gifts for black mothers

The song lyrics "Isn't She Lovely, made from love," by Stevie Wonder epitomizes the beloved place our mothers have in our hearts and minds.  Black mothers are more than special, they are magical, angels that somehow make this world a better place.  Our love for them is an eternal light that burns strong each day.   Here are some thoughts to inspire you to find just the right gift to bring a smile to her face.

Do Black Mothers Have a Sixth Sense

Finding words to even express the ways that Black Mothers know without you having to say anything.  That profound Mother wit can deliver a searing and prophetic response when least suspected.  Of their many superpowers, their words may be the sharpest sword that cuts to the core and metes out the root of whatever subject is at hand.

It is wise to pause and pay homage to this stately group.  After all, they gave birth to civilization and possess a 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th sense for knowing, finding (with eyes in the back of their heads) and creating.  I've always reasoned that there's an extra gene that moms get after childbirth that gives them the upper hand on the rest of us mere humans.  

I will take my mother as an example, the great Ragina Lee Bunton.  Just turning 82, she now shares the exact age with pride, but trust and believe there was a time her children were sworn to secrecy to the point that I didn't even commit it to memory.  Amongst her superpowers is her ability to sing the sweetest song that will sooth the savage beast.  It is her most passionate superpower.  It is effortless for her even at an age when many operatic divas must retire.  Somehow she still hits high A, B and C ever since she changed her classically trainged singing range from Alto to Soprano.  Who does this? I mean really.  Charles Hayes, the conductor of The Irving Bunton Sanctuary Choir (so named after her beloved late musician husband) of University Church in Hyde Park (Chicago, Ilinois) has often said to her, "your voice doesn't know how old you are."  The love that oozes from her angelic tone is encoded with her special custom-made divinely love language to all who have ears to hear.  

Black Mother Wit

I marveled at the story of Malcolm X's Mother  in "The Dead are Arising - The Life of Malcolm X" by Les Payne.  It made me eager to dive into, "The Three Mothers: How the Mothers of Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, and James Baldwin Shaped a Nation," by Anna Malaika Tubbs.  Payne whet my appetite when sharing details of Louise Little prior to her deep depression  suffered after her husband's death.  It is widely known that she was institutionalized and her children removed from  her care.  Still we must wonder what powerful woman was responsible for bringing such a strong force into the world?  Upon further analysis, it is clear that Malcolm was his mother's son -  if we examine her behavior when face-to-face with the Klan while Malcolm was still in her womb.

While her husband Rev. Earl Little was traveling, the Klu Klux Klan barged onto the property in Omaha, Nebraska on horseback one summer evening asking about his whereabouts.  As re-told by Malcolm X's older brother Wilfred, she showed no fear in responding to their questions.  She even shared a most powerful nugget of wisdom to prepare all the sibllngs if they were accosted by racial slurs.  She said (as told by Wilfred), not to overreact to them.  "you can handle [racial slurs] in a way where you make them continue" or "you can let them think they're not hurting you.  She would give an example:  if you're throwing darts at a dartboard, there's a satisfaction you get when you hit the target; when you miss it, you get another feeling.  Well, she said, it's the same way with white people when they're throwing darts at you by things they say and do.  But if they don't hit the target, then they won't get that satisfaction - and eventually they'll quit.  And usually that's the way it worked."

So on that fateful night when the knight riders came by and asked for her husband,  she stood her ground and let them know their taunts were not effecting her.  Using her logic, therefore, psychologically, their darts missed the intended target of causing mayhem and misery, and left.  This moment in time should be studied for its strategic finesse and brilliant reverse psychology.  This was the woman Malcolm witnessed invitro.  She was training him from her womb.  Take a pause and let that sink in when you realize the man he was to become.

Books for  Black Mothers

This post displays many book ideas that offer inspirationa through poetry or prose.  The legacy of Cicely Tyson has spanned generations.  When she recently made her transition it was as if a tree had fallen in the forest.  Her book, "Just As I Am, a Memoir" is sure to bring back memories from your mother's era from movies like "Sounder", "Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman," or the docuseries, "Roots."  Sometimes buying a gift for someone else requires us to think of what the person would like rather than what we want the person to have.  Step into their world to think of what has inspired them over the years.

We had to include the time tested Queen of poetry, Maya Angelou's "Phenomenal Woman."  No matter your age the message is tailor made to fit the uniqueness of Black Women.  Also, "The Goddess Black Woman"  by Akil is worthy of consideration if only for the following paragraph in providing the scope of what the divine Black Mother of the Universe is capable of becoming:

"Be that  Supreme Field of  Electrical Intelligence, that authoritatively calls all of those chaotically disorganized pieces of your life together into an organized functional Creation...an Organized World...An Organized Sphere of unified particles, that smoothly rotates and functions by the light and law of your spiritually disciplined thought.  "You" be that spark in the center that holds it all together!  Holding together the Order of Your Atmosphere, or your sphere of atoms!  Your World, ...your Heavens...your Earth...Your Life!"

Some of the books we've included in this post are:
​1.  The Three Mothers: How the Mothers of Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, and James Baldwin Shaped a Nation
2.  Ida B.  The Queen
3.  My Mother was a Freedom Fighter
4.  Phenomenal Woman by Maya Angelou
5.  The Goddess Black Woman
6.  OH Sis,  You're Pregnant
7.  Michelle Obama, A Photographic Journey
8.  The Progess of Colored Women
9.  The Story of Coretta Scott King
10.  Just as I am, Memoir by Cicely Tyson
11.  Mama Used to Say by Hannibal Johnson

Ohhh, what a candle to bring to transform an area into a serene vibratory frequency.  You'll enjoy the natural soy wax candles made by child-preneur Haley Anderson!  She also carries deodorant.  I personally recommend her products and can attest to their high quality.  List to a recent podcast we did here.  Consider surprising your mother with a few in noticeable locations around the house on her special day/birthday/mother's day/just because.  Candles say alot while saying a little.  The thoughtfulness behind the gift will be enjoyed well beyond the date of exchange.

​Also, we are displaying coffee cups and journals as gift ideas.  The journals may encourage that special mom in your life to start writing their life's accomplishments to pass onto the next generation.  This could become a very important keepsake in the future.  We have  several floral patterns to choose from.  Also, inspiring words on a coffee cupmug set like, "Faith, Love, Grace, and Joy," should make her favorite tea or mocha sweeter when she's reminded of your thoughtfulness in gifting it to her.  The teapot says, "I love you mom."  No further words are needed.

This year, we're glad to also make available tea towels to enhance her kitchen.  How many times has she said, "It is well with my soul."  What a great way to mirror these peaceful words.  

There are many books to choose from.  If there is a book you'd like to order that you don't see here, or if any of the pictures does not have a link associated with it, just send us an email as we will get it to you in short order:  [email protected].

Thanks as always for reading this post.  We hope it gave you some ideas to lead find just the right gift for your Black Mother/mom/mama/big mama/mother dear!