Читать книгу Understanding Racism - Hephzibah Strmic-Pawl - Страница 17

This book, like most, has been a long process, and many people have helped and encouraged me along the way. I am incredibly lucky to be surrounded by a large group of supportive students, colleagues, friends, and family.

As a professor at a liberal arts college, I am heavily invested in teaching and have been afforded the opportunity to teach several courses on race and racism. It is in these classes that students often push me to be clearer and engage me in nuanced dialogue, for which I am very grateful. Thank you to all the students in African American Communities, Race and Ethnicity, Race and Housing, and Social Inequality classes. A special shout-out to students who read chapter drafts and provided their insightful feedback. Thank you Ariel Abdul-Mateen, Lia Garcia Berrido (who read multiple chapters), Monica Keel (who also helped with editing), and Moriah McDuffie.

Many colleagues have helped with this book by talking with me through this process, providing critical feedback, and reading chapter drafts; I could not have written this book without their assistance. A huge thank-you to David Brunsma, Erica Chito Childs, Woody Doane, Corey Dolgon, David Embrick, Chip Gallagher, Amanda Koontz, Cameron Lippard, Emalee Quickel, Saher Selod, James Thomas, Milton Vickerman, Johnny Williams, Beth Williford, and George Wilson. I am fortunate to say that many of these colleagues are also very good friends, and they have supported this process in more ways than one.

I also have a significant group of friends who keep me propped up in so many ways; I send a special thanks to Psusennes Nurisha Bey, Ben Carrington, Garfield Charles, Clay Clark, Ali Cohen, Laura Coleman, Danielle Dirks, Alicia Escott, Jessi Frazier, Anthony Freeman, James Gantt, Drea Jacobs, Meghan Johnston, Mary Beth Lineberry, Manouchehr Mohajeri, Anthony Peguero, Debbie Perkins, Louise Rasmussen, and Damien Tillman. To Teddy Adolphe, whose friendship brought me so much and whom I miss greatly, I keep close these words you gave me: “When it comes to living life, live each new day doing something worth living more.”

I am grateful to my family for keeping me grounded while also believing in my goals. I particularly appreciate the persistent question that now has become a joke: Are you finished writing that book yet? I’m so very thankful for my siblings, who are always there for me; thank you Matthew, Mark, Gabriel, and Gudrun. A special recognition to my nieces and nephews, who bring me silliness and smiles, because that’s important: thank you Annabelle, Cypri, Essie, Hailey, Mila, Parker, Peyton, River, Sam, and Vera. And I especially thank my parents, Mildred Strmic and Charles Pawl, who are unwavering in their encouragement and support, which are reflected in so many ways. A particularly massive thank-you has to go to my mother, who read and edited every page of this book. She is a serious critic and grammarian, and I don’t know how I could write anything without her. My mom’s ability to be simultaneously a critical editor and a supportive mother reflects her infinite patience, incredible dedication, and immeasurable love.

And finally, this book would not have come to fruition without the encouragement of acquisitions editor, Jeff Lasser, and the team at SAGE. Since the initial conversation about this project, Jeff has been supportive, and I sincerely thank him for believing in me and in this book.