The overarching purpose of Jeffries' important study is to affirm the cultural performance traditions of African-American educators. Jeffries uses extensive narratives from African-American men and women in two urban schools to explore such pertinent questions as how the social, economic, and emotional climate of America contributes to the unique capacities of the African American; how the role of African-American educators as social activists has influenced their teaching; how desegregation affected the African-American educator's ability to "perform" in schools; and how the decrease in the number of African-American educators affects the school environment.