Mixtape Theme: The Love of Black Mothers

 Thomas Carter

Dr. Harris

ENGL 2017 – 65125

1 May 2025

Mixtape Theme: The Love of Black Mothers

Introduction

This mixtape explores the love Black mothers. Sometimes their love is soft and warm, and sometimes it is hard and full of sacrifice. Their love is shaped by the world around them through experiences such as poverty, racism, loss, and survival. Music helps us understand this love. Songs about Black motherhood give us feelings, stories, and truths that speak to how deep and complex this love can be. In Sula by Toni Morrison, we see different kinds of mothers such as Eva, Helene, and Hannah who all love in their own way. Some are strict, some are distant, and some are bold. These songs help us hear their hearts. By looking at 13 tracks that talk about Black mothers, we can better understand the beauty and pain of mothering in a world that does not always care for Black women. These songs and this novel together show us how strong, messy, and powerful Black maternal love truly is.

Track List & Contributions

“Dear Mama” – 2Pac 

Contribution: Tupac’s "Dear Mama" is a powerful song that honors his mother, Afeni Shakur. He talks about her sacrifices, her struggles with addiction, and how she raised him alone. Even though life was hard, she always showed love. In Sula, Eva Peace reflects this same kind of strength. She loses her leg and still finds a way to care for her family. Her love is not soft, but it's strong and full of sacrifice. This song and the character Eva show that Black mothers often love by surviving and providing, even when it hurts. The love may not always be gentle, but it’s always real.

“A Song for Mama’ – Boyz II Men

Contribution: This song is a gentle thank you to mothers for always being there. It talks about feeling safe and loved because of a mother’s presence. In Sula, Helene Wright tries to give that kind of care to her daughter, Nel. Helene is strict and traditional, but she wants the best for her child. This song helps us see that even controlling mothers can show love in ways that protect. Both the song and the novel show that mothers may not always say "I love you," but their care is shown through what they do.

"Mama’s Gun" – Erykah Badu

This track explores the emotional armor Black women wear to survive while caring for others. It reflects how Black mothers love through pain, often hiding their own suffering to protect their children. Eva in Sula is a powerful example, carrying deep pain while holding her family together with tough love.

 "Dance" – Nas

Nas reflects on the pain of losing his mother and the depth of their emotional connection. It shows how Black motherly love continues to shape children even after death. Nel in Sula experiences a similar grief for Sula, whose absence echoes the void left by maternal figures.

"Thanks for My Child" – Cheryl Pepsi Riley

This song is a celebration of single motherhood and the strength it takes to raise a child alone. It reflects how Black mothers often find purpose and endurance through their children. Eva in Sula embodies this, raising children and boarders with strength drawn from deep maternal love.

 "Mama" – Brandy

Brandy thanks her mother for discipline, wisdom, and unconditional support throughout her life. It reflects how Black mothers teach values and resilience while creating emotional safety. Helene in Sula instills order in Nel’s life, believing that structure is key to surviving a racist world.

 "Baby Mama" – Fantasia

Fantasia uplifts single mothers who are often undervalued but keep families together. The song highlights how Black mothers face judgment while working tirelessly for their children. In Sula, Eva’s independence and ability to raise multiple children on her own is a direct reflection of this strength.

"Mama’s Hand" – Queen Naija

This song is a promise of eternal support from a mother to her child. It reflects how Black mothers prepare their children for independence while offering lifelong love. Though flawed, Hannah and Eva in Sula both attempt to prepare their children for a harsh world in their own ways.

"Sadie" – The Spinners

This tribute honors a mother’s daily sacrifices and unspoken labor. It reflects how Black mothers often provide emotional and physical care without seeking recognition. Eva in Sula makes constant sacrifices—her leg, her pride, even her son—for the sake of her family’s survival.

"Hey Mama" – Kanye West

Kanye expresses how his mother’s belief in him helped him succeed despite challenges. It reflects how Black mothers nurture ambition and self-worth in their children. In Sula, Nel grows up with Helene’s moral guidance, which gives her a clear identity, even as she questions it later. 

 "Sweetest Devotion" – India. Arie

This song explores the deep emotional connection between a mother and child. It reflects how Black mothers provide a love that heals, nurtures, and transforms. In Sula, that kind of deep bond is missing between Hannah and Sula, which leaves Sula emotionally adrift.

 "Mother" – Ashanti

Ashanti thanks her mother for unwavering presence, emotional stability, and strength. It reflects how Black mothers lead their children with love, discipline, and example. In Sula, Helene’s presence in Nel’s life is strict but strong, shaping who Nel becomes as a woman.

"Ring Off" – Beyoncé

This song tells the story of a mother who finds strength in leaving a harmful relationship. It reflects how Black mothers sometimes show love by choosing self-preservation and setting examples of self-worth. Sula's rejection of traditional roles mirrors this self-love, even though she lacks a nurturing maternal model.

Black motherhood cannot be explained in just one way. It is big, complicated, and full of emotion. The 13 songs in this project each show a different side of love, struggle, grief, pride, and care. When we connect these songs to Sula, we see how music and literature work together to tell stories of Black women’s strength. In Sula, mother figures are not perfect, but they are real. They do what they can to survive and protect their families, even if it hurts. These songs give voice to what the mothers in the novel may not say out loud. They help us listen to the feelings behind the actions. In the end, both the songs and the book remind us that Black mothers carry so much—history, pain, hope, and love. By listening to them and reading their stories, we honor that legacy and see beauty in their care.

Works Cited 

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/07NVipTfKHf7VioJIjGrLf?si=dw1q0DJqQF-IowOeNGkstw

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dear_Mama#:~:text=It%20was%20released%20on%20February,his%20mother%20supersede%20bad%20memories.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Song_for_Mama

https://archive.org/details/tonimorrisonsula2004/page/n10/mode/1up