Paul
Paul is an eighteen year old university student. His growth is narrated in the novel. Paul was looking for purpose in life when his father passed away, and he slowly grew into activism at university.
Auntie
Auntie is Paul's aunt. She is his father's sister. Auntie is portrayed as a very compassionate and supportive relative. She helped Paul arrange his father's funeral and invited him over for dinner so that he would feel the presence of family around him.
The People of Chinatown
Chinatown is the area where Paul and his family resided. The community of Chinatown is very religious and staunch followers of tradition especially in burial ceremonies and they are very supportive towards other community members. They comforted Paul during the burial of his father by bringing him gifts and attending the burial ceremony.
Chen
Chen is a university professor at a university in San Fransisco. He was a friend to Paul's father. When Paul's father died, Chen stepped up and filled the gap to be a mentor to Paul. Chen is also an activist in his school.
The students at Paul's School
The students at the university that Paul attended are very liberal-minded. They are activists who organize strikes to get the school administration to listen to their challenges. They rioted to shed light on the lives of people of color.
