"My uncertainties about labeling behavior and intelligence in general have been exposed by my dilemmas concerning black children. My attempts to help black children feel more comfortable in a white environment have made me more aware of the discomfort every child experiences as he realizes he is being judged by someone who does not know him." Preface, pg. xiii

"The black child appeared on the second Monday of school. I would be the only teacher in the school to have a black child. I had the feeling I was getting her because I was the most likely to treat her properly. This, of course, was ridiculous. Alma Franklin would be in my class because I was the kindergarten teacher and she was five years old." Chapter 1, pg. 1

"Our conclusions were these: more than ever we must take care to ignore color. We must only look at behavior, and...