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It Takes a Woman
- Narrated by: DeVon Franklin, Aunt Nuna, Aunt Ida, Aunt Enis, Aunt Donna, Aunt Sondra, Paulette Franklin
- Length: 4 hrs and 30 mins
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Publisher's Summary
There’s an African proverb that says “It takes a village to raise a child”. Hollywood producer and best-selling author DeVon Franklin offers a personal twist: It Takes a Woman. In this riveting and soul-stirring Audible Original, Franklin introduces us to the women who raised him—a “village of love” that selflessly came together to shape him into the man he is today.
For the first time publicly, Franklin and his family discuss the aftermath of his father’s untimely death and the despair that could have destroyed their future. It Takes a Woman offers listeners an emotional journey of tragedy, triumph, and healing as Franklin, his mother, and his five living great-aunts recall how the women heeded the call to help raise him and his two brothers. The candid conversation—covering everything from marriage, death, divorce, and regret to colorfully frank advice about dating, sex, and money—uncovers old wounds that are still fresh and pain that is still piercing, as well as a family bond that is unbreakable.
The women’s willingness to open their hearts and souls elevates this listen beyond simple memoir. Guided by their faith, they share decades of hard-earned life experiences and inspiring lessons. It’s the foundation of love and communication that nurtured Franklin and his brothers, and one that will inspire listeners to embrace this village as their own.
It Takes a Woman, one family’s true story of hope, faith, and resilience, honors the sacrifices of a remarkable village of Black women as experienced through the eyes of a Black man. It’s also a universal celebration of the power of women to alter and enrich the lives they touch.
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Enjoy the trailer!

About the Creator and Performer
DeVon Franklin Answers the Audible Questionnaire
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What listeners say about It Takes a Woman
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Monilyn
- 04-25-22
Beautiful and inspirational
Devon Franklin tells an inspirational story (or stories) about how women in his life helped shape him into the man he is today. It is beautiful to also hear their voices retell their family's history and stories.
Do not listen to the hateful reviews. Devon Franklin is a pastor and producer known for the movie, "Heaven is Real." Hardly leftist.
It is disturbing that people did not listen to this, saw a cover with a Black man surrounded by Black women elders and assumed this was leftist propaganda. Sheer ignorance among other things.
Listen if you want to hear a story of an American family, one of many different stories that make us who we are. If this is not your cup of tea, so be it, but please give zero credence to one star reviews of people who didn't listen and judged a book by its cover and politicized something needlessly.
5 people found this helpful
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- Bart
- 04-24-22
Trying to put Afrikan label on garbage
Audible pushed this title into my selections—so he paid to be promoted by the app. This unwelcome selection just slaps the Afrikan label on Leftist ideology to promote The Message (tm). Skip it—“free” is still too high a price for this garbage.
3 people found this helpful
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- Ryan
- 04-24-22
leftist blm narrative. proud conservative
leftist garbage, funny out of all the selections on audible. the very first recommendation I get is this leftist propaganda
2 people found this helpful
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- Sofia
- 04-22-22
soooo good!
wow! many lessons in here. thank you all for keeping it so real. we need the visual now!
2 people found this helpful
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- Staci
- 04-21-22
Excellent Excellent Excellent
I read/ listen to at least two books a week. This beautiful story hit all of my emotions. I had to stop and grab tissue, I was either crying or laughing. What a amazing village the author has and kudos for sharing.
2 people found this helpful
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- SandyMyDarlin
- 05-02-22
great read! 📚
i truly was only interested in this book because of all the bad reviews. Now that I've finished it, I can say that they were wrong.
Yes, there is one chapter on being a black man in America but that's it.
There is no great big leftist ideology, it's a great story that reminded me to be grateful for my upbringing and the villages we all have.
1 person found this helpful
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- B J Griffin
- 04-29-22
Thoughtful and thought provoking
Loved the story, the inner reflection of the author, and the lessons presented. We know it "takes a village," but a village of women is essential.
1 person found this helpful
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- DINA CASAREZ
- 04-29-22
loved it
beautifully written and narrated. heart warming and inspiring. I could listen to this over again.
1 person found this helpful
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Mixed feelings
One man's experience.
Not what everyone can relate to.
The author shares his experience, which is fine for him and those who can relate. It feels like he writes hoping that he'll catch the current zeitgeist and make money. Perhaps that's OK, but I felt my time would have been better utilized listening to a lot of other things.
1 person found this helpful
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- Robert Stephen Boney
- 04-24-22
No thank you
Stop sending me leftist screeds as recommendations. I do not like leftist jams. I do not like them on Audible. I do not find them laudible.
1 person found this helpful
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- Allyson
- 05-06-22
Absolutely 💯 💯 amazing book
Devon has never disappoint, love the Village! so much wisdom ✨️ 🙌🏾 sounds like my aunties back in Trinidad and Tobago 🇹🇹
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- Anonymous User
- 04-30-22
Great listen
Listened to this on a road trip with my wife. We thoroughly enjoy it.
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- Anonymous User
- 04-24-22
How Incredible
Honestly being privy to this incredible show of commitment and love from mother to children. This story of resilience and family is truly powerful.
From sadness to laughter this short work takes you through real life women of valour who openly, powerfully share their stories in a way that guides and nurtures the younger generation.
I feel so blessed to have listened to this and I know this is something I will Come back to over and over again. I feel proud of the triumph and inspired by the messages and warmed by the love. Devon gives us a piece of his heart, his family and in doing so will provide hope and solace to someone feeling alone, someone only able to view their situation through a lens of disappointment and sadness will have this to use as hope and reassurance that everything can work together for your good.
Thank you Devon for sharing this story and giving such incredible women a voice so we can feel proud of the women or village in our lives who have also played a significant role in who we are today and who we grow to become.
Thank you for you venerability and your honesty. I truly believe you will have such a wonderful family one day who get to benefit from the seeds that were planted in your from your village. 💕
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- Anonymous User
- 05-05-22
Every Heartbeat Has A Hidden Voice.
Life stories that teach us more about faith, working & learning together as we grow on our own journey.
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- Anonymous User
- 05-03-22
Amazing
This book was beautifully made and all those women(village) sharing there expierence was very emotional and powerful, wow to the core.
It took me half day to finished the book.
Thank you DeVon.
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- J1121
- 04-29-22
WOW
Review from Melbourne, Australia
Whether you were raised by a Village or don’t know what having one means, these narrators will quickly become your very own.
Loved listening to everyone’s unique life experiences, the highs and lows, the Life advice that I felt was given to me personally, and keeping your Faith the centre of the this strong foundation. Thank you thank you x Highly rec!
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- SJ Riley
- 04-22-22
Rich, Raw & Relatable
Powerful stories interwoven to reflect a powerful legacy of faith and wisdom! It speaks of lessons learnt the easy way and the hard way, always leading home to a village of unconditional love.