Here is a selection of readings on racial self-identity, racial classification, black and white relations and the Gregorys, a family which represents six generations of achievement in the African American community. June Cross came to know one branch of the Gregorys in Atlantic City. They became her 'aunts and uncles' and had a powerful influence on her young life.

"Passing for White, Passing for Black" by Adrian Piper, Transition Magazine, Issue 58, W.E.B. Du Bois Institute. More than anything else, the ideas and feelings contained in this essay influenced producer June Cross's own understanding of herself and her family story.

"The Family That Adopted June" by June Cross. "The man I at first called "Uncle Gum" and later came to call "Pop-pop" along with the rest of the family, was T. Montgomery Gregory. Here's a summary from me about my relationship with them, followed by a letter "Pop-pop" wrote to all of us which describes the Gregory family tree in greater length. It's a family Mr. Gregory, Sr. often referred to with pride as a living example of three generations of achievement - even before the modern Civil Rights movement began."

"My cousin Chico, introduced in my documentary as the first black page for the Supreme Court, went on to Harvard and graduated in the class of 1971.He wrote a chapter on his experience as a fourth generation black Harvard man for a book by Werner Sollors, Caldwell Titcomb and Thomas A. Underwood (with an introduction by Randall Kennedy) called 'Blacks at Harvard.'"

"PUT ON A HAPPY FACE - Masking the differences between blacks and whites"
This is Benjamin DeMott's Harper's Magazine cover essay of September 1995. It draws a sharp portrait of an American culture steeped with corporate-underwitten, feel-good, a historical racism.

"Blacks in Hollywood"
This links to a People Magazine cover story (March 18, 1996) reports on how the film industry continues to resist the inclusion of blacks on-screen and off.

"Interracial Generation: We Are Who We Are"
Would adding the categories of "multiracial' or 'other' to Census 2000 improve race relations? This links to the Seattle Times and its 5/5/96 report which examines that question.

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