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Acknowledgments I am a product of the golden age of rap nationalism. Throughout my college years the artists featured in this book—especially Chuck D, KRS-One, Ice Cube, Paris, X-Clan, and Poor Righteous Teachers— sparked my curiosity for learning more about American history and shaped my burgeoning consciousness about the history of African America . For that, I am eternally grateful. This project began during my senior year at Northwestern University as a series of discussions I shared with a group of brothers who loved debating , among other things, the virtues of hip-hop culture and the Nation of Islam. Much respect to Kevin Whitmore, David Muhammad, Greg Smith, and the rest of the crew for their instigation. Sterling Stuckey and Lawrence Levine were also sources of inspiration. Their body of work opened up a world of possibility for me and encouraged my research into the political discourse of rap nationalism. Brothers Gonna Work It Out is the culmination of many conversations and much meditation. The first version of this book was honed as a dissertation at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign under the mentorship of James Anderson, Vincent Wimbush, Daniel Littlefield, and Mark Leff. Thankfully, Niko Pfund at New York University Press recognized its potential and passed it along to my editor, Jennifer Hammer, who had patience and a never-ending belief in and enthusiasm for the manuscript. Financial support for further development of this project was afforded by a Ford Foundation postdoctoral fellowship, as well as by grants and release time provided through the resourcefulness of Susan Opava, dean of Research and Graduate Programs at California Polytechnic State University. It has been my great fortune to have colleagues, friends, and mentors at Cal Poly—particularly Colleen O’Neill, Yolanda Tiscareño, Debra Valencia-Laver, and Harry Hellenbrand—who, in various ways, valued and evaluated my work. I am especially appreciative of ix the generosity of Mark Fabionar, who, among other things, came to my rescue at the eleventh hour with a last-minute reading of the manuscript. I also need to thank Derek Sanders, aka Dante Jenkins, for keeping his post-youth professor up to date on what’s hot and what’s not in hip-hop culture. This book came to life through interviews with hip-hop practitioners. I am truly thankful to those artists and activists who took time out of their busy schedules to share their ideas and experiences: Baye Adofo, principal organizer of the Black August Hip-Hop Collective and co-organizer of the first National Hip-Hop Political Convention; Ras Baraka, deputy mayor of Newark, New Jersey, and another co-organizer of the first National Hip-Hop Political Convention; Ulises Bella of Ozomatli; Chuck D of Public Enemy; Rosa Clemente, hip-hop activist extraordinaire and manager of dead prez; Fred Hampton, Jr., chairman of the Prisoners of Conscious Committee; Talib Kweli, hip-hop artist and member of the Black August Hip-Hop Collective; M-1 of dead prez and the Black August Hip-Hop Collective; Kevin Powell of HipHop Speaks; Bill Stephney , cofounder of Public Enemy and president of StepSun Music; and Wise Intelligent of Poor Righteous Teachers. On a personal note, much love goes to my girls. Jane Rhodes and Lynn Hudson were my “secret weapons.” They not only provided guidance and support, but they also showed me that there is light at the end of the seemingly never-ending tunnel. Words cannot express my love and appreciation for my sister-girls Marshailena Butler, Melina Pappademos, Joy Williamson, Stephanie Wright, and Alicia Young, who gave me undying support in graduate school and beyond, and for my partner-in-crime Alesha Doan, whose friendship is nothing short of true sisterhood. Last, but not least, the women in my family led by example and raised me to believe that life is boundless. I’ll always love my mamma, Angela Davis, who instilled in me the spirit of defiance, and my aunts Valerie Napue and Cheryl McIntosh, whose unconditional love and support never faltered. A final special thank you goes to Fannie and Vernon Whitmore , who cherish and encourage me as their “daughter.” x | Acknowledgments ...

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