Big Bill
Ta- Nehisi’s elder brother, as he called him, Big Bill, was a kind of a egotistic bastard who was constantly mocking on his younger siblings: “He began sentences with “As the oldest son…” and sought to turn all his younger siblings into warrior”. He was seldom scared of something, when bored, he’d entertain himself, cracking on your busted fade, acne, or your off-brand kicks. As his younger brother, Billy didn’t like studying and found streets and bands more interesting and fascinating than lessons and books. When he was under twenty he dated a girl and soon she got pregnant, but Billy was too shocked about this news and so he overreacted – he kicked the girl and told that he didn’t care. After that he changed a little and became more serious man, who ruled his life and knew exactly what he wanted and how to get it.
Dad
The narrator’s father was, as he said, a “Conscious Man ” : he was tall, handsome and clever. He was hardworking and always serious. He was "guarding books and curated the history in the exalted hall of the Moorland-Spingarn Research Center." The man had seven children by four women and maybe it was because of his roots. His father had a lot of children from different women, by the was not a good man like his son, he drank too much and was a violent person He impregnated three sisters, and so Dad had aunts doubling as stepmothers. It is disgusting and still it was the atmosphere in which Dad was raised. So he decided that he will never be like his father and he will raise his children in love and care. He was a Vietnam veteran, he preached awareness, discipline, and confidence. Sometimes he was cruel with his children but this cruelty was used with educational purpose – in order to show children that they are responsible for their actions and no one else. He taught them that their life depends on their choice and he will never influence it if they don’t want it. Dad was a wise man who wanted his children to have a good life in faith and love.
Ma
Ta- Nehisi’s mother was a woman with strong character. She was pretty educated woman who met her future husband on one of his meetings. She liked him because he was wise and kind man, who knew the life. he was twenty nine when they met and already had five children by three women and she was twenty four and she wanted a child. When Paul said that he already had kids and the sixth one will be too much for him she said that she will raise it by herself; she was young and wanted to have a child from him. She took care of the family but her relationships with Billy were awful, she hated his step mother and they often had quarrels. She wanted her children to be educated and did her best to raise them a good people.
Ta- Nehisi
Ta- Nehisi, the narrator, tells the story of his life, about his family and what his life looked like when he was a child. He didn’t like school, had problems with teachers and bad discipline but he was a gifted child – he wrote poems and hip hop songs later. His parents were proud of him and predicted their son brilliant future. The major influence on his life had his father, and about him he mostly tells in the book. He loved his family and wanted to achieve something for them to be proud of him but he wasn’t a good-behaved child and not always listened to his parents. He decided to leave the city, and they accepted it; he entered high school and there was a future in front of him. He was both happy and scared of his prospects but he had a faith in his power and that he can get whatever he wants.
