Chapter 1
Summary
- The main character, Mrs. Mary McLeod Bethune, recounts her journey through the varying neighborhoods of New York City, touching upon themes of racial difference and prejudice.
- She arrives at a limestone townhouse on East 65th Street, confused by the dual numbers (47 and 49) presented by a singular entrance, and hopes for a peaceful coexistence between the two occupants.
- She is greeted by a uniformed servant girl, who leads her into a bustling gathering of women belonging to prestigious national clubs and organizations.
- The opulent surroundings, latest fashion trends on display, and the covert whisperings reveal Mary's place as an outsider in this social circle.
- She takes refuge in admiring the selection of books on the shelves, which reminds her of her students at Bethune-Cookman College.
- Mary is met with cold responses from the women in the gathering, except for Mrs. Sara Delano Roosevelt, mother to the former assistant secretary of the Navy and failed vice presidential candidate Franklin Roosevelt.
- During a cordial conversation with Mrs. Roosevelt, Mary corrects her on the correct honorific to be used - "Mrs." instead of "Dr." - since her doctorate is merely an honorary one. Their conversation soon veers towards Mary's recent trip to Europe.
- Mary mentions her trip with Dr. Wilberforce Williams and their conversations about gardens lead to Mary's mention of black roses in Switzerland.
- Breaking off the conversation owing to luncheon preparations, Mrs. Roosevelt leaves Mary alone, marking a return to her solitude amidst the gathering.
- Despite the prevailing distance and coldness, Mary expresses a wish to meet Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt, a distinguished advocate for the underrepresented, reflecting a sense of shared values between the two women.