Mother to Son: Letters to a Black Boy on Identity and Hope

Written in the style of short letters to her son, Wynn, Mother to Son is precious because it allows readers to enter into the hope and heaviness of motherhood. Expertly striking a balance between a gospel-oriented vision for the future and a realistic view of the challenges of life, including those which are unique to the Black community in America, Jasmine offers hope and wisdom both to her sons, and to the church. Through Mother to Son, Jasmine welcomes readers into the tender and vulnerable thoughts of a mother for her son. Reminiscent of the language of Proverbs, such as “Listen, my son..”, this book reflects Jasmine’s desire to instill in her sons the importance of love, in addition to bold efforts to change the world. Perhaps you might be wondering if this book is only of benefit to mothers. My answer is a resounding no! While I do not have children of my own, I found Mother to Son to be applicable to my own work in childcare, with families of many different backgrounds, ethnicities, and religious beliefs. Mother to Son is a valuable tool to both encourage and educate the church, and I have no doubt that it will leave you with a renewed passion for loving others well. In Mother to Son, Jasmine leaves a legacy of grace and hope to her sons, and to the church. I highly recommend Mother to Son, and would give it an “A”.