The brain of David Rowe, a white liberal district attorney dying of cancer, is transplanted into the body of a recently killed black man. After being legally certified as the same person, Rowe attempts to resume his personal and professional life; but his mother can no longer accept him, and his wife, Margaret, is unable to overcome a certain amount of sexual frigidity. Furthermore, Rowe soon learns that he is rejected by his white colleagues as well as the black community, and that his political party is planning to drop him at the next election. Reduced to despair, Rowe seeks consolation in the company of Elizabeth Dickson, the widow of the man whose body he now inhabits. Upon resuming his professional life, Rowe prepares to prosecute Sheriff Webb, a bigoted white man accused of murdering his black mistress. When the governor tries to stop the trial for political reasons, Rowe once more turns to Elizabeth for solace, but she can no longer accept him. Then, as Rowe is about to win his case against Webb, he uncovers evidence that establishes the sheriff's innocence and implicates a black man. By dismissing the case, Rowe becomes something of a hero to both blacks and whites, and it is suggested that he run for state attorney general. Even though his wife now seems willing to accept him, Rowe decides to leave town.