Ms. Henley Goes to Washington

Peggy sent us this latest update—and it's a big one!

At the request of the First Lady of the nation, Ms. Mary Henley of Richmond, Virginia was one of a group invited by the First Lady to attend the President’s first address before Congress. This is not the first time Ms. Henley has met and talked with the First Lady. The first time was on September 17, 2008 at the Richmond Convention Center where she attended an Economic Conference featuring Michelle Obama on the campaign trail for her husband. During the question and answer period, Ms. Henley stood next to the First Lady to tell her story of economic hardship for seniors nearing their eighties. A photo was taken of Ms. Henley and the now First Lady talking. That photo is the bottom photo on the cover of our book Go, Tell Michelle: African American Women Write to the New First Lady. The coeditors and the contributors have been waiting with bated breath to receive word that the book dedicated to Ms. Obama had reached her hands. Well, we can all breathe a sigh of relief because Ms. Henley took her copy of the book to Washington, and had it signed by First Lady Michelle Obama with President Obama by her side. Yes she DID! As a matter of fact, according to Ms. Henley, President Obama looked at the book and leafed through it and then passed it to Michelle Obama to sign. We are waiting for a photo from Ms. Henley with the book standing beside Michelle Obama! Now we know that the First Lady has seen the book and held it! For now, one of our books has been seen and signed by the First Lady of the Nation. We are ecstatic! We are still working to have a meeting with the First Lady and the contributors to discuss the book and the GTM Sisterhood. We will keep you posted.

Thank you, Peggy, for sharing that wonderful story of Ms. Henley's second meeting with Michelle Obama. We look forward to posting a photo of Ms. Henley with the First Lady and a copy of the book!