In the story, "Ellen Foster," by Kaye Gibbons, Ellen, the main character goes through many significant changes that impacts the person she becomes at the end. The most important and most obvious change she endures is the overcoming of race and racism. It’s unfortunate because it isn't something that she consciously approves of but its something that she was born into. Her whole family is racist so she of course is going to be forced into it. An important quote is when Ellen acknowledges “My aunt is so glad to be out of a colored town. She unlocks her door now because she feels safe.” Ellen notices her aunt’s discomfort and discrimination on the way to her mother's burial service. The funeral train passes through a colored town which is most likely in poverty and run down. This quote reveals the attitude that Ellen was forced to cope with throughout her whole family. At the beginning of the book Ellen is very racist towards Starletta. For example, she won't even drink or eat anything from their house. When Starletta’s parents give Ellen a sweater she says “does not look colored at all". That shows that despite the fact that she was given an object it still all comes down to if it is “colored” or not. No matter what the origins of the sweater a non racist person would appreciate the sweater very much and not question it for something silly like what Ellen does. As for her change at the end of the book, Ellen has pretty much gotten over her racist feelings and she loves Starletta for who she is. Ellen demonstrates this by declaring that she would even lick Starletta’s cup and was ashamed of not wanting to eat with Starletta or in her house. Another way that Ellen has changed during the book is that she doesn't think that she lives such a hard life anymore. The last sentences of the book are “I came a long way to get here but when you think about it real hard you will see that old Starletta came even farther...and all this time I thought I had the hardest row to hoe." After a long friendship with Starletta, Ellen has finally abandoned the racist thoughts that have been taught to her by her surroundings and her family. Once