Stevie Wonder’s mother, Lula Mae Hardaway, once revealed that she was forced by Stevie’s father to sadly exploit herself in a way that she NEVER thought she would. Lula Mae collaborated with authors, Dennis Love and Stacy Brown, who wrote her authorized biography, “Blind Faith: The Miraculous Journey of Lula Hardaway, Stevie Wonder’s Mother” in order to share her story with the world. The following excerpts are heart breaking, but are also a testament to just how strong Ms. Hardaway really was.
The Unfortunate Situation Lula Had To Endure:
In her book, Lula Mae Hardaway and her co-authors, revealed that her husband, Calvin Judkins (Stevie Wonder’s dad), forced her into prostitution and became her pimp, when their children were young. See the horrific details from her book below:
Lula Hardaway, her husband (Judkins) and their sons (including Stevie) were getting low on food and coal. One evening, her husband, who was drunk, told her, “I want you to go take a ride with a man, he gave me some money, he’s waiting in his car on the street. Be nice to him.” Lula asked, “Be nice to him…what do you mean? Judkins said, “You just do whatever he wants you to do!”
Lula Mae Hardaway’s book
Lula screamed, “Are you crazy drunk-Judkins grabbed her arm and wrenched it, hard. Lula feared it might snap in two. He had her pinned up against the wall and spit the following words in her ear: “You go out there and do what he says or I’ll beat you like you never been beat. You know I will!”
He shoved her roughly away from the wall. “Get your coat and get out of here!” In a daze, Lula collected her overcoat and shrugged it on. One of her son’s appeared in the kitchen doorway: Where you going, Mama? I’m hungry.
“I’ll be back in a little while, she heard herself say. You stay here. Mama will be back in a bit.”
She walked down the stairs where the sedan was idled by the curb. She opened the door and got in. Afterwards, when it was over, she returned home and walked up the stairs shell shocked.
Later that evening, she went to the corner market and bought a chicken for dinner because, by God, her children were going to have food in their stomachs that night and they were going to be warm. She would see to it.
Other times, she refused to go out on “the stroll” but she would always be under the threat of Judkin’s insistence. She was under his sway and she hated it, resented it, felt revolted by it. But she was convinced that this was the only way, for now, until he got back on his feet, until he figured things out. Sometimes, Judkins would bring home men for her. Other times, she was on her own and she would walk to the stroll, now she understood why some of the girls took dope but she never did.
Once…a large man [told her] ‘This is my street…so, bi*^h, why you here?’ Lula stood her ground. ‘I’m here, she said, her voice wavering slightly, because my children are hungry and I want some coal in the stove tonight when I go home..so why don’t you just tell me where your street ends? And I’ll make sure I stay off it.’ -via PanacheR
Stevie cherished his Mother and eventually was able to take excellent care of her for the rest of her life, so she would never have to compromise her body, nor her dignity again. Lula Mae Hardaway was in a tough situation, but this is a hardcore example of what a mother would do to provide for her family, when she feels helpless and hopeless. A mother will make sure her children eat by ANY means necessary, sometimes even if it means her pride and her well being. We salute Ms. Hardaway for her willingness to share her struggle with the world and hopefully her story has helped another mother out there to keep her head up, even when it seems there isn’t much hope left.
After Stevie’s mother sadly passed away on July 6, 2008, Stevie’s lyrics to his song loudly rang true when he said “Don’t you worry ’bout a thing, don’t you worry ’bout a thing pretty Mama, cause I’ll be standing in the wings when you check it out.” Rest well Lula Mae Hardaway…job well done.
