In Langston Hughes's celebrated short story "Thank You Ma'am," Roger is a young African American teenager who does not have enough money to buy a new pair of blue suede shoes and attempts to rob Mrs. Jones but does not succeed. Roger is described as "fourteen or fifteen, frail and willow-wild" boy who comes from a poor home in a depressed urban neighborhood.

After attempting to steal Mrs. Jones's purse, Mrs. Jones recognizes that Roger is economically disadvantaged and does not have a proper home. Mrs. Jones proceeds to exercise sympathy by dragging Roger to her house and offering him a homecooked dinner. Despite attempting to rob the unsuspecting Mrs. Jones, Roger is depicted as a polite, decorous young man, who tells Mrs. Jones "Yes'm" and "No'm."

Roger is also a sensitive, fearful teenager, who is afraid of being arrested. Roger's difficult decision of if he should run or stay illustrates his fear of being taken to jail. Fortunately, Roger decides to stay and proves that he is obedient by following Mrs. Jones's instructions. Roger is extremely thankful for Mrs. Jones's meal and surprised by her gift of ten dollars at the end of the story. When Mrs. Jones gives him money to buy a pair of blue suede shoes, Roger is at a loss for words and can only say, "Thank you, m’am."

When Roger arrives at Mrs. Jones's home, he struggles with the decision to flee or stay and wash his face. Roger chooses to wash his face and attempts to prove to Mrs. Jones that he is trustworthy by sitting far away from her purse. Langston Hughes writes,

He [Roger] did not trust the woman not to trust him. And he did not want to be mistrusted now.

Roger is a young African American boy that, in order to get money for a pair of "blue suede shoes," decides to steal a purse belonging to Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones. The woman is much larger than Roger, and he finds himself on his back after the strap of the purse breaks.

Roger is described as "fourteen or fifteen, frail and willow-wild, in tennis shoes and blue jeans." He has a dirty face which Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones makes him wash after she drags him to her home. When she releases him from the "half-nelson about his neck," he has an opportunity to run. Instead, he simply goes to the sink to wash his face. Roger shares with the woman that no one is home and she offers him supper at her house.

Roger is trying to prove himself trustworthy, so he sits where the woman can see him. He also offers to go to the store for her. After he eats, she gives him money so he can purchase the "blue suede shoes." He tells her, "Thank you," then leaves.

Roger is a young African American youth, about "fourteen or fifteen" years old. He is dressed in blue jeans and sneakers, but it is a pair of "blue suede shoes" that he wants most. Mrs. Jones is dismayed by his dirty face, and when she gets him to her house, she sees that he washes his face and combs his hair. Despite his act of attempted purse-snatching, he is a polite young man, repeatedly answering Mrs. Jones with "Yes'm" and "No'm." The large woman frightens Roger, and "sweat popped out on the boy's face." He is on the streets late at night because there is no one at his own home to look after him. He thinks about running when he has the chance inside Mrs. Jones' house, but he thinks better of it.

He did not trust the woman not to trust him. And he did not want to be mistrusted now.

He seems hungry, and he gladly accepts the meager meal offered him by the woman. And after Mrs. Jones gives him the $10 to buy his coveted shoes, he manages to thank her, but the door slams before he can tell her "Thank you, ma'am."