What's the third rail of almost any discussion of American life? Race. One of the greatest challenges of reading and discussing The Cay with students is all the racial issues that come up, which means that the greatest challenge for your real students is the same as for The Cay's fictional main character. Dr. King's speech (which is part of the dedication) talks all about the Negro's need for freedom, equality, justice, and citizenship rights. In the book, Phillip openly shares his racial prejudices.

A lot has changed since WWII. And a lot hasn't. Racial tensions are still very present in contemporary America. So, how to deal with this? Talk about it. Discuss it beforehand and talk about it during the reading and beyond. Taylor said in the dedication that the dream can come true "if the very young know and understand." What a powerful opportunity you have of sharing a story where a young boy changes his deeply ingrained racial beliefs.