Black Boy | Teaching Key Figures

Character Descriptions

This section provides a short description of all the major characters in the book. This can be printed out as a study guide for students, used as a "key" for leading a class discussion, or you can jump to the quiz/homework section to find worksheets that incorporate these descriptions into a variety of question formats.

Characters

Mrs. Bibbs - Like most white characters in the novel, she represents one facet of the oppressive society that makes the assumption that blacks are inherently suited to menial labor.

Mr. Crane - He stands for the liberal whites who are well-meaning, but ultimately too weak to stand up to the prevailing racism of their society.

Ella - A schoolteacher with a "remote and dreamy and silent" manner, Richard is attracted to her mystery, though afraid.

Ella - See Ellen Wilson Wright

Mr. Falk - Richard asks this character if he can use...
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