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xi Acknowledgments It’s hard to believe that this is my second book. But this book would not have been possible without a community of people. I am particularly thankful to the history professors at Jackson State, Cleveland State, and the Ohio State University, for believing in me when few others did. I am grateful for the support of outstanding librarians and archivists at the Louisiana Division of the New Orleans Public Library; the Department of Special Collections at the University of New Orleans’s Earl K. Long Library; and the Amistad Research Center. And special thanks goes to Lynn Cunningham and Doug Parker at the Times-Picayune for assisting me with images. At LSU Press, I want to thank Rand Dotson for his support of this project and believing in its importance. This book could not have been written without the support of my students , who always keep me engaged. Seeing all of you on Tuesdays and Thursdays is one of the great privileges of my life. My colleagues at the University of Texas at Austin have been truly supportive : Louis Harrison, Greg Vincent, Ted Gordon, Juliet Walker, Emilio Zamora, Toyin Falola, Alan Tully. To the entire Division of Diversity and Community Engagement (DDCE) family I cannot say thank you enough. In particular, Wanda Nelson, Ge Chen, Tiffany Tillis, Rian Carkhum, Francee Brown, David Ramirez, and Stella Escalante. On a more personal level I want to thank the men that challenge me to be a better husband, father, and friend: Wayne Williams, Darren Kelly, Kevin D. Golden, Kevin N. Golden, Reggie Golden, and Geoffrey Golden, xii acknowledgments Ron Sullivan, James Bright, Marcel Thompson, Garrett Scales, LaGarrett King, Samori Camara, Adam Williams, Spencer Platt, Jason Chambers, Sherwin Bryant, Sam Townsend, Christopher Sutton, Michael Dixon, Ronald Roberts, Kurtis Ellis, Keith Clark, Kevin Clark, Ralph L. Moore, Ralph D. Moore, Perry Robey, Carlos Thomas, Marcus Cox, Troy Allen, Lawrence Hart, Jr., and Adam Banks. I am also indebted to the great community of people who make up the Soul Movement family. It is truly an honor for me to serve as your pastor. Finally to the Moore and Bass family I say thanks. To Dad, we still miss you. Mom, Bev, and San, thank you for always being there for me. To my children, Jaaucklyn, Lauryn, and Lil’ Len, who remind me on a daily basis what life is really about, I thank you for being wonderful children. To Bobbie and Papa, thank you for letting me marry your daughter. Thäis, you’ve followed me to Baton Rouge, now Austin, I think that Broadway is next! I appreciate you for being a wonderful wife, mother, writer, actress, and director . And of course I love you for marrying me. ...

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