Buffalo's Uncrowned Queens Reach Out to Michelle Obama

The University of Buffalo's Uncrowned Queens Institute for Research and Education on Women were inspired by Michelle Obama and Barack Obama's journey to the White House. Barbara Seals Nevergold and Peggy Brooks-Bertram, the co-founders of the Uncrowned Queens, managed to put together a book in celebration of Michelle Obama in a mere 34 days. "Throughout the election, it became apparent that African Americans were becoming emotionally invested," says Bertram.  "I felt such a sisterhood with Michelle Obama and a kinship."

Nevergold and Bertram called upon women who felt the same way to express their ideas and advice for Michelle Obama as she begins her role as the first African American First Lady.  "Many women who wrote in were fascinated with the concept of color. Growing up as an African America woman, our mothers would tell us not to wear some bright colors, especially red.  We would go around avoiding these colors because our mothers told us it didn't look good with our skin color," Nevergold explains, "and when Michelle Obama came out on that stage wearing red and looking so radiant, it was just such a great moment."

Hundreds and hundreds of letters from across the world came through to the Uncrowned Queens Institute, including Kenya, Cameroon, Liberia and the Caribbean. In this country, African Americans from around the country as well as Native Americans sent letters. Most letters came as emails, though a few hard copy letters came in, proving to Nevergold and Brooke-Bertram that this is indeed an age of digital literacy.  Following the footsteps of television, the use of the Internet and electronic news and media has changed the way people follow politics. 

100 letters were selected for print. The collection is called Go, Tell Michelle: African American Women's Letters to the New First Lady, by Barbara Seals Nevergold, Ph.D., and Peggy Brooks-Bertram, Dr. P.H., Ph.D. As the letters continued to pour in at an overwhelming rate, Nevergold and Brooke-Bertram decided to post all the letters they receive in an online repository. "We didn't check credentials - everyone was on the same ground, whether they're a university professor or a person off the street. We just knew that we had a story when we just couldn't stop crying after reading it.  We just wanted to read it over and over again," Nevergold says.

"There were so many heartfelt stories in the letters and the poetry that we received. People talked about the impact of this election on their lives, their children's lives, and they reminisced about what their late mothers would think," Bertram says.  "They were such personal conversations." 

Go, Tell Michelle celebrates the results of the election and its significance for women and the giant leap towards racial equality with some heartfelt stories from people all over the world. The book will be published by SUNY Press/Excelsior Edition in early January, in hopes of reaching Michelle Obama by Inauguration Day.

The online digital repository can be found at the Uncrowned Queens Website: wings.buffalo.edu/uncrownedqueens

Go, Tell Michelle will be available at: www.sunypress.edu

Photo: Nevergold and Bertram