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Acknowledgments
Many people contributed to making this book possible. It was inspired and called for by the community service and advocacy of the San Jose Coalition of Concerned Citizens through the leadership of Lessie James. She created a platform that has given people of conscience in San Jose South Bay communities a voice and a way to create social change. She showed us all that together we could improve the quality of life in an entire city. Particular thanks are due to attorney Daniel Mayfield, who stood with and defended victims of racial harassment and who provided counsel on the intricacies of the First Amendment. Thanks to Ricki Stevenson, the great dame of African American expatriates in Paris, for providing several crucial forums in which I was able to present and refine the perspectives and ideas in this book. When I taught at the University of Paris (La Sorbonne) in 2005, the late Professor Michel Fabre encouraged this book by making available the Cercle d’Études Afro-Americaines as a source for critical review and comments. Professor Elizabeth Dutertre’s insistence and guidance made possible my appointment and the opportunity it provided to work on this book.
I want to acknowledge hip hop artists, who like the artists in movements before them, insist on delivering a message grounded in their communities