Michael Arceneaux

In 2024, Michael Arceneaux released his third essay collection, “I Finally Bought Some Jordans,” extending a run that began with “I Can’t Date Jesus,” his 2018 debut published by Atria Books, which landed on the New York Times bestseller list. His 2020 follow-up, “I Don’t Want to Die Poor,” cemented his place among the most candid essayists working today.

Born April 12, 1984, in Houston, Texas, to a working-class Black family from Louisiana, Arceneaux grew up in the Hiram Clarke community and attended Madison High School. Raised devoutly Catholic by his mother, a registered nurse, he briefly considered the priesthood before heading to Howard University on scholarships and student loans. He majored in broadcast journalism, wrote for The Hilltop, and graduated in 2007 as the first man in his family to finish college.

After relocating to Los Angeles, he interned at MTV News and later became a columnist for the outlet. His bylines span The New York Times, The Washington Post, Rolling Stone, New York magazine, The Guardian, Essence, Teen Vogue, BuzzFeed, Vulture, and XOJane, alongside his advice column “Dearly Beloved” at Into.

Across his books, Arceneaux writes about identity, faith, dating, student debt, and his love of Beyoncé — writing that has made him a sought-after voice in conversations on culture, sexuality, and class.