Tapestry Charter School Welcomes Peggy and Barbara

Peggy and Barbara wanted to share this update from a special event that took place in March.

One of our most exciting presentations and signings took place on March 9, 2009 at the Tapestry Charter School in Buffalo, New York. The Dean of Students at the school is Joanne Cathcart. We were most delighted to see that the 9-11 grade students actually placed some of the readings from the Go, Tell Michelle book into dialogue, music and dance. It was quite thrilling to see that young people thoroughly understood and appreciated the contributions of women to the preservation of a truly historic moment through their letters and poems to the First Lady, Michelle Obama. They also included materials from the bios and photos from the Uncrowned Queens webpage. With two large screens on either side of the stage, faces of the women whose materials they were citing appeared on the screens. The Go, Tell Michelle book took on a different meaning with this wonderful presentation by students dancing and singing throughout the evening. Through song, dance and recitation, they reminded us of the power and creativity of youth. It also reminded us that the First Lady is devoted to helping young people succeed. When we took to the stage to discuss the book, we were very warmly received by a very attentive audience of students, teachers, parents and community members. The school purchased 100 books from SUNY Press to be sold on this occasion. We were also joined on this occasion by one of our Uncrowned Queens, Erie County Legislator, Betty Jean Grant who read a poem from her recently self-published book Falling Through the Crack. The website for the Tapestry Charter School is www.tapestryschool.org we look forward to working with them again.

Peggy

Jacqueline Baptiste's review, en francais

For those who would prefer to read Jacqueline Baptiste's lovely review of GTM as it was written, in French, we've posted it below.


Vas-y, Parle à Michelle
Par: Jacqueline Jean-Baptiste

Des femmes américaines, de descendance africaine; quelques-unes des Caraïbes et directement du continent africain ont exprimé, à Michelle Obama, à travers des lettres, poèmes et contes, leur profonde et joyeuse émotion à l’occasion de l’arrivée à la Maison Blanche, de la Première Famille de descendance africaine.

C’est une belle collection littéraire où la passion se mêle à l’histoire. Ces femmes ont invoqué le long continuum d’évolution des Noirs-américains, des ancêtres à aujourd’hui : De l’esclavage à la ségrégation, aux luttes acharnées pour les droits civils et les souffrances afférentes, à l’acquisition légale des droits, aux luttes pour la mise en oeuvre et le maintien de ces droits, à l’équité et à l’intégration jusqu’au 4 novembre 2008, journée de l’élection de Barack Obama à la présidence des États-Unis d’Amérique.

Très bien écrit; les auteurs sont : ingénieures, médecins, avocates, professeures d’université et d’autres institutions post secondaires, travailleuses sociales, ethnomusicologues, poètes et conteuses, artistes, actrices, mères de famille, organisatrices communautaires, présidente d’université, membres d’assemblées
législatives et j’en passe…

De la Californie à New York, de la Floride à l’État de Washington en passant par la Géorgie, l’Utah et audelà; des Caraïbes, du Kenya, du Niger; toutes ces femmes ont parlé à Michelle Obama et, elles l’ont fait à l’unisson.

Elles ont remercié Michelle, parce que maintenant, elles sont complètement représentées à la Maison Blanche. Non pas parce qu’elles n’étaient pas représentées avant, mais parce que, cette nouvelle représentation n’est pas une simple représentation de nombre ou de genre. La représentation par Michelle est aussi une représentation ontologique. Toutes les dimensions de leur être sont représentées chez
Michelle d’où une compréhension totale de part et d’autre.

À travers leurs lettres, les femmes ont honoré leur pays, Les États-Unis d’Amérique, de cette capacité de changement qui est la leur. C’est le seul pays au monde, selon les femmes, capable d’effectuer un changement si majeur. C’est le plus beau pays au monde selon ces femmes, parce que porteur de si grandes promesses. Ce sont après tout, les Blancs-américains qui ont rendu possible l’élection de Barack Obama à la présidence des États-Unis.

Michelle s’est fait appeler : Excellence, Première Dame, Soeur, Tante, Mère. Elle est comparée à une chanson, un proverbe, un symbole même de dignité humaine. Remercier Michelle est une façon, pour les femmes, de reconnaître l’histoire de toutes ces grandes « reines » (les ancêtres) qui sont passées avant.

Les phrases sont puissantes par ce qu’elles expriment et laissent sous-entendre en même temps par ex : « Thank you for the beautiful face of Black America you have presented to the world… What a wonderful picture you have drawn for the world ». On le sait trop bien, l’image des Noirs dans les média a été pour la plupart, dégradante et horrifiante.

De vocabulaire soigné, élégant et parfois poétique; c’est un de ces livres qu’on prend plaisir à lire seul /e ou en compagnie, dans la cuisine, à haute voix, à notre mère pendant qu’elle prépare le repas. On peut commencer n’importe où. On peut lire une lettre ou un poème à la fois et refermer jusqu’à la prochaine lecture. Ne pas aimer lire ne peut-être invoqué comme excuse pour ne pas se le procurer.

La faiblesse de ce livre est qu’il s’adresse plutôt à des lecteurs avisés, c’est-à-dire, la génération des personnes d’un certain âge qui sont conscients de l’histoire et de la littérature des Noirs ou des Noirs-américains. Pour une personne de culture autre, pour qui jusque-là, l’intérêt pour les Noirs était absent; pour les très jeunes personnes même aux États-Unis, non instruits de l’histoire des Noirs-américains ou des Noirs, une bonne lecture de ce document, sans guide, reste inaccessible.

À travers le livre, on peut constater comment Michelle Obama est scrutée à la loupe. Elle est citée mot à mot. Elle est déjà remerciée pour des promesses qu’elle a faites avant de devenir la Première Dame. Cette très grande effusion d’amour inquiète. Michelle est d’abord et avant tout un être humain, elle commettra des erreurs; elle ne tiendra peut-être pas toutes ses promesses. Michelle est aussi la Première Dame des États-Unis, une population de plus de 300 millions d’habitants, dont les Noirs sont moins de quinze pour cent. Pourra-t-elle répondre aux attentes, et espoirs de cette minorité. Cette passion, survivra-t-elle aux attentes non comblées, aux espoirs déchus. Est-ce une lune de miel? Qu’arrivera-t-il après? C’est l’inquiétude provoquée par la lecture de cette oeuvre littéraire pourtant si agréable. Fortement recommandé. A+

Jacqueline Baptiste's review

Today we have a translation of a wonderful French review of Go, Tell Michelle from Jacqueline Baptiste, one of the Canadian Uncrowned Queens.

African American women as well as others from the Caribbean and the African continent express their deep and joyful emotions to Michelle Obama through letters and poems and stories. They are all elated with the arrival of the first African American First family to the White House. This compilation of letters and poems is a fantastic literary collection where passion mingles with history and represents a long continuum of evolution of African Americans from the ancestors until today. These letters capture events from slavery to segregation. They describe hard struggles for civil rights and the suffering that accompanied the struggle up to the winning of rights and the struggle for implementation and maintenance of those rights. They carry the reader to the struggles for equity, to integration and to November 4, 2008 and the election of Barack Obama as President of the United States of America.

The letters are very well written. The authors are lawyers, physicians, university professors, social workers, ethno-musicologists, community activists, university presidents, artists, mothers politicians and many more. They represent every region of the United States from California to New York, from Buffalo, New York to Florida and beyond. Letters came from the Caribbean, and the African Continent. On the African continent, they wrote from Kenya, Cameroon, Liberia and Niger and all these women talked to Michelle Obama with one voice.


They thanked Michelle because they feel they are completely represented in the White House. Unlike before, they are now ontologically represented. All dimensions of their being are represented in Michelle. Consequently, it is a total understanding that stretches from her to them. Through their letters the women honored the United States for this ability to effect such a momentous change. It is the only country in the world, according to these writers that is capable of such a major change. It’s the most wonderful country in the world because it has so many promises to fulfill and Michelle Obama as First Lady is one of those promises. These writers saw this change as an achievement brought about by all of the people because a broad and diverse group of Americans worked together to make such a change possible.


The writers addressed the First Lady with numerous titles. They called her Michelle, Your Excellency, First Lady, Sister, Auntie and Mother. The made numerous comparisons describing the First Lady as a song or a proverb and saw her as symbolizing human dignity. Thanks Michelle was a way for these women to recognize all those great “queens” who came before. Their sentences are powerful not only by what they express but by what they did not expressly say. For example, “thank you for the beautiful face of Black America you have presented to the world…What a wonderful picture you have drawn for the world.” We know too well how images of Blacks in the media are for the most part degrading and horrifying.


They wrote in many voices with a refined vocabulary which was elegant and sometimes poetic. It is the kind of book one has the pleasure to read alone or in company in the kitchen, out loud to a mother while she prepared dinner. One can start anywhere, read one letter and close it until the next reading. Even if one does not like to read this would not be an excuse for not having this book.


If I had any concerns for this lovely book, it would be that the book might benefit from a reading guide so that those not quite aware of African and African American history might be better informed to savor the full depth of the writings. Further, these writers wish for so much from Michelle and they seem to observe the First Lady through many lens. They already thank her for things she promised to do before becoming First Lady. This large expression of love is not without its dangers. Like each of us, Michelle Obama is a human being subject to making mistakes. She may not be able to hold all her promises. Because she is the First Lady for all the people one hopes that the passion expressed in these letters will survive expectation if those expectations are not met. One wonders. These are my concerns for this extraordinary book and I highly recommend it.

Audio Update

Barbara in studio

Here's an update from Barbara Seals Nevergold and Peggy Brooks-Bertram on the recording of the GTM audio book:

Peggy in studio

For more than a week, we were in the sound studio recording the audio version of GTM. Our sound engineer David Lee Chandler was such an excellent director. He never let us get away with a single missed word or slurred phrase! We also have to thank Dr. Carole Smith Petro, Associate Vice President and General Manager of WBFO Radio at the University at Buffalo for providing the studio for our recording. We are excited about this new audio version of Go, Tell Michelle and think that readers who have already picked up a hard copy will enjoy listening to the book as well.

Sound engineer David Lee Chandler

Stay tuned for more news on the forthcoming audio book...

10th Anniversary of the Uncrowned Queens Institute

On Sunday, February 22nd at 2 pm, the coeditors of Go, Tell Michelle were joined at the Buffalo and Erie County Library by contributors to the book: Arlette Miller Smith of Rochester and Debra Johnson, Sharon Jordan Holley, Karima Amin, Shirley Sarmiento, Lillian Davis-Wilson, Deborah Seals, and Sharon Amos of Buffalo. The response to these readings was tremendous.

The event was cosponsored by the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the founding of the Uncrowned Queens Institute. The program was conducted in the library's community space, the Ring of Knowledge. The program was titled "Uncovering the Past to Preserve the Future: A Decade of Progress." It featured the history of the Institute's development from its inception as a focus group of the women's Pavilion PanAm 2001 to the current expansion of the organization into the corporate structure, Uncrowned Community Builders, which encompasses Uncrowned Queens, Uncrowned Kings, and Uncrowned Queens and Kings in the Wings, a version for young community builders. The celebration not only part of the Library's African History Month celebration, but it celebrated the Institute's new partnership with the Buffalo and Erie County Library, which became the first Uncrowned Community Builders Affiliate in the nation. The Institute's development of a digital kiosk to further its digital literacy efforts as an example of the Institute's innovative strategies to collect and preserve local African American history was discussed. Many of the contributors to the GTM book are writers, poets, and musicians, and the Rochester/Buffalo group was no exception. The audience was treated to drumming, songs, and chants by the Daughters of Creative Sound—two of who's members contributed to the book. Contributors were also asked to read excerpts from their letters/poems. Poet, storyteller, and songstress Arlette Miller Smith concluded the readings and surprisingly opened her reading with the Negro spiritual, "Go, Tell It On the Mountain." She provided an absolutely stunning reading of her poem, "We In Anticipation of You," and closed with verses from the Negro National Anthem. A very lively book signing ended the program as the coeditors and contributors signed books and greeted the audience.

At every opportunity across this country, we will make every effort to include the contributors to continue the message of the Go, Tell Michelle Sisterhood.

Barbara and Peggy: "Change Makers" in Buffalo

Last Friday, Barbara and Peggy were among the honorees at a special celebration in Buffalo to honor the many African American men and women who have positively impacted the city. Mayor Byron Brown, along with University at Buffalo Law School Dean Makau Mutua, presented awards in a number of categories. Barbara and Peggy were recognized as “Change Makers” and presented with the Education Award. Congratulations to you both!


Read more about the celebration and the awards here.

HSBC Black History Month reception

Mark your calendars! On Thursday, February 26th, Peggy and Barbara will be the keynote speakers at the reception for the HSBC African Heritage Diversity Committee, Buffalo/Niagara Chapter. The event will celebrate diversity and recognize the accomplishments of African Americans, and feature the Uncrowned Queens as the distinguished keynote speakers.


Event particulars:

Shanghai Red’s
2 Templeton Terrace, Buffalo, New York

Thursday, February 26th
Networking 5:30 pm
Presentation 6:00 pm

Donna Brazile and other news

Peggy Bertram reports on last week's events and the ever-growing buzz surrounding Go, Tell Michelle.

At the University at Buffalo, Distinguished Speakers Series African History Month Celebration last Thursday, Donna Brazile, Democratic Political Strategist and commentator for CNN News, was the keynote speaker. At the close of her lecture, the Minority Faculty Association at University at Buffalo presented her with two gifts. One was a glass Buffalo and the other was a copy of Go, Tell Michelle. Ms. Brazile was thrilled with the book and we took photos with her at a later reception. Ms. Brazile said she would read the book and would also mention it to Michelle Obama.

Also, on Friday, the coeditors of GTM had a presentation and book signing for the Canisius College, Academic Talent Search, African History Month Program at Shanghai Reds. The event was attended by 200 students in the program, parents, and other dignitaries. What was extraordinary about this event was that other contributors to the book were also invited and the coeditors asked them to sign books as well. Other book contributors in attendance were Shirley Sarmiento, Patricia Clark, Georgia Burnette, Debra Johnson and Barbra Fletcher-Stephens.