What effect did these contradictions have on the McBride children? Did they create confusion, or did they cause James and his brothers and sisters to develop a more tolerant view of race, religion, and other differences among people ?

According to James, Ruth’s behavior and beliefs were often contradictory. "White folks, she felt, were implicitly evil toward blacks, yet she forced us to go to white schools to get the best education. Blacks could be trusted more, but anything involving blacks was probably substandard... She was against welfare and never applied for it despite our need, but championed those who availed themselves of it."