One day, I left my office to have lunch with St. Martin’s editor Elisabeth Dyssegaard, whom I have been lucky enough to know for years. By the end of lunch, we were talking about Michelle Obama and Elisabeth shared that she had an idea for a small collection of essays from a surprising mix of contributors that would be both a tribute and an exploration of this ground-breaking and iconic First Lady. This anthology was her brain child and I’m so grateful to her for giving me the opportunity to move from mere Michelle O fandom to the dozens of conversations, meetings, emails, drafts and edits that led to this book. Thank you, Elisabeth.
I’ve never met Michelle Obama, but the beauty of who she has been these past eight years is that you don’t need to know her personally to bask in all that she has offered this country. Thank you, Michelle, for showing a generation of women, including me and my daughter, what it means to dwell in possibility.
I owe a bounty of thanks to the writers who said yes to this project: Benilde Little, Damon Young, Jason Moran, Dr. Brittney Cooper, Dr. Sarah Lewis, Dr. Tanisha Ford, Tiffany Dufu, Karen Hill Anton, Rebecca Carroll, Roxane Gay and Ylonda Gault Caviness. Chirlane McCray offered her unique perspective on Michelle O through the lens of her work as First Lady of New York City. Phillipa Soo took time from her turn on Broadway in Hamilton to craft a stunning essay about the artist as citizen. Marcus Samuelsson has been my friend for as long as I can remember. He has artfully used food as a platform for his relentless curiosity about the world and I am always inspired by his vision and unique perspective. It’s an honor to have his voice in this collection. Ava DuVernay is the busiest woman in filmmaking and yet, across continents and time zones, she offered not only her words, but her support and encouragement about the importance of this project and for that I am grateful.
Two more contributors deserve special praise. Jason Moran calls Alicia Hall Moran “the Brain” and the title is fitting. Alicia is not only a gifted vocalist. She is someone who, to paraphrase the words of the old Warner Brothers slogan, educates, entertains and enlightens. She is a big thinker and I’m happy to know her. I’m also especially happy that, through this book, you will get to know her a little too.
Cathi Hanauer gave me my first regular writing gig when I was an eighteen-year-old writer at Seventeen magazine. That job helped me to quit four of my six work-study jobs and to see myself as a professional writer at such an early age. Then, when I turned thirty, Cathi changed my life again by inviting me to contribute to her trailblazing anthology, The Bitch in the House: 26 Women Tell the Truth about Sex, Solitude, Work, Motherhood, and Marriage. Then she invited me back for the sequel, The Bitch is Back: Older, Wiser, and (Getting) Happier. Because of this, she is the only friend who gets to call me bitch. I am always appreciative of Cathi’s editorial advice and mentorship. But I am especially proud that she took the time to craft the essay in this collection. Cathi, you’re amazing and I adore you.
I have contributed to a number of anthologies but never ever knew how much work was involved in putting them together. So I want to say a special thank-you to Mommy Wars editor Leslie Morgan Steiner; Black Cool editor Rebecca Walker and Becoming American editor Nana-Ama Danquah for all of your hard work, patience and vision.
Caroline Kim is not in this book but she worked tirelessly and generously, as she always does, behind the scenes to make it happen. Cline, if I could put your name on the cover of this book, I would. I’m grateful to the agents and managers who worked with us on this book: the wonderful Faith Childs, Eric Simonoff and his team, Meg Mortimer and Jessica Morgulis, Ashley Bode and Jenn Burka. Thanks too, to Tilane Jones at Array Now. Thanks to the team at St. Martin’s: Alan Bradshaw, Laura Apperson, Courtney Reed, Laura Clark, Jennifer Simington and Staci Burt. Leah Kaplan provided invaluable research assistance. I’m also grateful for the conversations about this book that I had with Lynette Clemetson, Dr. Janet Taylor, Katherine Wessling and Lise Funderburg. Neuehouse New York provided a lovely space to work, and I’m grateful to Andy Kahan for making the Free Library of Philadelphia one of my second homes.
Our friends, Mai and Luis Yerovi and their daughters, Maia and Olivia, are a part of our extended family. We’re grateful to them for being so close even when the distance between us is great. I am thankful to our family, for their time, experience, guidance and humor: Jerry and Mary Clampet, Cecilia and Antonio Ortega, Diana and Buster Richards. I’m grateful for all Michelle O has modeled for our nieces and play-nieces: Maggie Clampet-Lundquist, Sophia Clampet-Lundquist, Chelsea Clemetson, Cameron Lawrence and Sophie Gono.
Finally, thanks to my home team: Jason Clampet states the facts, Flora Clampet plays the tracks.