Kiese Laymon
Laymon is the narrator and protagonist of his memoir. He lays out a chronological account designed to elicit sympathy and deliver a call to action. He wants his readers to recognize, along with him, how racism in America has corrupted the opportunity of black men and women in devastating ways. Throughout the text, he focuses upon his relationship to academia -- heavily influenced by his mom's high expectations, -- his struggle to maintain a healthy weight, and his experience of violence and oppression in the South. Through his writing career Laymon has found an outlet for his opinions.
Laymon's Mother
She is the real subject of this book, to whom Laymon addresses his writing. As a defense against racism and oppression in Mississippi, she turned to the bastion of academia. She has earned a Ph.D and demands similar excellence from Laymon, despite enforcing these expectations through the very patterns of violence she was hoping to spare him in the end. She is the victim of domestic violence as well as racially motivated hatred in her community, but she is a strong woman who refuses to bend. Her lasting impact in her son's life leaves him both confused and compelled to respond.
Laymon's Gradmother
She plays a very small role in the book. She embodies the oppressed black woman in Laymon's imagination. Her story is tragic; she was raped by the local sheriff when she was young.
Laymon's Father
His father is not a major player in Laymon's life. To his son, he represents a continuation of oppression. He beats Laymon's mom and remains largely absent from their daily lives.
