These individuals were not only benevolent, but they also recognized the intersections of our relationships. These men knew they had to protect me. Fat-Daddy would tell all the boys that if they messed with me or picked on me, they would have to deal with him. White folx in my life used their position, power, and privilege to negotiate space and opportunities for me. My senior year of high school, I needed to raise my GPA and retake a shop class that I had failed as a freshman. Mrs. Knight made a few calls and enrolled me in night classes and an additional English class.
