Product guide

The Other Madisons: The Lost History of a President's Black Family

Lost President's Black: The Other Madisons by Bettye Kearse traces her family’s oral history and her search to understand its connection to President James Madison, slavery, and the gaps in recorded history. This Kindle edition combines a personal family quest with historical reflection on race, legacy, and whose stories are preserved.

At a glance

Bettye Kearse recounts family oral history passed down through generations.
The narrative follows her effort to investigate a family tradition connecting her ancestors to James Madison.
The book considers slavery, race, family legacy, and the silencing of Black history.

Price

$3.99Save 81%

Reference price: ~~$20.99~~

Price checked: Nov 12, 2026

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Pros and cons

Pros

Combines a personal family-history investigation with historical context.
The Kindle listing includes Screen Reader support, enhanced typesetting, X-Ray, Word Wise, and Page Flip.

Technical specifications

11 specifications

Publication
Publisher	Mariner Books
Publication date	March 24, 2020
Language	English
Print length	290 pages
ISBN-13	978-1328603531

Kindle edition
File size	9.7 MB
Screen Reader	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	Enabled
X-Ray	Enabled
Word Wise	Enabled
Page Flip	Enabled

What to know before buying

The claimed family connection to James Madison is presented as family oral tradition and as the subject of the author's investigation, not as a settled historical finding in the supplied listing.

Who is it for?

A good fit for

Readers interested in African American history and the history of slavery.
Readers drawn to family memoirs, oral history, and historical investigations.

Less suited to

Readers seeking a light or purely fictional read, as the subject includes slavery, rape, and incest.

Customer reviews on Amazon

4.5 / 5 · 529 ratings

5 stars65%65%
4 stars25%25%
3 stars8%8%
2 stars0%0%
1 star2%2%

Customer feedback describes the book as engaging, well-written, and informative, with appreciation for how it weaves historical facts into a family narrative. Readability is mixed, with some readers finding the material hard to follow. That matters for a 290-page history-centered family account, particularly for readers expecting an easy or fast read.

Positive themes

Readers describe the narrative as engaging and well-written.
Feedback appreciates its informative content and connection to family history.

Mixed feedback

Readability receives mixed feedback, with some readers finding the content difficult to read.

Frequently asked questions

What is The Other Madisons about?

Bettye Kearse recounts her family’s oral history and her investigation into a tradition connecting her ancestry to James Madison, alongside reflections on slavery and historical memory.

Is the family connection to James Madison confirmed?

The listing describes it as an oral tradition that the author investigates. It does not establish the connection as a confirmed historical fact.

What Kindle reading features are listed?

The listing says Screen Reader support, enhanced typesetting, X-Ray, Word Wise, and Page Flip are enabled.