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xv Acknowledgments No book is written alone. This book would be unwritten without the encouragement, insights, and contributions of the following people: Teresa A. Nance, Kermit Moore, Lawrence Little, Ed Goff, Randall A. Lake, Larry Gross, Tom Goodnight, George A. Sanchez, Stacy L. Smith, Colleen Keough, Robin D. G. Kelley, Robert Scheer, Diane Winston, Sandy Green, Adam Liepzig, Ebony A. Utley, Ulli K. Ryder, Steven Mallioux, Leticia T. Suarez, Stella Ting-Toomey, Annette Bow, Chris Bugbee, David Hino, Evelyn Hu-DeHart, Emma Lapsansky-Werner, Jon Paulson, Kate Ransohoff, Sandra Simpson, Sadiqua Hamdan, Dan Sharfstein, Bonnie J. Dow, Craig Carroll, Emily Corrigan, Shinina ButlerNance , Kasia Anderson, Kate Pieper, Jeffrey A. Hall, Amber Watts-Hall, Deborah Hanan, Gina Ogilvie, Eli Steele, Jason S. Woodson, Ivette Lora, Zainah Alfi, M. Sara Owen, Janielle Z. Matthews, Amanda Lobley, and Jay Grossman DDS and Associates. I am grateful for the honor of knowing individuals of such strength and complication. I hope these words adequately express my admiration and thanks for their time, energy, and integrity, and the ways they shared their diverse knowledge and experiences with me. A special “shout out” to Ebony, whose comments , suggestions, and corrections transformed the process of xvi • Acknowledgments writing this book from mere tedium into an exciting and unforgettable journey. “Shout outs” to Kasia and Sadiqua for helping me find and express my voice. And, no “shout out” is loud enough to acknowledge my academic family, Terry, Randy, Ulli, and Jeff, who each inspired me to fly with my own wings. Of course I was also inspired and nourished by the intelligent conversations, observations, and unconditional love of my actual family. I thank Harry Guillermo Mendoza for his love and laughter , for the gift of time, and for being my best friend. My heartfelt appreciation goes to my sister, Lindsay, for being there always and without questions. I offer my eternal gratitude to every member of my extended family for his and her support and willingness to hear me out, especially my cousin Kate Breen and grandmother Jeri Wilson, whose insights into how different generations think about race and passing made me believe in the possibility of positive change. I thank my parents, Olga E. Matos-Dawkins and John M. Dawkins III, for giving me life and enriching it with a sense of curiosity and a desire for education. They, more than anyone else, have taught me that my only real possessions are integrity, identity, patience and the ability to learn with and from outstanding young thinkers—like Alex Agloro, Marlene Vigil, Ryan Houston, Brad Silnutzer, Elizabeth Hoberman, Omar Baghat, Stephanie Bee, Elyse Peterson, Deven Cooper, and Tiffani Smith. These brilliant individuals encouraged me to tell the story that makes the most difference and not worry about whether it gets the most “likes,” “retweets,” or “+1s.” And finally, to my editor, Carey C. Newman, who believed in this project from its inception and guided me through the process of writing this book with elegance, exactitude, and excellence, I extend my utmost appreciation. It has truly been an honor. ...

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