If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.
—African Proverb
When I was seven years old, I migrated to New York City from Dominican Republic. I was a shy, non-English-speaking young girl, who over the years grew out of her shell with the help of so many. I have made it this far because I have been blessed a thousand times over by the Universe’s intervention in placing me at the right place and the right time with the right teachers, professors, mentors, and friends.
In middle school and high school, still trying to grasp the English language, I was lucky to be taught and mentored by Kim Edwards and Bill Klann. They shaped my life in ways that I did not understand until much later. Growing up in Washington Heights, the mentorship and affirmation of Ms. E. and Bill grounded and inspired me. They praised and affirmed my efforts, which at that age was integral to my self-worth and my career aspirations. I could not have imagined dreaming as big as I did without having been supported, mentored, and cared for by Ms. E. and Bill. Thank you both for investing in me as a person and as a budding scholar.
When I arrived at Connecticut College, a small, predominately white liberal arts college in middle-of-nowhere Connecticut, I instantly felt like an outsider and an imposter. However, in my first year of college, I took Introduction to Gender and Women’s Studies with Dr. Mab Segrest. At the time, I did not know the impact Mab would have on me and my life. I can tell you that without Mab, I would not be where I am today. Mab taught me a lot about feminist theory and women’s studies, and a lot about myself. Years later, I still get to call Mab Segrest one of my most consistent and loudest cheerleaders. I also get to call her a friend and an ally. Thank you, Mab, for your kindness, your patience, your fierce leadership, and your generosity. My experience at Conn would not have been the same without having met Dr. Theresa Ammirati, Dr. Armando Bengochea, Dr. MaryAnne Borrelli, Dr. Sylvanna Falcón, and Angela Price, all of whom showed me understanding and kindness, and served as individuals who impacted me in positive ways.
As a result of my time at Connecticut College, I made the decision to go to graduate school. Beyond wanting to answer research questions, I wanted to emulate the wonderful teachers and professors I had had and provide the same kind of mentorship and affirmation to students like myself—students who need and deserve encouragement. Pursuing a doctorate in political science at Ohio State University (Go Bucks!) proved to be the best choice for me. At Ohio State, I had the pleasure of working with Dr. Kathleen McGraw, who believed in me and my work and was incredibly generous with her time. Beyond training me as a political psychologist, Dr. McGraw chaired my dissertation. During this time in graduate school I felt defeated. I didn’t know if I was going to make it to the finish line. With Dr. McGraw’s support and encouragement, I was able to successfully graduate. To be honest, “thank you” feels inadequate. Those two words do not do justice what your encouragement and affirmation meant to me during that time, but thank you is all I have. I am also thankful to my peers in the department of political science who made my first two years in the department and Columbus, Ohio, better. I seriously could not have made it through those two years without Dr. Nyron Crawford and Dr. Chryl Laird. Thank you, both, for welcoming me. Your generosity and kindness during that time did not go unseen or unnoticed. At Ohio State I met many wonderful people whose support was invaluable. Thank you to these individuals: Dr. Theresa Delgadillo, Yolanda Zepeda, Dr. Inés Valdez, and Dr. Maurice Stevens.
It was also at Ohio State that I met the most wonderful support system and sister-friends. I would not have made it through graduate school in one piece, mostly sane, without Dr. Delia Fernández-Jones, Dr. Tiffany Bourgeois, Dr. Danielle Olden, Dr. Eva Pietri, Mei-ling Rivera-Cerezo, Dr. Leila Ben-Nasr, and Dr. Cassie Patterson. I experienced a lot of laughter, dancing, eating, and tears with you all, and I am so eternally grateful for your presence in my life. Thank you for your friendship. In the last two years of graduate school, Delia, Tiffany, and I became sister-friends. Ladies, what an honor it has been to be your friend and to experience life with you in it. Outside of friends I made at Ohio State, I would be remiss if I didn’t thank two of my very best friends, whom I have known for a very long time: Yoely Tavarez-Dunn and Dr. Taneisha Means. Yoely and I go back to middle school, and throughout the years she has been an invaluable part of my life, a strong supporter, and a great listener. Taneisha and I go back to 2008, when we roomed together at the Ralph Bunche Summer Institute at Duke University. Taneisha is my academic wife; she has seen it all and has gone through all of graduate school and beyond with me. I am so eternally grateful for your friendship over all these years. You are one of the kindest human beings I know (you kind of must be to understand my quirks and still love me), my friend; thank you for always being there for me. Finally, I am so thankful to Dr. Desireé Melonas and Dr. Nicole Burrowes. Desireé is a relatively new friend, but whose friendship was Godsent. Thank you, Desireé, for your kindness and your calming spirit. Nicole, thank you for being such a wonderful and steadfast friend and for all the walks in Philly that kept me going during the hardest time of the pandemic.
I could not have asked for a better set of amazing and supportive colleagues than the ones I have at Rutgers University, both in the departments of political science and Latino and Caribbean studies and across Rutgers. Thank you especially to Omaris Zamora, Hannah Walker, Kira Sanbonmatsu, Katherine McCabe, Lisa Miller, K. Sebastian León, Rick Lau, Stacey Greene, Nichole M. Garcia, and Zaire Dinzey-Flores.
I want to acknowledge the participants in my book workshop, who took the time to read my work and provide invaluable and constructive feedback. My career would not be possible without the mentorship and investment of so many people along the way. I cannot thank you all enough for your friendship, mentorship, sponsorship, kind words, encouragement, and intellectual conversations: Marisa Abrajano, Lisa García Bedolla, Cristina Beltrán, Nadia Brown, Jessica Johnson Carew, Niambi Carter, Pearl Ford Dowe, Lorrie Frasure, John Garcia, Andra Gillespie, Cory Gooding, Kerry Haynie, Michael Jones-Correa, Tyson King-Meadows, Danielle Lemi, Paula D. McClain, Kim Mealy, Domingo Morel, Efrén O. Pérez, Tacuma Peters, the late Mark Sawyer, Valeria Sinclair-Chapman, Candis Watts Smith, Alvin B. Tillery, Sophia Jordán Wallace, Ismail White, Tiffany Willoughby-Herard, Janelle Wong, Jackie Yu-Johnson. Thank you to others I might have inadvertently left out and to those who have acted as sponsors without my knowledge.
Angela Chnapko and the editorial staff at Oxford University Press, thank you for believing in me and my vision for this book. It has been such a great experience working with Angela, and I could not have asked for a better editor. Thank you as well to Kate Epstein, who meticulously edited the manuscript and helped me clarify my ideas. Thank you to Jane Jones, of Up In Consulting, and Kali Handelman, both of whom helped me to the finish line. And the most heartfelt thanks to Nadine Mattis, whose stories, laughter, and food nurtured me along the way.
I want to thank my family. Thank you to my parents, my deepest gratitude for your love, your support, and your willingness to let me venture out of Washington Heights, NYC, for college. Gracias a mi mamá, Lidia, por ser el ser humano más valiente y compasiva que conozco, y por su apoyo incondicional. Mi papá, Julio, por enseñarme a trabajar duro, dedicación, puntualidad, y por su apoyo incondicional. To my sisters Julissa and Vianna and brother Alexander for your love. To my nieces and nephews Biangelis, Donathien, Donna Leah, Jael, and Madelyn, who have provided me with so much joy, laughter, and purpose throughout the years.
Lastly, I want to thank my husband, Derick D. Dailey. Your support of me and my intellectual life means the world. You kept me going when I doubted myself during this process. Special thanks to Poppy; thank you for choosing me and loving me.
Yalidy Matos 