What a weekend in LA! I presented “Michelle Obama, Medical Center Administrator, Plays Mom-in-Chief” to continue refining my ideas about homemaking anxiety. This presentation was for a panel titled “Can Black Women Have Fun?: Beyond Mammies and Martyrs,” with Professors Margo Crawford and LaKisha Simmons and moderated by Professor Sandy Alexandre (author of Properties of Violence). We were disappointed that Professor Deborah McDowell could not join us, but it became a lovely reunion!
Still, what made this weekend truly remarkable was the opportunity to do a book signing at Eso Won Books, a national treasure.
The people I met are certainly doing important work. Besides being introduced by James Fugate, co-owner of Eso Won, I met Dwight Trimble, the founder of BlessUp. I was also pleased to meet Torrence Brannon-Reese, CEO and Founder of FAMLI, INC, which offers comprehensive life skills management and mentoring programs, such as See a Man, Be a Man.
I met many more amazing people than I can try to list, but I will cherish this experience always! And, one of the things that made it such a success is that the Liberated Sisters radio show had me on as a guest the day before the event. Several in attendance at Eso Won said it was that conversation that got them in the door. You can listen here. (Lots of interesting context and news at the beginning of the recording. The Living with Lynching focus begins around 5:23)