Margo Jefferson
Jefferson is the novel's protagonist, born into a middle-class family based on American standards but upper class in the Negro Standards. The blacks are called Negros, and their place is referred to as Negroland. Consequently, Jefferson comes from a privileged Negro background, but she has a huge responsibility to maintain the societal background in whatever she does.
Jefferson lives with her family, including her father, mother, and sister. The father is a medical doctor, and the mother is a social worker, but she mostly takes care of the family. As a young girl, Jefferson is brought up upright with an emphasis on upholding societal traditions. For instance, Jefferson is reminded that she has to maintain the reputation of middle-class Americans and avoid showing off unnecessarily. Therefore, any attempt to depict the Negro society negatively before the eyes of the white people is a crime that Jefferson was never to commit. Jefferson is educated in private schools with very few Negro students. As a young child, Jefferson does not understand the dangers of racism.
Ronald Jefferson
Ronald is the father of Margo Jefferson (the protagonist) and Denise. He is a professional doctor specializing in pediatrics and is one of the few Negro men who are successful in white society. Ronald's social status is uplifted because he has a good profession and he lives among middle-class white people. Ronald considers himself lucky and always reminds his children to behave well and uphold good discipline. More importantly, Ronald teaches Margo and Denise not to show off but to be humble and respectful.
Denise
Denise is Jefferson's older sister, and she is the daughter of Ronald. Unlike Jefferson, Denise is neither curious nor enthusiastic but keen on taking instructions. She also attends private schools with very few Negro students, and she gets the opportunity of attaining first-class education. Denise excels in her studies like her sister but is not talented in co-curricular activities.
Jefferson’s mother
Jefferson's mother is a social worker, but her primary role is taking care of her children and doing the homestead's roles according to plans. Jefferson's mother is depicted as a socialite and belongs to the Delta Sigma Theta sisterhood. Her husband is a member of Kappa Alpha brotherhood, a middle-class American society organization for professionals. The narrator's mother is among the few privileged Negro women because she belongs to an upper-class family in Negroland.
Du Bois
Du Bois is a human rights activist, and his influence is experienced during Jefferson’s school days. Du Bois advocates for equal treatment and demands that all Black Americans be given equal opportunities. Du Bois plays a major role in Jefferson's life because he shapes her to become a feminist to push for the rights of women across America. According to Jefferson, most black women are not recognized, and their work often goes unrewarded by the white people in authority.
