WhenIwastwelveyearsold,myfamilywerethefirstblackpeopletomoveintoanallwhitepartofGrandRapids,Michigan.Manyofournewneighborsweren'tverywelcoming.Someofthethemsaidangrilythatweshouldreturnwherewecamefrom.Thechildrensometimesthrewstonesatmeordrovemehomefromschool.

　　Mostofmyteacherssimplytooknonoticeofme,butnotDorothyBean,myhistoryteacher.MissBeanwasangryathowbadlyIwasbeingtreated,butshedidn'tsaythistome.MissBeanshowedherrespectformebyteachingmejustlikeanyoneelse.Insteadofbeingunnoticed,IwasgivenachancetoshowthatIwasclever.MissBeanwasthefirstteacherwhoevermademethinkformyself.ShealwayswanttoknowwhatIthoughtaboutdifficultquestions.WasThomasJeffersonrighttobuyLouisianafromFrance?Why?Sheexpectedmetohavemyownidea.MissBeanwasteachingmethatthinkingforoneselfwastherealkeytoeducation

　　Oneday,whenIwasnotpayingattentioninclass,MissBeansuddenlythrewaneraseratme.Theeraserhitmerightonthehandandsentmypencilflying.Thewholeclasswereverysuprisedatfirst,thenstartedlaughing.Thiseventbecamefamousintheschooland,becauseithappenedtome,thestudentswantedtogettoknowme.Sothat'sthestoryofhowDorothyBeanmademehertarget,andhowIbecamejustanotherkidinschool.