In this moving, heart-tugging memoir, Richard, a 23-year-old white man, tells the story of his first true love, Ellen, a 21-year-old black woman. They met in 1967 at Baha'i Convention in Chicago. At that time interracial marriage was a rare occurrence and their struggle to build a relationship is heightened by the opposition from his parents. And they struggle, in turn, with their unaware racism and love for their son. As one friend of Richard's put it, " your memoir brings it all to heart-wrenching life. How eloquent your parents were in magnificently intertwining their deep love for you with their deep prejudice, which they truly believed to be righteous. [You show the] fears your mom had and how subtle her shaming of you was. I think it is so sad how your young and tender hearts were broken. You two would have had a grand life because of your steadfastness and straight path."