The Characters
Betsey Brown, as the oldest child, feels a sense of responsibility to her younger siblings, and yet she is desperately seeking to find her place in the changing world of her family and St. Louis of 1959.
Shange unfolds Betsey’s character through a series of major and minor crises that Betsey must confront. Her parents’ troubled marriage is one event that takes its toll on Betsey, even more so when her mother, Jane, actually leaves the family. In her mother’s absence, Betsey exhibits a variety of behaviors that demonstrate her coping. She is at first rebellious, especially when her father employs a series of housekeepers. Betsey does not like most of the housekeepers and finds ways to make them quit or get fired.
Beyond her rebellion, she feels the changing family circumstances are preventing her from doing the things she most likes. Because she does not want an outsider to take her mother’s place, she tries to take on more of those responsibilities herself, and she is often frustrated not only in her attempts to do so but also by the time and effort it takes from her other normal adolescent pursuits. For example, she is intelligent, makes good grades in school, and loves to recite African American poetry, and she has several secretive and private places in and around her family’s home where she likes to go to fantasize about romance and adventure.
Her mother’s continued absence and Betsey’s feeling that no one understands her is punctuated in her character development as a series of mood swings that increasingly become more pronounced. Betsey’s final way to cope with her problems is to run away. It is when she runs away to a poorer section of the black community, where she sees firsthand what real struggle is about, that she begins to reassess her situation at home and finds the balance that marks her growing up.
In a family of spunky people, Betsey has the most spirit. She has a sharp tongue and a quick wit. From the beginning of the novel to the end, Betsey is presented as someone who will triumph. She survives in a healthy way when faced with her parents’ troubled marriage; she deals effectively with school desegregation, and she adjusts, even as she notes the adjustments are not always better, to her new school and blatant racism. Her spirit is never defeated.
Jane Brown, Betsey’s mother, on the surface appears less spirited than her oldest daughter. She appears entirely conventional. She has married a doctor, works as a social worker at a public hospital that caters to African Americans, likes to pamper her body with perfumes and lotions, does not like her husband’s commitment to racial activism, and seems a traditional wife and mother. Shange, however, uses Jane’s thoughts to convey another more rebellious and spirited side.
Going against the value system of her family, which has a long history of “marrying light,” Jane marries a dark-complexioned man. She defies conventional expectations of her class in another way too, for she has a career as a social worker. More important, she assists people whom even members of the black community think are outcasts. Jane’s mother, Vida, does not like either of these two choices, but Jane is comfortable with her decisions.
Moreover, Jane is not a static character content with the status quo of her life. She wants more. She wants a life separate from her husband and her children so that she can be herself, with little judgment from others and little interference. She is not presented as selfish in these desires, for even...
(This entire section contains 804 words.)
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when she temporarily leaves her family, she always thinks about them and she always knows that she will return to them. Jane is a woman who wants to have it all: family, career, and self.
Jane’s husband, Greer, one of the most original and positive black male characters in African American literature, is committed to family and to community. He teaches his children to value themselves and to value their African American culture, and he does this during a time in American history when many African Americans did not promote racial and cultural health. Every morning, he quizzes his children on African American history and culture, but he does not do this in a way that is painful or boring. The children look forward to this precious time with their father and their culture.
If anything negative can be said about his character, it is that he must learn to balance his commitments to family and to the black community, in which, as a doctor, he tends the sick and injured. He is essentially a workaholic. After Jane leaves, he learns that he must find more space in his life for his wife.
Characters Discussed
Betsey Brown
Betsey Brown, the thirteen-year-old protagonist. the oldest child in a black middle-class family, Betsey struggles with the frustrations and fears of adolescence, compounded by attending a mostly white school. Because she is the oldest child, her parents have given her much of the responsibility for controlling the chaos created by her three siblings and younger cousin. This sets her apart from the other children, yet she knows she is not like her parents, and they do not understand her. Her most comforting moments are in the early morning, which she has claimed as her own. Frequently, she awakes before anyone else, seeks out one of the porches on the family’s large house, and watches the sunrise. During the daytime, she finds peace and quiet by climbing a large tree in her yard. In this solitude, she is most at ease.
Greer Brown
Greer Brown, Betsey’s father, a physician. Greer wants his children to grow up proud, so he begins every morning with African drumming and chanting about black heritage, followed by a quiz about black history and culture. Under Greer’s influence, Betsey comes to appreciate the blues and other styles of music that her mother considers unsuitable for people of their social class. When Greer announces his plans to involve the children in a civil rights demonstration, then further refuses to join the family in prayer, he precipitates a crisis in his marriage.
Jane Brown
Jane Brown, Betsey’s mother, a social worker who treats mentally ill patients in a segregated hospital. Jane has given up trying to manage the five children in her household, relying instead on her aging mother and a series of housekeepers. Her passion for her husband is fading, largely because his ideas about “Africanizing” his children conflict with her wishes to see them reared with the manners and tastes of their social class. Resentful of the long hours her husband puts in at the hospital and in his private practice, she amuses herself in the evenings by playing cards and polishing her nails. She leaves the family temporarily.
Vida Murray
Vida Murray, Betsey’s grandmother, who lives with the family. Vida disapproves of Greer, of modern music, and of modern women who wear lipstick. Her only comfort comes from memories of Frank, her late husband, and from rocking on the porch and praying.
Mrs. Maureen
Mrs. Maureen, the owner of a beauty parlor. As Betsey sees her, Mrs. Maureen is confident, worldly, and able to support herself with an honest trade. When Betsey runs away from home hoping to work in the beauty parlor, she learns that Mrs. Maureen also runs a bordello.
Carrie
Carrie, the housekeeper. Although Carrie dresses strangely (she wears two housedresses at the same time, tied with a rope) and carries on a romance with the gardener behind Vida’s back, she brings order to the household for the first time. She teaches the children proper manners and useful homemaking skills. Most important, she earns the love and respect of Betsey and is able to guide her through the perils of adolescence.
Character Analysis
Eugene Boyd
Eugene Boyd is an older student who plays basketball for the high school team. Betsey has a crush on him, and soon he returns her feelings. Eugene is friends with Charlie, who introduces him to the Brown family. There, he flirts with Betsey and gives her her first kiss. Although Betsey seldom sees him, she considers him her boyfriend. Eugene is a kind-hearted young man who genuinely cares for her. His interest in Betsey and the intense emotions he stirs leave her feeling conflicted. Betsey’s mother and grandmother are also concerned about her relationship with Eugene, though their interactions remain quite innocent.
Allard Brown
Allard Brown is the youngest child of Jane and Greer and their only son. Throughout the novel, his family tries to stop him from setting fires, a dangerous habit he is fascinated by. By the novel's conclusion, he shifts his antisocial fascination with fire into a healthy passion for music.
Betsey Brown
Betsey is the protagonist of the novel, which is named after her, and she is at the heart of its episodic storyline. She is a bright and lively thirteen-year-old girl navigating the challenges and joys of growing up in a black middle-class neighborhood in St. Louis during the late 1950s. The events in Betsey's life aren't particularly dramatic—she gets her first boyfriend, changes schools, forms and ends friendships, briefly runs away, and deals with her mother's temporary absence from the family. However, Betsey is especially sensitive and insightful, often reflecting on her life from a favorite spot at the top of an oak tree. While many of her challenges—seeking independence from her family, managing relationships with her parents and siblings, and grappling with questions of morality and sexuality—are typical for any young girl, the political backdrop of her life adds extra pressure. She is part of the first generation of African-American children to attend racially integrated schools, a significant advancement in the civil rights movement but also a challenging and sometimes dangerous experience for the students. Betsey's journey of self-discovery focuses on her evolving sense of female and African-American identity. The novel explores her consideration of various role models, including other girls, cultural icons, household staff, and most importantly, her parents, whose influences she evaluates, rejects, and eventually embraces.
Greer Brown
Greer Brown is Betsey's father, known for his strength and outspoken nature. He is committed to fostering a sense of pride and unity in his children regarding their racial identity. As one of the few Black surgeons in St. Louis, and indeed the nation, he dedicates himself to serving the underserved, working long hours—a choice that frustrates his wife. While Jane desires him to prioritize family over politics, Greer aims to integrate political awareness into family life. With an Afrocentric perspective, he plays the bongos and quizzes his children on important African and African-American cultural facts each morning before school. He supports his children attending St. Louis's newly integrated schools and insists on taking them to a civil rights protest despite Jane's strong objections, leading her to temporarily leave him. Nevertheless, he deeply loves his wife.
Jane Brown
Jane Brown is Betsey's mother, known for her attractiveness and sophistication, with light skin and 'good' hair typical of her privileged African-American social class. She manages to raise her four children and a nephew while working as a social worker for the mentally ill. Although she has a passionate yet tense relationship with her husband, Greer, a surgeon, her mother disapproves of their marriage due to his dark skin and Afrocentric values. Jane loves Greer deeply but shares some of her mother's elitist views towards lower-class Blacks. Despite her demanding work and family responsibilities, Jane maintains a free-spirited nature and seeks luxury where possible—in solitaire, morning coffee in bed, or intimate moments with her husband before dinner. These conflicting desires often lead to a chaotic household. Jane and Greer disagree on religion and the extent of their children's involvement in civil rights activities, prompting her to leave him temporarily to reconnect with her younger self. She returns to her family, resolved not to leave again.
Margot Brown
Margot Brown is one of Betsey's two younger sisters. In the novel, she is often seen alongside Sharon. Both girls are sweet yet lively.
Sharon Brown
Sharon Brown is one of Betsey's two younger sisters. In the novel, she is often portrayed with Margot. Sharon and Margot add to the lively chaos of the Brown household.
Bernice Calhoun
Bernice is the first of three housekeepers who come to assist the Brown family. Betsey first notices her from her tree, noting her shabby clothes and listening to her soulful, autobiographical "Mississippi muddy song." Like Carrie, she is a simple country woman. Having just arrived from Arkansas and in need of employment, she rings the Browns' doorbell just as Jane is feeling particularly overwhelmed. Without checking her references, Jane hires her. In an attempt to gain Jane's favor, Bernice reveals Betsey's secret treetop hideout. In retaliation, Betsey orchestrates chaos in the house with the children the next morning, leading to Bernice's swift dismissal.
Carrie
Carrie is the third and most successful housekeeper to join the Brown family. She arrives shortly after Jane departs, stepping into a maternal role within the household. Unlike Jane, Carrie is a robust and modest southern woman with plain hair, a rope for a belt, and a preference for using the cellar latrine instead of the bathrooms. Despite this, she wins the affection of Mr. Jeff, the neighborhood gardener, and provides the children with a balanced perspective on love and passion. She also teaches them the importance of hard work, instilling pride in their contributions to maintaining the house. Vida looks down on Carrie and suspects her of witchcraft. When Jane returns, she criticizes Carrie, feeling threatened by her significant role in the family. Jane dismisses her after Carrie is arrested for involvement in a knifing incident. Betsey remains close to Carrie and tries to emulate her efforts in the household.
Charlie
Charlie is Jane's sister's son, living with the Brown family, who treat him like their own child. He is in high school and friends with Eugene Boyd, who becomes Betsey's boyfriend. Charlie's rebellious nature causes Jane to worry about him. At one point, he is brought home by the police for trespassing with Allard on the grounds of a Catholic school. On his first day at a newly integrated school, Charlie gets into a fistfight with five Italian boys.
Charlotte Ann
Charlotte Ann is one of Betsey's classmates at her all-black school and one of her best friends. At school, they spend time with another girl, Veejay, and after school, they occasionally meet with Susan Linda, a poor white girl who shares their curiosity about their emerging sexuality.
Daddy
See Greer Brown
Grandma
See Vida Murray
Mr. Jeff
Mr. Jeff is a local man who works as a gardener in Betsey's neighborhood. He becomes smitten with Carrie soon after her arrival and courts her with flowers and sips of alcohol.
Mr. Johnson
Mr. Johnson is a patient of Greer, who cares for him at a clinic after completing his regular hospital duties. Greer feels a strong obligation to assist those in greatest need. Mr. Johnson struggles with health issues, and his entire family lives with severe deprivation. They exemplify the hardships faced by black families living in poverty, contrasting with the Browns' middle-class neighborhood.
Regina Johnson
Regina Johnson is the second of the Browns’ three housekeepers, and she is Mr. Johnson's niece, who is one of Greer’s unfortunate charity patients. Recently graduated from high school, she comes from a disadvantaged background but remains optimistic about her future with her boyfriend, Roscoe, who aspires to open a gas station. Regina is well-liked by the Brown children for her youthful, fun-loving, and fashionable demeanor. She introduces Betsey to a modern sense of femininity and sexuality, which captivates her. Charlie develops a crush on Regina and, in a fit of jealousy, reports her for kissing Roscoe in front of the children, leading to her dismissal. Later, Betsey finds Regina pregnant, seemingly abandoned by Roscoe, and living in Mrs. Maureen’s brothel. This encounter serves as a warning for Betsey about the perils of sexuality.
Mrs. Leon
Mrs. Leon is Betsey’s teacher at her new, integrated school. Betsey feels comforted when the first lesson covers African geography, a topic she knows well.
Liliana
Liliana, one of Betsey’s classmates at her initial, all-black school, talks with Mavis about Eugene Boyd in Betsey's presence. Having been held back a grade, Liliana is older and more worldly than Betsey. Although they are not friends, Liliana represents a figure of female sexuality to Betsey.
Mama
See Jane Brown
Mrs. Maureen
Mrs. Maureen owns a beauty salon located in a rough part of town, frequented by the middle-class women of Betsey’s neighborhood. When Betsey feels misunderstood by her family and runs away, she seeks refuge at Mrs. Maureen’s salon. To Betsey, the salon embodies a supportive and safe environment that is distinctly black and female. Arriving early in the morning, Betsey is surprised to discover that Mrs. Maureen operates a brothel at night. Despite this, Betsey feels validated by the care and attention she receives from Mrs. Maureen and Regina, who style her hair and make her feel special and mature before sending her back home.
Mavis
Mavis is a friend of Liliana and another older student who has been held back at Betsey’s all-black middle school. Along with Liliana, she discusses Eugene Boyd, which leaves Betsey feeling flustered. Betsey views both Mavis and Liliana as examples of adult femininity when she recites her poem in the elocution competition.
Mrs. Mitchell
Mrs. Mitchell teaches Betsey at her initial, all-black school. Unlike others, she didn't react negatively when the school transitioned from white to black students, as she appreciates nurturing young minds. Mrs. Mitchell awards Betsey first place for reciting a Dunbar poem in an elocution contest.
Frank Murray
Frank Murray was Vida’s husband and Jane’s father. Vida holds his memory dear, often reflecting on their courtship and shared past. She describes Frank as a "gentle man" who could be mistaken for white, contrasting him with Greer.
Vida Murray
Vida Murray is Jane’s mother and resides with the Brown family, assisting with the children while Jane works. However, her heart condition makes managing the lively children challenging. Vida takes pride in her middle-class black heritage, valuing her proper behavior, fair skin, straight hair, and descent from freemen. She harbors reservations about Jane’s husband, Greer, due to her snobbish views on skin color. Vida disapproves of the household's casual nature and strives to instill propriety in the children. She opposes integration, believing blacks thrive best in their own communities. A devout woman, she remains deeply attached to her late husband's memory.
Mr. Robinson
Mr. Robinson owns the local soda shop near Betsey’s school in her neighborhood. He is part of the tight-knit African-American community, informing Betsey’s parents when she skips a piano lesson and expressing pride in her on her first day of busing.
Roscoe
Roscoe is Regina’s boyfriend, and she wears his ring on a chain around her neck, deeply in love with him. This relationship fascinates the Brown sisters. Roscoe aspires to become a mechanic and open his own gas station, aiming for upward mobility. He talks about marrying Regina but is concerned about the added responsibilities. Later, Betsey sees Regina pregnant; Roscoe has moved to Chicago, claiming to save money to bring her and the baby over, though this seems unlikely.
Susan Linda
Susan Linda is a poor white girl who, defying social norms, befriends blacks despite occasionally using the derogatory term “niggah.” Her mother, who is openly racist, works long hours and is unaware that Betsey and her friends visit their home. Susan Linda is curious about her emerging sexuality and leads Betsey and Charlotte Ann in exploring their bodies.
Veejay
Veejay is a classmate and one of Betsey's closest friends at her all-black school. In contrast to Betsey and Charlotte Ann, she doesn't come from a middle-class background. Veejay often acts as a moral compass for Betsey, disapproving and leaving when Susan Linda exposes her nipples, and criticizing Betsey for causing their housekeeper, Bernice, to lose her job. Veejay's mother works as a housekeeper for a white family.