QUEEN MOTHER | A Busboys and Poets Books Presentation

From an award-winning historian of Black radical politics comes the definitive biography of Queen Mother Audley Moore--mother of modern Black Nationalism and trailblazer in the fight for reparations

"Queen Mother is a monumental achievement, a rendering worthy of the great Audley Moore herself." –Jelani Cobb, Dean of the Columbia School of Journalism

In the world of Black radical politics, the name Audley Moore commands unquestioned respect. Across the nine decades of her life, Queen Mother Moore distinguished herself as a leading progenitor of Black Nationalism, the founder of the modern reparations movement, and, from her Philadelphia and Harlem homes, a mentor to some of America's most influential Black activists.

And yet, she is far less remembered than many of her peers and protégés--Marcus Garvey, Malcolm X, and Muhammad Ahmad, to name just a few--and the ephemera of her life are either lost or plundered. In Queen Mother, celebrated writer and historian Ashley D. Farmer restores Moore's faded portrait, delivering the first ever definitive account of her life and enduring legacy.

Deeply researched and richly detailed, Queen Mother is more than just the biography of an American icon. It's a narrative history of 20th-century Black radicalism, told through the lens of the woman whose grit and determination sustained the movement.

Dr. Ashley D. Farmer is joining us on the Busboys stage to celebrate the release of this definitive biography of one of the most influential yet understudied activists and thinkers of the 20th century. Copies of the book will be available for purchase during and after the event, and Dr. Farmer will be signing following the program.

This event is free and open to all. Our program begins at 6:00 pm, and will be followed by an audience Q&A. Copies of QUEEN MOTHER will be available for purchase before and after the event. Please note that this event is in person and will not be livestreamed. 

We ask that guests RSVP in order to receive direct updates about the event from Busboys and Poets Books

Dr. Ashley D. Farmer is an award-winning writer, researcher, and cultural analyst who explores Black history and its implications today. Her first book, Remaking Black Power, was shortlisted for numerous awards, Farmer’s ideas and insights have appeared in numerous venues including Harper’s Bazaar, NPR, The Washington Post, and Teen Vogue. Farmer is an Associate Professor at the University of Texas at Austin.

BOOK DETAILS

Queen Mother

Black Nationalism, Reparations, and the Untold Story of Audley Moore

By Ashley D. Farmer

November 04, 2025 | Hardcover, 496 pages, $35.00

Host or Publisher Busboys and Poets