Simkins discusses her family background and history. Stressing her parents' "fearlessness," Simkins focuses particularly on her perception of racial identity during her formative years. Noting that her grandparents had been enslaved, Simkins' parents grew up during Reconstruction. Her father became an accomplished bricklayer and bought a substantial bit of land for his family. In describing their economic circumstances, Simkins recalls that her family was more prosperous than the average African American family during those years. In addition, Simkins' discussion of her father's status as a "mulatto" is of particular interest. Simkin's explains how this affected her ideas about race and she describes her father's own struggle to reconcile his racial identity.