Sonny
In "Sonny's Lettah" Sonny writes to his mom from jail. He has gotten engaged in a row with police officers and killed one of them. He is distraught for having broken his promise to his mother to care for his brother, Jim, who is also now in jail. Delivering a faithful account of the row, Sonny attempts to offer his mom the consolation that the boys did not start the trouble. He begs her to consider his loyalty true as he is still her son.
Jim
Jim is the presumed brother in "Sonny's Lettah." Because Sonny is charged by his mom to look after Jim, it's a safe assumption that Jim is the younger one. He denies the officers accusations of theft, but he is arrested anyway. When he tries to evade, they merely laugh at him. Once again it seems likely that Jim is young because his best efforts are largely ineffective against the officers, while Sonny is able to injure and even kill one.
Nelson Mandela
Mandela was the president of South Africa from 1994 to 1999 who helped end Apartheid. Before being elected, he was a revolutionary leader who amassed thousands of followers among the people. His renown is the object of Johnson's admiration in "If I Woz a Tap-Natch Poet"
Mangosuthu Buthelezi
Buthelizi is compared to Mandela in "If I Woz a Tap-Natch Poet," his family being considerably less though still notable. Buthelizi founded the Inkatha Freedom Party in South African in 1975. From 1994 until 2004 he served as the Minister of Home Affairs of South Africa.
"We"
The "we" of "Di Great Insohreckshan" is how Johnson identifies himself with the rebels in the 1981 Brixton Riot. Although he was not present, Johnson imagines himself there. His association with the cause of the ethnic minorities who took to the streets leads him to take an ownership in the event as if he were really there. He is both identifying with the rebels and adding his commodified voice to theirs in post in order to demonstrate a continued kinship, a furthering of their cause today.
