I first met Melanie many years ago when she visited the University of California, Santa Cruz campus. I had been using her co-edited book “The Tribe of Dina” in my classes and admired her greatly for all of her work. Though on separate coasts we stayed connected through mutual comradeship, friendship, and projects. Her writings were of immense importance to me, and most recently “The Color of Jews,” which is an absolutely brilliant work that shatters so many stereotypes while affirming and re-visioning the Jewish diaspora. I am so sorry we have lost this dear and brilliant woman, and know that she will be with us in our hearts and minds for a long time. My deep condolences to Leslie, whose loss is beyond words.
—Bettina Aptheker