About this item
In The Other Madisons, Bettye Kearse - a descendant of a slave named Coreen and, according to oral tradition, President James Madison - finally shares her family story, exploring legacy, race, and the powerful consequences of telling the whole truth. For thousands of years, West African griots (men) and griottes (women) have recited the stories of their people. Without this tradition Bettye Kearse would not have known that she is a descendant of President James Madison and his slave Coreen. In 1990, Bettye became the eighth-generation griotte for her family. Their credo - "Always remember - you're a Madison. You come from African slaves and a president" - was intended as a source of pride, but for her, it echoed with abuses of slavery and rape.
About the Author
In 1990, Bettye Kearse became the family griotte when her mother brought the box of family memorabilia to her. Bettye asked, "Why now? " The answer was: "I want to give you plenty of time to write the book." In recounting the struggles, perseverance, and contributions of eight generations of Bettye's family, THE OTHER MADISONS discovers, discloses, and embraces a more inclusive and complete American story.Her writings have appeared in the BOSTON HERALD, RIVER TEETH, ZORA, MENTAL FLOSS, IMAGEMAKERS & INFLUENCERS MAGAZINE, OpEdNEWS, TIME MAGAZINE, THE NEW YORK TIMES MAGAZINE, and the anthology BLACK LIVES HAVE ALWAYS MATTERED.THE OTHER MADISONS earned an International Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Book Award and an Oustanding Book Award from the National Association of Black Journalists . Bettye's research received extensive coverage in the WASHINGTON POST: www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2017/lifestyle/dna-madison/Bettye was born in Tucson, Arizona and grew up in California. She has a B.A. in Genetics from the University of California, a Ph.D. in Biology from New York University, and an M.D. from Case Western Reserve University. Before retiring and moving to Santa Fe, New Mexico, Bettye practicedB pediatrics in Boston for 31 years.Bettye's favorite foods are nuts and truffles. When a choice must be made, it depends on her level of self-indulgence.Website: https://bettyekearse.com
