Plot summary

Lora Meredith is a struggling actress with a 6-year-old daughter, Susie. She hires an African American woman, Annie Johnson, as a maid. Annie has an 8-year-old daughter, Sarah Jane, who instantly befriends Susie. Sarah Jane is light-skinned and does her best to pass herself as white at school and in social circles. This is to her advantage because of the racist laws and social mores of the time. However, her mother is always quick to point out that Sarah Jane is her daughter, and this hinders her. Fast forward 10 years, and Lora is now a Broadway star. An old flame, Steve Archer, has reappeared in her life, and daughter Susie is smitten with him. Meanwhile, Sarah Jane is trying to make her way in the world, socially and career-wise, but her idealistic, hard-headed, clingy mother is still embarrassing and hindering her.—grantss