Join us for an evening with writer, fashion editor, and activist Michaela Angela Davis to discuss her new memoir Tenderheaded, the compelling memoir that explores race, cultural representation, Black media’s legacy, privilege, and identity from VIBE’s founding fashion editor and CNN correspondent Michaela Angela Davis. She’ll be in conversation with Charles Blow. Registration requested, not required.

*Please note that the library will be closed on this Monday. The lower level (ground floor), rear doors will open for the event at 6:30.

About the Book:

As VIBE’s founding fashion editor and a CNN correspondent, Michaela Angela Davis has been at the forefront of cultural shifts, working alongside iconic figures like Diana Ross, Prince, and Beyoncé. Her memoir is a celebration of Black media’s vibrant history and a critical examination of its challenges and erasure in mainstream narratives.

In Tenderheaded, Davis journeys back through her career as both a celebration and an interrogation of Black media, exploring the difficult truth of how historically Black media titles and brands have had such mighty, culture-shifting starts, then disappeared or limped along in mainstream obscurity. Her story is one of self-discovery and liberation, as she navigates the complexities of identity politics, sexism, and racism within the media industry. Her career has been a tapestry of glamorous adventures from the bustling streets of 1980s New York City to the exotic markets of Morocco, all while styling some of the most influential figures in music and culture. Yet, beneath the surface of this dazzling world lies a poignant narrative of struggle and resilience.

Tenderheaded is not just a memoir; it is a cultural manifesto that questions the legacy of Black media and the stories of Black women that remain untold. Davis’s narrative is both a romance and a tragedy, reflecting her American life and the broader story of American media.

About the Author:

Michaela Angela Davis is a writer, creative director, producer, and image activist focusing on the intersections of gender, race, fashion, culture, beauty, and identity. Davis collaborated with Mariah Carey on The Meaning of Mariah Carey, which was an instant #1 New York Times bestseller, and also another collaboration for a children’s book titled The Christmas Princess. She was the fashion editor and fashion, beauty, and culture editor at Essence magazine, founding fashion director at VIBE magazine, and fashion and editor-in-chief of Honey magazine.

About the Moderator:

Charles M. Blow is an acclaimed journalist and former op-ed columnist for the New York Times who appears frequently on CNN. He is the author of the New York Times bestselling memoir Fire Shut Up in My Bones and the New York Times bestseller The Devil You Know. He lives in Atlanta.