A few years ago, Rachel L. Swarns of the New York Times wrote about the multicultural history of Michelle Obama and her roots in the South. Now, Swarns has turned her article into a full on book about Obama, entitled: American Tapestry: The Story of the Black, White and Multiracial Ancestors of Michelle Obama. Swarns spent much of her time researching in the South, including the Birmingham Public Library where she looked for Dolphus Shields, a Birmingham resident and Obama’s biracial maternal great-grandfather. Shields was a founding member of Trinity Baptist Church.

The Birmingham movers are excited to read Swarns’ new book and see what she has to say about Obama’s heritage and of course mentions of Birmingham.