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DR. HEIDI R. LEWIS

I have so many people to thank for supporting the work I’ve done in Berlin that led to the creation of this book. I love all of you – always in all ways.

Thank you, first and foremost, to my husband Antonio and our children, AJ and Chase. Almost every summer since 2014, I’ve spent 3 to 5 weeks in Berlin. Sometimes, you’ve come. Most of the time, you haven’t. And we have not been immune to the stresses of being apart for those long periods of time, especially since we spend so much time together. However, you have never made me feel like going to Berlin was a problem. You have always been supportive and encouraging of my work there and at home. I could not have asked for a better husband or children. You are my favorite dreams come true, and I love you most of all.

Thank you to the late Black lesbian, mother, warrior, poet Audre Lorde for accepting that first invitation to visit Berlin. Thank you for lovingly and powerfully co-creating worlds that have served as the primary inspiration for all of my work, especially this book.

Thank you to every contributor to and supporter of the genesis for this book, my study abroad course, “Hidden Spaces, Hidden Narratives: Intersectionality Studies in Berlin,” especially my students, the #FemGeniusesinBerlin. Thank you for your kindness, generosity, thoughtfulness, and encouragement. This project is possible, in large part, because of your trust in me and interest in my work.

Thank you to our Starshine, my unicorn, one of the best friends I have ever had, my co-author Dana Maria Asbury. Thank you for everything you are. Thank you for teaching me even though I’m hard-headed. Thank you for debating me thoughtfully and compassionately. Thank you for carefully challenging my ideas. Thank you for listening to me even when my thoughts and feelings are wild and chaotic. Thank you for encouraging me to be big. Thank you for sharing and making space with me. Thank you for trusting me. Thank you for loving me. Thank you for everything that is you. I love you more than any words could ever “say.”

Thank you to every contributor to and supporter of this project, including Jade Pearl Frost, our copyeditor and member of the 2015 #FemGeniusesinBerlin. Special thanks to Mae Eskenazi, member of the 2016 #FemGeniusesinBerlin and the audiovisual engineer who beautifully and thoughtfully captured the photographs and audiovisual footage that led to the creation of this book. Special thanks to Jazlyn Tate Andrews, also a member of the 2015 #Fem-GeniusesinBerlin, who listened carefully and compassionately to every conversation, even parts not included in this text, and created the most beautiful prose that so clearly and powerfully reflects our precious, intimate conversations. Thank you to one of my closest and dearest friends, Dr. Naomi Pueo Wood, for giving me the idea to trust Jazlyn with this project during a moment when I wasn’t sure I could carry it any further. Collectivity has always been one of my guiding principles from the moment I had the idea to teach a course abroad. Thank you for reminding me of that when I grew weary. You all are some of the most brilliant, loving, and compassionate people I’ve ever had the pleasure of resisting and building with, and I wouldn’t want to imagine a life without you in it.

Last, but certainly not least, special thanks to my dear friend, Sharon Dodua Otoo, the editor of the powerful, groundbreaking Witnessed Series. I will never forget the first time we met at BrezelBar in November 2013, and you pulled out your notepad and pen to write down the names of all the people I should meet and places I should go. You were the one who said, “You have to meet Mona El Omari!” and look at us now. Years later, when I asked if you would be interested in publishing this book, you didn’t hesitate, and I’ll be forever grateful. Thank you for allowing Witnessed to be the home of my very first book.

Dear readers, I hope you enjoy this offering. I hope you learn something. I hope it allows you to teach something. Thank you for reading. Stay tuned. It ain’t over. We ain’t done.