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Acknowledgments This book would not have been possible without the courageous women, advocates, and community residents who shared their stories with me. I thank them for their time and energy. Professors Shirley Lindenbaum, Leith Mullings, and Ida Susser were instrumental in guiding me through graduate school and the first draft of this book, which was my dissertation . Thank you for seeing me through it all. Purchase College has been a blessing. I am very lucky to work with students who constantly astound and invigorate. Thank you for strengthening my commitment to teaching: Shantay Armstrong, Dion Bridges, Lindsay Charles, Noel Cole, Amber Galeo, Claire Henry, Acrea Mcintosh, Wali Muhammad, David Outerbridge, Rebecca Pelletier, Amanda Diva Seales, and Laura Zapata. What would the academy be without amazing colleagues? Just some who offer constant support and direction are Zehra Arat, Karen Baird, Linda Bastone, Kim Christensen, Rudolf Gaudio, and Connie Lobur. I especially want to thank John Howard and Robert C. Smith who thought that this book should be published. I also want to thank Michael Rinella and Diane Ganeles for guiding this book to completion. A special acknowledgement and debt of gratitude must go to Leith Mullings. Your humility, support, guidance, mentorxiii ship and friendship have profoundly influenced how I move in the world. Thank you for everything. A close circle of ever inspiring sister/friends have held my hand and my heart: Deb Amory, Ana Aparicio, Christa Craven, Catlin Fullwood, Gail Garfield, Michelle Hay, Lorraine Herbst, Sue Hyatt, Michelle Johnson, Paula Johnson, Mamadi Matlhako, Andrea Queeley, Beth Richie, Andrea Williams, and Donna Wiltshire. I also want to thank the fabulous women of Sister Scholars , an amazing group of activist-scholars whose laughter, love and keen intellectualism have filled me up over the last two and a half years. Thank you to Asale-Angel Ajani, Farah Jasmine Griffin, Kim Hall, Diane Harriford, Monica Miller, Mignon Moore, Jennifer Morgan, Leith Mullings, and Cheryl Mwaria. In addition, there are five other people whose intellectualism pushes me beyond whatever boundaries I may think exist: Greg Tate, Jeff Maskovsky, Sandra Morgen, John Clarke and Manning Marable. Last but not least, I’d like to thank my family whose love is the foundation from which all things flow: Cynthia Wells, Ricci Scott, John and LaFredia Davis, Deirdre Davis and Dan Hanessian. Aché xiv Acknowledgments ...

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