The number of Blacks in Westfield was too small for a separate school. Since the racial barriers were not as rigid as they were in Princeton, the grade school I went to was mixed. There were also working class whites here. And unlike the Princeton blue-bloods, there were more cordial relationships between them and the Blacks.
I was the respected preacher’s son. They noticed the courtesy, politeness and respectfulness that Pops had instilled me. Many of the parents of my white schoolmates encouraged their children to be friends with me. I guess the felt that I would be a good influence on them.