Remembering
Bebe
Moore
Campbell
“She would actually blush when she had to read the sensual scenes in her book.
Sometimes she couldn’t finish because she couldn’t look at the audience. I thought
it was the sweetest thing. On the Wal*Mart Tour, when Dream Girls came on the
screen, her arms went up and she swayed from side to side singing every tune.”
—Naleighna Kai
I met Bebe Moore Campbell at BEA in 2005. She was so gracious. There was a
party for black authors at Lincoln Center. The line was so long to meet her, but she
graciously greeted us and signed copies of her book 72 Hour Hold. I was so happy to
get her autograph and couldn’t wait to read the book. Unfortunately, I left it in an
NYC cab, along with a who raft of other precious books that I’d scored at BEA. I was
crushed, but thought, “I’ll meet her again and get it signed then.” I didn’t know it at
the time, but I would never see her again. The next news I’d heard about was that she
had died. Way too soon. It’s been almost 12 years, and relaying that story still makes
me sad...
—Wendy Coakley Thompson
I never had the pleasure of meeting her, but I remember reading Singing In The
Comeback Choir and loving it because of all the layers and social issues she touched
upon.”—Sheryl Lister
“When a writer leaves a legacy of such memorable work, I consider her one of the
greats.” —Victoria Adams-Kennedy