There aren’t too many books that I can say changed my life, but More Than Enough definitely did.
Growing up, reading and its importance were ingrained in me from a young age. I loved to read a little bit of everything, but as an avid reader I didn’t always see myself reflected in the books I was reading. As I grew older, I took it upon myself to find and read more books by authors that were telling stories of black Americans and people of color, both fiction and nonfiction alike. The more I read, the more I realized how important it is to hear stories written by and for my people. In More Than Enough, Elaine Welteroth, a black woman who has blazed the trail for others to follow, shares a bit of herself and her story with readers, as well as why it’s okay to fully embrace who you are.
Before I even get into the review, I have to tell a story of newfound friendship that the book itself sparked. Bear with me because it’s sort of a long one, but touching, nonetheless.
On a seemingly random summer day in mid-July 2019 I drove myself up to UNT to get some blood work done at the on-campus lab. I typically carry a small backpack or tote bag with me wherever I go, and this particular day was no different. As I waited outside the lab for my name to be called, I beamed with some sort of exuberance that was strange even for me, a naturally cheerful person. Looking back, I think my soul was just preparing me for the joy that was to come. When the lab tech called my name I grabbed my things and headed inside. While it’s typical for me to carry a bag, I don’t always carry a book with me, but on this day I did. When I went to set my things down, the student phlebotomist that would soon take my blood, caught a glimpse of my book: More Than Enough by Elaine Welteroth. She very quickly asked me “Is that book good?”, a smile spread across my face and I told her that it was indeed good. I even went so far as to tell her that I’d give her my copy if I didn’t have a few chapters left to finish. She smiled and laughed at the idea, but for me it was more than just an idea. In the three minutes or so that it took for her to take my blood the idea sprouted into a full-fledged plan. As she finished up and bandaged my arm I asked her when she worked next. She smiled nervously and told me her schedule, though she seemed a bit caught off guard at the thought of some random girl wanting to know when she works, which is understandable. I smiled and told her that I would drop off a copy of More Than Enough for her one day soon, then went on my way. Today I know her as Nadia, but that day, and for the next two weeks before I gave it to her, she was simply the girl who took my blood whom I decided to buy a book for.
I’ll now fast forward a bit. Spoiler alert: I bought her the book. Though I wasn’t able to give it to her myself, exactly two weeks after that day in the lab I left a new copy of More Than Enough with an office staff who then passed it on to Nadia. In addition to the book itself, I also left a note inside with my name, cell number and reasoning behind giving her the book. For those of you wondering, it was simply something my heart told me to do. Soon after dropping the book off, I got a text from Nadia saying how appreciative she was for what I did for her. From then on, we started texting regularly and we’ve even forged a friendship. As the saying goes, the rest is history.
Before July 15th, 2019 I had never felt so inclined, so connected to someone that I’d never met before to the point that I wanted to buy them anything, let alone a book. That’s how I know More Than Enough, and all it stands for, is bigger than just Elaine Welteroth or Nadia or myself. That day in the lab, Nadia simply asked me “Is that book good?”, and when she said that she instantly reminded me of myself: young, black, beautiful and with the world at her feet. That’s why, regardless of spawning a friendship, I never regretted and will never regret giving her the book.
It is supernatural and uncanny to the point of disbelief, to think that a book written by a black woman, for women of color, would bring two women of color together in the way that it did, and even be the spark that ignited their friendship. But that’s exactly what happened.
Now to get back to the review, More Than Enough was life changing in all the right ways. As the first black editor of Teen Vogue, Elaine Welteroth is a trailblazer in her own right, but has also paved the way for others to follow. Elaine narrates anecdotes of her life and career, starting with her birth to a black mom and a white dad, and brings us to present day, following her time at Teen Vogue. Readers will come to understand the multitude of struggles that she not only faced on her journey to success, but that all people of color face on their respective journeys. In the same vein as Michelle Obama’s Becoming, Elaine succeeds in telling of story of humble beginnings, hard work, triumph and extraordinary success. The book really shines in its ability to share one woman’s story but still appealing to readers from all walks of life. Elaine touches on themes such as colorism, failure and success, sisterhood and self-acceptance, all while remaining real and relatable to her audience. More Than Enough is not only important for black women and girls to see themselves reflected, but for everyone that has ever felt like they’re not good enough. In a world that’s constantly asking us to blend in, to conform to society’s standards, Elaine gives readers of all backgrounds the courage and permission to be who they are, to be more than enough.
Nadia, thank you for asking if the book was any good that day in the lab, but more importantly, thank you for your friendship. Elaine, thank you for the chance to see myself reflected in ways that I’ve never seen before. Thank you for the courage to love myself and my story.