Racial Differences

Mrs. Paley grew up in Chicago, the daughter of Jewish parents who was raised to believes she was Jewish before all else. Mrs. Paley received her education both on the East Coast and in the South, creating for her a combination of social beliefs. Mrs. Paley was an eager young teacher who relished the idea of teaching children of different races in order to give to these children the wisdom and equality that she believed she could offer. However, as Mrs. Paley began teaching classes of mixed races she discovered things about herself that left her questioning her own sense of racial equality.

Mrs. Paley found herself unsure of how to address the subject of race. Most of the teachers with whom Mrs. Paley worked did not believe that the subject should be mentioned at all. The teachers believed there was no reason to point out the...