I thank my Ancestors, on whose broad shoulders I stand.
Endless gratitude also:
To my parents, to whom I owe more than I can ever repay. Thank you for life, love, and the inspiration to live thoroughly.
To my many kind colleagues at Emerson College. Your enterprise spurs me to continuous effort.
To my generous former coworkers at The Crisis magazine (Lottie Joiner, Wayne Fitzpatrick, India Artis, Reginald Thomas, and Laura Blackburne), as fine a group of journalists as I’ve ever had the privilege of working with.
To my capable and energetic assistants at Emerson, Jordan Cromwell and JennyMae Kho.
To Joy Harris, for encouraging me to write this book and Adam Reed, for handling tasks big and small.
To Anna deVries, for astute editing and saving me from myself.
To Kolt Beringer, for his adept handling of all the moving parts.
To Josh Karpf, for giving the text a thorough and necessary scrubbing.
To James Meader, Josh Zajdman, and Brianna Scharfenberg for getting the word out.
To my siblings, living and gone, for your wit, warmth, and example.
To my mother-in-law, Susie Ward, for endless kindnesses.
To my five geniuses, Joseph, G’Ra, Indigo, Jelani, and Gyasi. What a life you have given me.
To my wife, Liana. You are far more than moon and stars.
To anyone whom limited space and memory have caused me to omit, please forgive me and know that I am thankful.