Why is Jeannette more comfortable with Dinita than she is with white children?

Dinitia and her followers bully Jeannette at Welch Elementary. The two later become friends after Dinitia witnesses Jeannette helping a neighbor escape a dog attack. I think Denita and Jeannette see an independent spirit in each other. Jeannette can empathise with Dinita's outsider status as a black girl while Denita can see that Jeanette is an outsider even amongst whites. Dinitia and her followers bully Jeannette at Welch Elementary. The two later become friends after Dinitia witnesses Jeannette helping a neighbor escape a dog attack. Dinitia Hewitt offers to bring Jeanette to the pool during morning hours when the pool is free. All the black people go at this time and the white people go in the afternoon..