Chapter One Summary

In Chapter One, Lorene is in high school in 1971. She works at a fast food restaurant. She has a neighbor named Mrs. Evans, who is married to a black man. He is the first black man to be on the staff at the Philadelphia Bulletin, a newspaper. Three years before, he had given Lorene her first typewriter. Mrs. Evans tells Lorene about St. Paul's School. It is in New Hampshire and it has gone coed. They are looking for black students, specifically black girl students. Mrs. Evans gives Lorene a number to call. She is nervous, but she calls and sets up a meeting.

Lorene, her mother and father drive to the rich white part of Philadelphia called Germantown. It is perfect and has cobblestone streets. Lorene's part of Philly is called Yeadon, which is full of black professionals. It is...