Hello, current affairs listeners. This is contributing editor Eli Massey, and we have a very special show for you today.

I have been recording a series of interviews with the current affairs staff, doing a deep dive into their interest, background, and upbringing to give you a sense of who they are as people and how they ended up with the politics that they have.

And I wanted to do a similar series with local activists so that we could put a spotlight on the organizers

who are usually unknown to the general public and the wonderful work they're doing around

the country. Today's guest is the first organizer who came to mind when I decided to do this

series. She is one of the smartest people I know, and I can always count on her to have a

sharp, thoughtful perspective. She is a fearless and skilled organizer, former librarian,

activist for justice in Palestine, and racial equity advocate. Thank you so much for joining me, Leslie Williams.

Thank you, Eli. I'm really thrilled to be here. Yeah. So I can't remember whether we first met

through Jewish Voice for Peace or Setic Chicago, which is a non-Zionist synagogue here in Chicago.

But rather than starting there, let's start at the beginning. You were

born and grew up in Chicago. Do I have that right? Yes, that is right. Okay. And can you tell me

about your parents? Oh, wow. So my parents, I mean, you know, everybody thinks their parents are

wonderful, but I... Not everyone. I know a lot of other people who think my parents are wonderful,

so I think I'm justified in saying that. My mother also grew up in Chicago. She lived in Hyde Park.

You know, by the way, you know, because it's not obvious, I'm African American, and so we're both

of my parents. My mother was born in 1921, and she had a truly fabulous life.

She was like a real life, Auntie Meame, in a lot of ways. But I think a lot of the values that I have

about compassion and about appreciation and love for a variety of people and different cultures

really comes from her.

And her favorite expression was always people are more alike than they're different.

And she traveled all over the world.

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