Adult Dean: While being one of only three Black kids in my class was a more obvious difference, it wasn't so obvious to me how my friend Brad stood out.
Billy: Hey, Brad!
Adult Dean: Even though he looked White, people saw him differently, too.
Billy: There's a penny. [penny clinks] You gonna pick it up? [snickering]
Adult Dean: At 12, I didn't understand the complexity and hate behind the joke. I just knew they were targeting Brad because he was Jewish. And Brad was just doing what we were all doing... Trying to survive junior high.
[After Brad rolls his eyes and walks away with Cory, Dean bends down and picks up the penny]
Adult Dean: I know what you're looking at, but a penny's a penny!