The history of a name

Bettye Kearse is a retired pediatrician who served Boston’s inner-city youths for more than thirty years. A resident of Santa Fe, NM, she is her family’s eighth-generation oral historian and author of the award-winning memoir The Other Madisons. She is a descendant of an enslaved cook and President James Madison. In recounting the struggles, perseverance, and contributions of her family, The Other Madisons illustrates that enslaved Africans possessed a strong belief in themselves by which they survived, contributed mightily to America and passed down that quality to their descendants--to believe in themselves so they can fulfill their dreams and make contributions throughout the world. Dr. Kearse has been a guest on multiple podcasts and radio shows, including NPR, and has given presentations for audiences of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, Harvard University, M.I.T., the National Association of Black Journalists, and the American Bar Association.