American Tapestry

"Riveting... American Tapestryis not only the remarkable story of the [Michelle Obama's] family, but also a microcosm of this country's story as well" ( USA Today).
In an extraordinary feat of genealogical research, Rachel L. Swarns-a veteran journalist and renowned scholar of American race relations-tells the fascinating and hitherto untold story of Ms. Obama's black, white, and multiracial ancestors; a history that the First Lady herself did not know. At once epic, provocative, and inspiring, American Tapestryis more than a true family saga; it is an illuminating mirror in which we may all see ourselves.
"The First Family becomes ever more fascinating-and ever more representative of the nation as a whole-in Rachel Swarns's terrific investigation into the roots of Michelle Obama... This is a most compelling read and more evidence for our interconnectedness as a people." -Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
"A fascinating account of the First Lady's family . . . Few important women come from such raw places. The book makes you remember why the Obamas . . . seemed so new, so implausible... Extraordinary." - The New York Times