Joyce, another student at Occidental College, lives in the same dormitory as Barack Obama. She describes herself as “multiracial”: her father is Italian and her mother is “part” several ethnicities, including African. The author describes her as having “honey skin.” Joyce resists being identified as “black” because she feels that she should not be pressured to choose just one aspect of her identity. Barack believes she is moving toward being assimilated into white culture because it is dominant.

Marcus presents a strong contrast to Joyce because he is emphatic about claiming his black identity or what Barack calls “his authentic black experience.” Marcus grew up with a single mother in St. Louis and tells Barack that his grandfather had been a follower of Marcus Garvey. One night Marcus recounts a random encounter when two police officers stopped him while walking in a white neighborhood; he insists he did not feel fear or at least show it in front of them.

Regina, or Reggie, is another dorm-mate whom Barack met through Marcus. Barack is drawn to her because he feels natural around her, as she is not judgmental like Marcus is. Ruth is one of the first college friends who calls him Barack rather than his childhood nickname, Barry. Ruth wears dresses that he thinks look homemade; she is often in the library and is active in organizing black student activities. She grew up in a poor, all black neighborhood on Chicago’s South Side—the part of the city where Obama would later work as an organizer.