Scott and Beverly Williams lived all over the world during Scott's 20 years in the Air Force, but no matter where they were, one rule applied. "We raised our children to be color-blind," says Scott. But when the fighter pilot retired in 1991 and settled in the sleepy town of Hernando, Miss. (pop. 3,500), half an hour south of Memphis, Tenn., the family rule ran up against local tradition.
Hernando High School has two principals: one white, one black. It has co-class presidents: one white, one black. The offices of vice president and secretary-treasurer alternate each year between blacks and whites....