Session 454: Black Single Mothers

Session 454: Black Single Mothers

From Therapy for Black Girls by iHeartPodcasts and Joy Harden Bradford, Ph.D.

March 11, 2026 · 34 min · Episode 454

About this episode

The episode discusses the complexities and realities of Black single mothers with guest Jamilah Lemieux, focusing on her new book and the societal narratives surrounding single motherhood.

Black single mothers have long been the subject of stereotypes, political debate, and cultural criticism. For decades, narratives in media and public discourse have framed them as the root of social problems rather than recognizing the complex realities of their lives, families, and communities. Today’s guest is writer and cultural critic Jamilah Lemieux, whose work has helped shape conversations about race, gender, and culture for more than a decade. Beginning her career in the Black feminist blogosphere, Jamilah has written and edited for many major publications and has become known for her sharp cultural commentary and advocacy for Black women and girls. In this conversation, we discuss her new book Black. Single. Mother. , where she explores the realities of single motherhood through her own story as well as the stories of other Black women. We talk about the stigma attached to single mothers, the importance of community and co-parenting, how media narratives shape perceptions of Black families, and what it means to redefine family structures outside of traditional expectations. About the Podcast The Therapy for Black Girls Podcast is a weekly conversation with Dr…

People in this episode

Host: Joy Harden Bradford

Guest: Jamilah Lemieux

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Black. Single. Mother.

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