Eleanor Roosevelt, the First Lady of the United States, has been waiting to confront Steve Woodburn over his disrespectful behavior, but chooses to show defiance instead.
She participates in a conference presentation addressing the real-life problems faced by African Americans, during which she and her friend Mary make a controversial public statement by shaking hands (considered unacceptable due to racial segregation).
The speech Eleanor delivers is about the need to ensure equal educational and employment opportunities for African American youths, despite discouragement from Steve Woodburn and the astonishment of some attendees.
After the conference, Eleanor and Mary make another public statement by having lunch together at Old Ebbitt Grill, a restaurant popular among Washington, D.C. elites.
Despite awkwardness and some delay, they are seated at a table in the middle of the restaurant’s large front window, making their integrated dining experience highly visible.
Eleanor has arranged for their meal to be photographed and published widely, to deliberately challenge the notion of racial segregation.
While at the restaurant, Mary reveals her personal history and her original desire to be a missionary in Africa, explaining how she has now redirected her efforts towards racial integration in the United States.
The two women agree that they are essentially serving as "missionaries in their own land" by working to normalize equality and integration between different races.