off, exploring generational trauma and pulling back the curtain on family court and poverty in America. Moving and inspiring, Mama is an ode to motherhood and identity, to never giving up, and to finding strength in family and community.

©2024 Nikkya Hargrove (P)2024 Algonquin Books

Reseñas de la Crítica

“A powerful and moving testament to love and redemption.”—Phuc Tran, author of Sigh, Gone: A Misfit’s Memoir of Great Books, Punk Rock, and the Fight to Fit In

“Mama is an evocative, unflinching, and ultimately triumphant tale of the burdens and bounty of familial love. Both brilliant and brave, Hargrove opens her heart on every page of this notable debut, and the result is transcendent.”—Mat Johnson, author of Invisible Things and Pym

“Mama is unforgettable: a compassionate, wise, observant, full-hearted, and beautifully crafted memoir of queer love and family that is destined to be beloved by many readers and will leave you cheering. Hargrove offers a deep and stirring view of the impacts of addiction and the criminal justice system on Black women, offering an account of hope, heartbreak, faith, courage, joy, and the comfort and care of extended and chosen families.”—Sonya Huber, author of Voice First: A Writer's Manifesto and Pain Woman Takes Your Keys

What a sweet story, laced in hope!

I truly enjoyed this book! I was introduced and drawn to this story because I know the narrator! Grace….you did an AMAZING JOB with this and brought this story to life with an amazing performance! As far as the story, if this is a true story, I believe you did a great job weaving in all of the complicated pieces, yet keeping an undertone of hope throughout! As a future social worker in training, I liked how you included the mental health aspect! It felt good to know the terms you mentioned! I felt the disappointment, the frustration, the pain and the joy! Nicely written! Great job to the entire production team! Well done!

Smart powerful story of resilience.

Awesome story of resilience, love, and the reality of our country slowly waking up to the power and wisdom of queer black women.

Compelling

I really enjoyed this book. It is well written and really draws the reader in. I found myself wanting to hear more. I attended church with the author, her wife, Jonathan and their twin daughters. I was not aware that Jonathan was her brother and not her son. Having read this book it enforces the adage “that you never know what someone is going through or has gone through, therefore we should treat each other with kindness”. The narrator did a wonderful job, she sounds like Nikkya which made the story even more compelling.

Incredible Story of Overcoming Extreme Challenges

The beginning was so tough to get through emotionally. I had to read this story very slowly, because it made me ugly cry each paragraph. I first started reading the physical book, but due to so much crying I thought it might be easier to listen to it during work commutes. That was no help, and I showed up to meetings with red eyes and messy makeup. Imagining this little girl having to go through so much pain was so difficult. After so many starts and then having to take breaks, I finally reached the end of the book. I loved the beauty of the memoir toward the second half, as the struggles developed into a much happier story, however still making me cry, but tears of joy.

my review of Mama

I love the story Nikyya had hard upbringing her mom being a drug addict had a son Nikyya had to raise while her mom was in jail. she finally got her life together and Nikyya finally had the mom she wanted.Her financee's parents wouldnt accept her daughter being a lesbian at first but their daughter had the courage to tell them with her brother's help.she didn't know anything about raising a child when she and Nikyya had to raise him she didn't want to do it but she didn't want to give up on her n Nikyya's love. her fiancee accepted and grew to live Jonathan as her own and her parents accepted them together and they both were married and had a ceremony that brought both of the families together