Chapter 12 Summary

Matthew and Bunny wait for the birth of Matthew and Helen's child. They receive the call that Helen has had a baby boy. At the hospital, Helen's physician, Dr. Broker, informs Matthew that his child has been born black. Dr. Broker offers to kill the baby to prevent a scandal. At that moment, Bunny sends a newspaper upstairs. On the front page is a story about the release of the genealogical data and the black ancestry of Rev. Givens and others. Givens appears, looking crazed, and throws himself on Helen's bed. Helen faints at the news. Just as Helen, who believes her child is black because of her ancestry, begs Matthew not to leave her, Matthew announces the secret that he has been guarding for three years—that he used to be black. Helen realizes that she is proud of her husband...