Letters to Michelle Obama

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - Two local professors are sharing the hopes and advice of thousands of women with the new first lady, Michelle Obama.

Doctor Peggy Brooks-Bertram (University at Buffalo) said, "When you move into the White House as the nation's first African-American, you will not be alone."

Doctor Barbara Seals Nevergold (University at Buffalo) said, "I and the poor women of Niger have faith in you we present this to as a gift."

Those are just a couple of excerpts from the book "Go, Tell Michelle: African American Women's Letters to the New First Lady by Drs. Barbara Seals Nevergold and Peggy Brooks-Bertram.

Women wanted a chance to say something to Michelle Obama and they saw this as an avenue.

Two weeks after the presidential election, the University at Buffalo professors sent out e-mails calling on black women to share their hopes and advice for Michelle.

Within days thousands responded from around the world. They took those responses and compiled 100 letters and poems into a book.

"It's not just a message to Michelle, it's a message that says we have this history and we want to share this history because of our common bond. It provides that connectedness."

That connectedness is expressed in different ways. Bertram says many darker-skinned black women wrote about how they personally identify with Michelle.

Brooks-Bertram said, "They're not just saying that you're culturally black but unmistakably and recognizably black. That has a lot of meaning for African-Americans."

With Michelle Obama headed to the white house later this month, Nevergold and Bertram say their goal is to get the book in Michelle's hands on Inaguration Day.