Anna Malaika Tubbs
Writer, Activist, Bill and Melinda Gates Scholar


Dr. Anna Malaika Tubbs holds a Ph.D in Sociology and Masters in Multidisciplinary Gender Studies from the University of Cambridge in addition to a Bachelors in Medical Anthropology from Stanford University. Anna’s research, writing, and talks are centered on gender and race issues in the U.S., especially as these relate to the erasure of Black women.

Anna’s debut book, The Three Mothers: How the Mothers of Martin Luther King, Jr, Malcolm X, and James Baldwin Shaped a Nation is a New York Times Bestseller as well as a New York Times Editor’s Choice and an Amazon Editor’s Pick.

Anna was also previously the First Partner of Stockton. In her role, she co-authored the “Report on the Status of Women in Stockton” to help guide future policy decisions with the experiences of diverse women in mind.

Her work has been featured on/in CBS This Morning, Good Day LA, Oprah Daily, People Magazine, USA Today, The Skimm, Fortune Magazine, MSNBC, C-Span, NPR, Forbes, The 19th News, GMA.com, Yahoo News, The Washington Post, Southern Living Magazine, and more.

You can listen to Anna’s TED Talk here.

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The Three MothersHow the Mothers of Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, and James Baldwin Shaped a Nation
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These three mothers taught resistance and a fundamental belief in the worth of Black people to their sons, even when these beliefs flew in the face of America’s racist practices and led to ramifications for all three families’ safety. The fight for equal justice and dignity came above all else for the three mothers.

Tell Our Story because They Won’t
The need for members of oppressed groups to find ways to tell our story, our side, our perspective, otherwise we are erased and/or misrepresented. This is the case for women, women of color, marginalized youth, and more.
The Power of Motherhood
Flipping the narrative around motherhood being something that is oppressive, something that takes away agency, and instead pointing to the influence and power of mothers while addressing the lack of support and appreciation mothers receive that makes the role a difficult one. It’s also about women reclaiming their power.
See the World through the Eyes of Black Mothers
The book addresses the ways in which Black people are treated as less than human and how Black women give life through various means whether through literal motherhood or through their art and activism. Black women see possibilities for a world that recognizes all of our humanity and celebrates all our differences and by visualizing this and teaching their children about their vision, they help to make it a reality. This perspective translates into the way Black women vote and the way they influence national policy.
We Will Not be Erased
This addresses the way that women and women of color more specifically are often disregarded in our telling of history and even in day to day interactions now. This talk shines light on why this erasure happens and how we’ve stood/continue to stand against it.
The Power of Recognition
Highlighting the importance of seeing people and people feeling seen. Seeing someone is humanizing them. My book shines light on three women who have been hidden but it also asks us to pay attention to who we are forgetting and denying recognition today.





Listen to Anna Malaika Tubbs be called a “force of good” by Forbes

Anna Malaika Tubbs speaks with Motivational Millennial podcast about Using Vulnerability to combat Social Justice.

Anna Malika speaks on Passing the Baton podcast with her husband Mayor Tubbs.

Anna writes about the importance of Alberta King, MLK Jr’s mother, for Time Magazine

The Three Mothers is a New York Times Editors’ Pick

The Three Mothers is named one of the 10 best biographies about incredible women in history , NBC

Anna is added to California Museum’s Inspiring Women in History Exhibit for International Women’s Day

The Three Mothers is an Amazon Editors’ Pick

“ Dr. Anna Tubb’s scholarship, research, and activism, addressing the lives of black mothers, makes visible the untold histories of women who are the foundational caregivers and changemakers in our society. Her scholarship is critical to helping us magnify how history is told. Dr. Anna Tubb’s scholarship, research, and activism, addressing the lives and social conditions of black mothers, makes visible the hidden histories of women. From this POV, we all benefit”
- Amy W. Hufnagel, Harriet Beecher Stowe Center