Soledad O'Brien

But things at home took a turn for the worse. Mrs. Hurley seemed to change. Ever since Dovey started school at Spelman, she grew cold and distant. It was as if she thought Dovey had broken a promise. This is how Dovey saw it. Mrs. Hurley wanted to make something of her. She didn't expect Dovey would make something of herself. They didn't want an uppity housemaid. Here's Charlene again.

But things at home took a turn for the worse. Mrs. Hurley seemed to change. Ever since Dovey started school at Spelman, she grew cold and distant. It was as if she thought Dovey had broken a promise. This is how Dovey saw it. Mrs. Hurley wanted to make something of her. She didn't expect Dovey would make something of herself. They didn't want an uppity housemaid. Here's Charlene again.

She calls Dovey Nana.

She calls Dovey Nana.

Dovey was always one small step away from getting into trouble with her employer. One day, Mrs. Hurley accused her of stealing. She said Dovey was a thief. We don't know exactly what set Mrs. Hurley off, but in her memoir, Dovey was adamant she was wrongly accused, and there was simply no evidence she stole anything. That didn't stop Mrs. Hurley from marching Dovey straight to the police.

Dovey was always one small step away from getting into trouble with her employer. One day, Mrs. Hurley accused her of stealing. She said Dovey was a thief. We don't know exactly what set Mrs. Hurley off, but in her memoir, Dovey was adamant she was wrongly accused, and there was simply no evidence she stole anything. That didn't stop Mrs. Hurley from marching Dovey straight to the police.

Mrs. Hurley didn't need much evidence to get Dovey in trouble. Her word against Dovey would be enough. She was a white, stately homeowner, and Dovey was just a black 20-year-old who served at her pleasure. Suddenly, Dovey was experiencing what happens to black and brown folks even today. even if you do everything right, it might not matter. Dovey was arrested and taken to the jailhouse.

Mrs. Hurley didn't need much evidence to get Dovey in trouble. Her word against Dovey would be enough. She was a white, stately homeowner, and Dovey was just a black 20-year-old who served at her pleasure. Suddenly, Dovey was experiencing what happens to black and brown folks even today. even if you do everything right, it might not matter. Dovey was arrested and taken to the jailhouse.

That's Dr. Chatelaine again.

That's Dr. Chatelaine again.

At the jailhouse, a guard told Dovey she could call someone. Her mother was back in North Carolina. There was only one person in Atlanta she trusted in such a dire situation. Miss Neptune. By that evening, a white lawyer arrived at the jail for Dovey. Miss Neptune and Miss Rockefeller had sent him. He point-blank asked Dovey if she'd stolen anything. She said no.

At the jailhouse, a guard told Dovey she could call someone. Her mother was back in North Carolina. There was only one person in Atlanta she trusted in such a dire situation. Miss Neptune. By that evening, a white lawyer arrived at the jail for Dovey. Miss Neptune and Miss Rockefeller had sent him. He point-blank asked Dovey if she'd stolen anything. She said no.

The next morning, the police released Dovey. As a black woman, she could have easily stayed locked up for a good while. The police probably didn't believe Dovey, but they believed the white people around her. Dovey's legal troubles may have been behind her, but her financial ones were far from over. Where would she get the money to pay for her housing, for the rest of her tuition, to live?

The next morning, the police released Dovey. As a black woman, she could have easily stayed locked up for a good while. The police probably didn't believe Dovey, but they believed the white people around her. Dovey's legal troubles may have been behind her, but her financial ones were far from over. Where would she get the money to pay for her housing, for the rest of her tuition, to live?

She wasn't going to be able to come back because she wasn't financially able. She would have to leave Spelman, maybe teach until she could make enough money to pay for all her expenses. She confided in Miss Neptune that she would have to leave school. Miss Neptune said to meet her the next morning at Miss Rockefeller's office. When she arrived, she was told some arrangements had been made.

She wasn't going to be able to come back because she wasn't financially able. She would have to leave Spelman, maybe teach until she could make enough money to pay for all her expenses. She confided in Miss Neptune that she would have to leave school. Miss Neptune said to meet her the next morning at Miss Rockefeller's office. When she arrived, she was told some arrangements had been made.

Dovey's college expenses would be covered until her graduation. Miss Neptune wasn't a woman of means. She was on a modest teacher's salary, but she had gone into her savings to help pay off Dubby's tuition. The loan cost Miss Neptune. She would be penny-pinching for a long while. But she had seen something in Dovey that was undeniable.

Dovey's college expenses would be covered until her graduation. Miss Neptune wasn't a woman of means. She was on a modest teacher's salary, but she had gone into her savings to help pay off Dubby's tuition. The loan cost Miss Neptune. She would be penny-pinching for a long while. But she had seen something in Dovey that was undeniable.

She gave her protege the money she needed to become the woman who would one day defend Ray Crump. Dovey asked Miss Neptune how she could repay her. Miss Neptune told her to pass it on. Pass it on became a way of life for Dovey.

She gave her protege the money she needed to become the woman who would one day defend Ray Crump. Dovey asked Miss Neptune how she could repay her. Miss Neptune told her to pass it on. Pass it on became a way of life for Dovey.