Mama's Boy

A Story from Our Americas

By: Dustin Lance Black

Narrated by: Dustin Lance Black

This heartfelt, deeply personal memoir explores how one a celebrated filmmaker and activist and his conservative Mormon mother built bridges across today’s great divides - and how our stories hold the power to heal.

Dustin Lance Black wrote the Oscar-winning screenplay for Milk and helped overturn California’s anti-gay marriage Proposition 8, but as an LGBTQ activist he has unlikely origins - a conservative Mormon household outside San Antonio, Texas. His mother, Anne, was raised in rural Louisiana and contracted polio when she was two years old. She endured brutal surgeries, as well as braces and crutches for life, and was told that she would never have children or a family. Willfully defying expectations, she found salvation in an unlikely faith, raised three rough-and-rowdy boys, and escaped the abuse and violence of two questionably devised Mormon marriages before finding love and an improbable career in the US civil service.

By the time Lance came out to his mother at age 21, he was a blue-state young man studying the arts instead of going on his Mormon mission. She derided his sexuality as a sinful choice and was terrified for his future. It may seem like theirs was a house destined to be divided, and at times it was. This story shines light on what it took to remain a family despite such division - a journey that stretched from the steps of the US Supreme Court to the woodsheds of East Texas. In the end, the rifts that have split a nation couldn’t end this relationship that defined and inspired their remarkable lives.

Mama’s Boy is their story. It’s a story of the noble quest for a plane higher than politics - a story of family, foundations, turmoil, tragedy, elation, and love. It is a story needed now more than ever.

©2019 Dustin Lance Black (P)2019 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“Mama’s Boy is a beautifully written, utterly compelling account of growing up poor and gay with a thrice married, physically disabled, deeply religious Mormon mother, and the imprint this irrepressible woman made on the character of Dustin Lance Black. Their extraordinary bond left me exhilarated - it actually gave me hope for the future of the republic, which is no mean feat, given the dark mood of our current moment.” (Jon Krakauer, author of Missoula and Under the Banner of Heaven)

“A fast read with witty observations, and all the emotions to go along.... [A] testament to the powerful impact a good parent has on children.... Black and Mama’s Boy show just how far the unlikeliest of children can go with pure, unabashed grit.” (San Francisco Chronicle)

“A fascinating and poignant combination of memoir and family history.... Both personal and universal.... The most emotional moments come as Black finds himself in personal encounters with those who might be considered obviously antagonistic to his world, including leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and more conservative members of his own family.... Finding common ground is indeed the powerful throughline in Mama’s Boy.” (Salt Lake City Weekly)

Powerful and timely.

I have been looking forward to the release of “Mama’s Boy” for months, since first learning about the memoir on DLB’s Facebook page. It is a book filled with joy, sorrow, hope, and despair (but mostly joy and hope). It’s about the strength of a proud southern family, challenging assumptions and overcoming disparate beliefs. DLB shows how the path to reconciliation and harmony is possible when we engage in relationship-building with people who are different. During this time of great division in America, this book left me feeling more optimistic (and I’m a pretty optimistic person to begin with) about our future. We all can learn something from reading “Mama’s Boy”. Listening to the book read by the author made it even better. DLB’s raw emotion and powerful sensibility comes through with each sentence.

No better book of perseverance

This book was written and narrated very very well! It had me in tears from sadness, happiness and empathy.

A beautiful and heartbreaking story

Mama's boy is a beautiful and heartbreaking story wich will make you cry, then laugh then laugh till you cry.

Heartfelt Through and Through!!

If you’re not moved by this book, you do not have a soul... And that’s a promise!

Fantastic story telling

Lancer aka Dustin Lance Black takes us back to where he grew up and shows the reader, or listener in my case, how is early life was heavily influenced by his mother and family. Who would have known that this Oscar winner had such a formative upbringing which made him such an amazing story teller. Can’t wait to see what he might come up with next!

A genuine joy to read

Dustin Lance Black is a masterful storyteller and the way he has woven the colorful stories of this book together will make you laugh uproariously and bawl wholeheartedly. This book is a love letter to the South and to those stories that make us all who we are. Equal parts hilarious and heartrending, this book is a beautiful tribute to the ways our differences make us stronger and a reminder that no matter the darkness, love can always light your way, thank you very much.

A Must Read!

A very well written story about a loving intelligent man who’s personal experiences are shared. This includes family, religion, and many struggles and triumphs. His fight for equality and perseverance is told with courage and passion. I throughly enjoyed this American story of the bond between a son and his mother that was unbreakable. Hope to meet him one day because his story is very similar to mine, but my struggles still continue. His story gives me hope though. Keep on fighting Lance! I will too!

Wow, what a moving story.

Much more than I thought it would be !
The research and telling of this is amazing !
My admiration and respect to Dustin Lance Black .

Nothing beats the love between a southern boy and his mama

I have buried myself in a busy and stressful career until August 21 of this year. I had no idea who Dustin Lance Black was, or, who Tom Daley was until a few weeks ago. I missed the 2020 Olympics because I worked as a nurse through the Covid-19 pandemic. When I discovered their stories I was hooked, following on social media and reading/listening to everything I can find. Since my “meeting” them was so recent It seemed as if Tom was the star of their show, but, Lance quickly won my heart. I am a left of liberal woman raised in a small Bible belt Alabama town, I have a brother and a sister who are gay. So much of this book resembles our story. Lance is a brilliant writer and story teller. I believe he is a wonderful son, man, husband and father. This book had me laughing, cursing and crying from chapter to chapter. I am so happy to hear Lance and his mother’s story in his own word and voice. I hope their becomes a movie with Lance involved in the writing and production. This story has a political and religious edge that is cutting at times, I lived a similar story. I just loved the book and plan to continue to stalk Lance’s work, and Tom’s as well. This is a memoir, a memorial, a call to action and a love story. I am so happy to have found it.

Mama’s Boy s sound book

This beautiful and courage mam deserve.This great soundbook.I cry and laugh and recognize.Thanks Lance👵💐Amsterdam.