One morning in her home in the suburbs of Chicago, Joni and her younger brother Ellis open Joni's acceptance letter from Spelman College. Joni is hesitant to tell her parents; she doesn't know what they'll say about her possible enrollment at an HBCU. That night at dinner, Joni and Ellis' parents announce that they plan to take a road trip to Missouri to celebrate Joni and Ellis' Nana's birthday. Their cousins, Della and Junior, and their parents, Uncle Marcus and Aunt Virna, will also be there. Joni's memory of her cousins Junior and Della haunts her: the last time she visited, Junior called her an Oreo after he caught her listening to Broadway cast recordings. When Joni and Ellis get out of the car, Nana Paulette and Della greet them warmly, along with Joni's aunt and uncle, but Junior is less than happy to see her. That night after dinner, the family discusses colleges for the next year and Ellis tells the table about Joni's acceptance to Spelman. Her parents are shocked, and when her dad starts to explain why he doesn't think HBCUs are necessary, Joni's Uncle Marcus is furious. Over the next two days, Junior makes comments about Joni and her privileged life, but Joni starts to feel at home with her other family members. Joni officially decides to go to Spelman the next year. Finally, at Nana Paulette's birthday party, Joni confronts Junior about the time he called her an Oreo. Junior apologizes and explains that Joni spent the whole time insulting Missouri and his own family. Joni also apologizes, and they decorate Nana Paulette's cake together.