John Holliday: A white man in his seventies, a big personality, a smile and a handshake fast as a
quickdraw, the pastor of Eatonton First Baptist, best-friend of Sherman, father of Buddy. He has
his hands in lots of different pots and if you listen to him tell it, he knows everyone on God’s
green Earth, save one or two.
Sherman Singleton: A black man in his seventies, good-natured, more reserved with others but
open with his family and with John, works as a barber, best-friend of John, father of Jeanine,
grandfather of Malcolm. His main focus is too look out for his family.
Jeanine Singleton: A black woman in her later thirties, a force to be reckoned with, a former
professor of Black Studies and African American literature at Boston University, now working
as a 10th grade teacher, as she lives with and takes care of her father, Sherman, and her 18-yearold
son, Malcolm.
Buddy Holliday: A white man in his later thirties, came back home to take care of his dying
mother, and with her passed on, he is trying to get into Emory’s PhD in literature program. He is
teaching at the nearby technical college. He is John’s son.
Malcolm Singleotn: An eighteen-year-old black young man, who is an exceptional football
player. He has come down to Eatonton from Boston with his mother, Jeanine, to take care of his
grandfather, Sherman. He believes football is his only ticket to success.