Jericho Brown
Brown wrote the poems in this collection, informed by his own life and experiences. In the collection, he includes poems inspired by his memories, family, and friends, and therefore he is himself a main character in the collection.
Mother
Brown often writes about his mother in the collection, presenting her as a strong but sometimes formidable character.
Aunt
In his poem "As a Human Being," Jericho mentions his aunt, who arrived at the house to drive his mother to the hospital. As such, Jericho is referring to the fact that in times of need and difficulty, his immediate family depended on members of their extended family to help out.
Brothers
Jericho's brothers are also mentioned in the collection. In the poem "Hero," Jericho explains that "my brothers and I grew up fighting over our mother's mind."
