Acknowledgments
As I conclude this circuitous journey through black educational theory and history, I am left with a sense of humility. I am honored to be in the position to have authored this text and shared the stories of so many of my ancestors. Arriving at this point in my intellectual and activist voyage has required an immense amount of support, love, patience, and trust in me, for which I am eternally grateful. Thinking of all of the people Iâd like to thank is almost as overwhelming as thinking of the people, places, and events I wanted to include in this book. I am terrified that I will leave someone out. I apologize in advance to anyone who is not named here. Please know the impossibility of trying to identify all of those who make our work possible.
As always, I begin with deep gratitude to the elders who light our way. Beyond the scholars I cite in this text, Iâd like to thank Elder Mahmoud El Kati and Dr. Rose Brewer in particular. You both have paved the way for so many academics to know that our work must reside in our community and not only on the campuses we inhabit.
To my children, Tsedenia, Makeda, and Samra, I love you all dearly. I apologize for the times I got frustrated for having to take time away from writing to talk, cook, play, or help you with homework. That time really was more important and I would not change a thing. I hope you someday find yourselves in the stories explored in these pages. I also want to thank my co-parent Hellina for being patient with me and always being supportive even when Iâm not deserving of either.
To my parents, Gail and Barry Lozenski, you instilled in me a love of learning and the intellectual curiosity I have carried with me throughout my life. You will always be my first teachers, and my models for holistic education. Thank you to all of the Lozenskis and Murdaughs, and my extended family all across the country for always having my back no matter what. To my best friend and partner in thought and life, Jenna, you have immeasurably impacted how I see and experience the world. Thank you for your constant support and for exhaustively reading and providing feedback on this book.
Sending so much love to my Education for Liberation Network familia. I appreciate the hell outta yâall! Thank you, Leigh and Curtis, for your mentorship, guidance, and care for me as a human being. Thank you Farima, Twan, Erica, Keith, Shoneice, Nati, Adeola, Biba, Susan and Okaikor for being the best collective I could ever ask for. The community you have brought me into is the most beautiful way Iâve ever seen people be together. We make Thomas proud every day! Carla, you are so fierce, and brilliant, and inspiring. Just being connected to you is a blessing. To my extended Ed Lib crew, Cam, V, Stovall, Rahsaan, Ana, Jaimie, Jay⦠there are too many of yâall to name. Just know that you have given me so much guidance and clarity in this work!
Thank you to the Twin Cities Solidarity community. Njia, Sedric, Rekhet, Anura, Assata, Adrian, Akil, Ambreasha, Lissa, Dwayne, and Chi, you all keep me grounded and inspire me with your dedication to the liberation of black people. I also want to thank my family at the Network for the Development of Children of African Descent, past and present. Gevonee, Susan, Quincy, Hannatu, Jamie, Sharon, Unique, Melanie, and many others, you gifted me the spirit of our ancestors and the resilience of our community. Thank you for all you do for our children. Extra special thank you to Shakita Thomas and Hana Dinku. Shakita, you are a powerful scholar and I have been humbled to have the opportunity to see you push yourself and push our thinking to higher levels. Hana, I love that you are a thorn in my side, always asking me to do better ð (I bet you didnât think Iâd sneak dis in the book). But in all seriousness, I am so appreciative of the time you spent reading and giving me feedback and insight. As much as it pains me to admit, I am lucky to have you as a friend.
Education for Liberation Minnesota! I love yâall. Shout out to my comrades in the Twin Cities. Ro, Sarah, Anita, Abby, Madeleine, MK, Cory, Jenny, Marika, Lars, Natalia, and so many others. We make the impossible happen every day. Thank you all for being the educators we need in this world. To my brother, Jonathan Hamilton, you are an inspiration! It is my honor to know you and be able to work with you side by side to fight for our community. To all my people in the Minnesota Ethnic Studies Coalition, letâs keep up the fight. This book is definitely a small piece in our beautiful struggle.
A HUGE shout out to my writing buddy, Susan Thomas. Susan, you made me actually look forward to sitting in a seat for hours on end. I appreciate your wonderful friendship, guidance, and care.
I am so grateful and indebted to the academic community that nurtured me. Series editors, Brad Porfilio and Bill Reynolds, thank you for trusting in me to write this book and for your continual support and comradery. To my brothers Ed Brockenbrough and Ernest Morrell, thank you for extending your hand to pull me up so I can follow your lead. And of course, thank you Bic Ngo and Tim Lensmire for your mentorship, friendship, and loving support. A special thank you to my Mod Squad crew, Zac and Shannon. Shannon you are almost as amazing a copyeditor as you are a scholar ð.
I want to extend a special amount of gratitude and thanks to my amazing colleagues at Macalester College. Ruthanne, you have been such a gracious and wonderful mentor. Thank you for your dedication to participatory democracy, and for laying such a powerful foundation for our work. Tina, Sonia, Brad, Jeanette, and Jackie, I couldnât ask for a better group of colleagues. There are too many other folks to name at Mac, but a special thanks to folks in the DML and KAIGC. Donna Maeda, you have been such a powerful example of leadership and transformation. I am lucky to be able to call you a colleague. I also want to thank my friend and colleague Peter Rachleff and everyone at the East Side Freedom Library. It has been my honor to call you partners in this work.
Finally, to all of my students, you make me better each day. I love reading, talking, thinking, teaching, and learning together. One of my mentors, Ernest Morrell, once said that teaching is the most revolutionary thing heâs ever done. I completely agree. You all definitely give meaning to my identity as an educator. Please accept my humble offering of this text.