For a moment Stephens's face opened and disapproval of Freeman showed there briefly, as if Freeman had been personally responsible for the rioting which now threatened their jobs. Stephens looked down quickly at his desk blotter, the blotter a pale shade of violet held in place with handworked Florentine leather. When he looked up again he had a warm, if somewhat tight, white liberal smile on his face.

— The spook who sat by the door by Sam Greenlee (African American life) (Page 181)