Goodbye to Yesterday Summary and Analysis

The trip to Providence brings an end to the long-established roles that both Cedric and Barbara have played - he, the dutiful, hard-working partner in the fulfillment of her dreams for him and she, the sacrificing, disciplined protector. As the rental van is unloaded, Barbara begins to assess her son's new environment, particularly the "culture" of the other parents. She might as well be in a foreign country, in a society into which she will never move, and she worries that Cedric will become a "foreigner" as well.

Cedric and his white roommate orient themselves to their room and to one another. Sharing music and the effort to organize their habitat breaks the ice well. For the next six days, they will participate, along with thirty-one other kids in their dorm group, in the Freshman orientation program...