James McBride- main character and narrator. The story is based on his search for racial and social identity.
Rachel/Ruth McBride Jordan-co-narrator of the memoir and James’ mother. It is the story of her conversion from a Polish Jewish woman to a “light-skinned” Baptist that makes up the second half of McBride’s memoir.
Hudis Shilsky (Mameh)- Ruth’s mother and Tateh’s wife. She was crippled, soft-spoken and came from a well-to-do family that disregarded her. Tateh only married her for her family’s connections. He later divorced her for a gentile woman with children.
Andrew Dennis McBride- Ruth’s first husband and James’ birth father. He founded the New Brown Memorial Church with Ruth. He is the one that first introduced Ruth to Christianity. He died at a young age of lung cancer.
Hunter Jordan-Ruth’s second husband and father to four of her children. All of the children refer to him as “Daddy” despite actual blood relation. He stood as a father figure for James. He died of a stroke when James was a teenager.
Dee-Dee-Ruth’s younger sister. She was the only one born a United States citizen and therefore was Tateh’s favorite. Ruth was always jealous of Dee-Dee but she later found out that her sister’s life was not as nice as she imagined.
Sam-Ruth’s older brother. He was timid and sensitive and Tateh worked him hard. When Sam was a teenager he ran away from home. He was later killed while serving in the army in World War II.
Frances-Ruth’s only friend in Virginia. Frances was a gentile but still treated Ruth kindly.
Bubeh-Ruth’s grandmother on her mother’s side. She was the only one compassionate to Ruth while she was in New York. While she disapproved of some of the things that Ruth did she always accepted her.
Aunt Mary, Aunt Laura, Aunt Betsy-Hudis’ sisters. Aunt Betsy helped Ruth get an abortion and Aunt Mary gave Ruth a job in her factory.
Peter-Ruth’s first boyfriend. He was African-American. He got Ruth pregnant. When she came back from her trip to New York he was with another girl.
Helen McBride- Ruth’s daughter and James older sister. She has a fight with Ruth that causes her to run away when she is fifteen and return with a child later on. Her struggle with her background affects the entire household.
Jack-James older sister who lives in Louisville, Kentucky. James stays with her for three summers during his teenage years. She warns him about his drug abuse and petty crime.
Big Richard-Jack’s husband. He introduces James to all the men on the corner.
Chicken Man-One of the men on the corner. A drunkard, he quickly becomes a friend to James. He is the one that tells James to watch out considering his behavior. He serves as a wake-up call for James.