The principal at Brookland School admitted blonde-haired, blue-eyed Isabel Wall into the first grade without question. Ten days later, the principal expelled Isabel after school officials heard that her father, Stephen Wall, had a great grandparent who was part Black. The Wall family sued to compel the school to readmit Isabel.  The Walls claimed that Isabel was not Black because she had white grandparents and great grandparents, and her social circle did not recognize her as Black. The lower court found that despite Isabel’s appearance, she had “colored blood.” Her request to be admitted was denied. This ruling fell in line with the “one-drop rule” which meant that a person with even “one drop” of Black “blood,” (meaning any Black ancestry) was considered Black. The Wall family appealed. The next court agreed that even if a person had no physical features to imply they were Black, blood quantum determined race. Isabel would have to attend a Black school. Realistically, this meant losing significant educational opportunities even though Black schools were supposed to be “separate but equal.” Though the Walls lost their case, they moved and changed their last name to Gates. Isabel attended white schools in a different location under the name Lillian Isabel Gates. [205 words]