Prologue: the Age of Michelle Obama: an open letter to the First Lady of the United States -- Introduction: just what does a "redefined" black woman look like anyway? -- Part I: Dispelling the myths and discovering the truth about who we are. -- Who we are and what we have accomplished -- Our context from slavery to the White House: why it still matters -- Part II: How we work and love. -- Changing the game: redefining ourselves in the twenty-first-century workplace -- Why can't a successful black woman find a man? actually, she can -- Real talk about the twenty-first-century relationship expectations and trends -- Part III: Moving beyond the pain to purpose. -- Jesus is your savior, not your man: candid talk about the church, sexuality, and the role they play in our quest to be loved and fulfilled -- Sexual abuse: the hidden wound that we have to talk about -- Dwelling in the valley of our past: learning to forgive, release, and heal from our hurts -- Part IV: Redefining ourselves -- what really matters. -- Empty womb, broken heart: redefining motherhood in today's world -- It's the climb: facing life's storms and remaining resilient -- I am my sister's keeper: why we need one another now more than ever -- Bonus feature: Celebrity and distinguished African American essays and sage wisdoms -- Appendices: From the researchers methodology and summary of key findings.