Summary

In this section, a journal entry by Nella comprises the first chapter. Nella expresses how upset she is because she has called her children by a derogatory word. She wants to ask Doug if he knew what the word meant but he has not come home from work yet. Because her children are half black and half her, she wants them to be seen as people, not as a color.

In the next section narrated by Rachel, Grandma complains because a window on the porch was broken. She says she no longer feels safe in her home. Rachel even has noticed the changes in her neighborhood. Stores are closing and neighbors are taking precautions to protect themselves. Her old friend Tracy had always told Rachel she lived in the ghetto. Rachel did not believe her at the time, but has decided...