Black descendant of Pres. James Madison speaks in book on family's history

SUMMARY: The only descendants of Pres. James Madison, Father of the U.S. Constitution, are Black. One of them,  Dr. Betty Kearse, a retired pediatrician and geneticist unravels her family history in the book, "The Other Madisons: The Lost History of A President's Black Family."  She talks about life and the expectations that were imposed on her as a Black descendant of Madison, who was married to Dolly Madision and thought to be impotent.  The lineage addressed in this book suggests he was not and had several children with a slave. Kearse recounts the stories of her family history passed down by oral tradition. Dr. Kearse is the narrator and central character in  a memoir that is desribed as "part personal quest, part testimony, part historical correction." This hidden story is also documented in the film The Other Madisons which opens up the story into the history of African Americnas as a whole is also available in documentary form. 

Santa Fe, NM — Dr. Bettye Kearse, retired pediatrician and black descendant of President James Madison, is the author of the award-winning book The Other Madisons: The Lost History of A President’s Black Family (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt 2020). In recounting the struggles, perseverance, and contributions of eight generations of Kearse’s family, this memoir illustrates that enslaved Africans possessed inner strength, hope, and talents by which they survived enslavement while contributing mightily to America. They passed down these same qualities to their descendants. This book will inspire those descendants not only to use their inner strength to fight for their full rights as full Americans but to realize their hopes, and, like their enslaved ancestors, to make contributions to our nation.

In 2020, The Other Madisons earned the International Afro American Historical and Genealogical Society Book Award for Non-fiction/Autobiography and an Outstanding Book Award from the National Association of Black Journalists.

In its starred review, the esteemed Kirkus Reviews praised The Other Madisons as “A Roots for a new generation, rich in storytelling and steeped in history” and one of the best books of the year. Kearse’s book was also listed as one of Smithsonian Magazine‘s “Best History Books of 2020,” Good Morning America‘s “7 Books to Read for Presidents Day,” and Parade‘s “Best Memoirs to Read this Year.”

The 2021 documentary film based on The Other Madisons can be seen in webinars and film festivals throughout the country. The following is a brief clip: YouTube.com/watch?v=gEdU3CujS6I

Among Dr. Kearse’s prior speaking venues are the National Museum of African American History and Culture, The Civil Rights and Social Justice Section of The American Bar Association, the National Association of Black Journalists, Harvard University Medical School, the University of Virginia, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and James Madison’s Montpelier.

Her areas of expertise include President James Madison’s Black descendants, the importance of oral history, slavery on Wall Street, and how the original Constitution laid the groundwork for marginalizing Black Americans and for unjust law enforcement against them including George Floyd’s murder.

Dr. Kearse has appeared on “Teen Kids News” television and multiple podcast and radio programs, including NPR shows. Video and audio recordings are available.