Family
The protagonist (main character) who lives with his aunt and cousins.
Who is Alfred?
The borough and city where the majority of the story takes place.
Harlem, New York City
The protagonist is often approached by folks from his neighborhood about joining the ________ they organize.
What are protests/marches/Civil Rights work?
The event that "gets the story moving" (inciting incident), which leads to the arrest of someone from the neighborhood.
What is robbing the Epstein's store?
A boy from the nighborhood who helps the protagonist learn to fight. He has a bad leg from polio.
Who is Henry?
The protagonist's aunt, who cares for him after his mother dies.
Who is Aunt Pearl?
The protagonist's best friend, who he calls his "partner" and gets addicted to heroin.
Who is James?
Many people in the protagonist's neighborhood resent this group of people and blame them for their economic and social struggles.
What are white people?
After getting arrested, the protagonist's friend gets addicted to _____________.
What is heroin?
The lead boxing coach. He trains his fighters hard and often does not give them much recognition. However, he makes sure they stay safe and get out of the sport before they are seriously hurt.
Who is Mr. Donatelli?
The protagonist's cousin who he used to dislike but reconnects with over Thanksgiving dinner. He is very "successful" and considers traveling to Africa.
Who is Jeff?
The family that owns the store that the protagonist works at. Their store is broken into on multiple occasions in the novel. Also, one of the brothers was a former fighter.
Who are the Epsteins?
The neighborhood boys insult the store owners in front of the protagonist, focusing on their "obsession with money" because they are ______________.
What is Jewish?
When the local gang tries to get the protagonist to help with robbing the store for a second time he says __________.
What is "no"?
A former fighter at the gym who lets fighters stay at his home the day of their matches. He is a school teacher who lives in Manhattan with his wife.
Who is Spoon (Bill Witherspoon)?
The protagonist's cousins who look up to him (need one for points)
Who are Charlene, Sandra, and Paula?
The neighborhood gang members (need two names).
Who are Major, Sonny, and Hollis?
The story takes place in the 1960s which was a major time of change in the U.S. as it relates to _______.
What are Civil Rights?
Due to his frustration with not fighting anyone yet and not seeing his friend, the protagonist goes down to the clubroom for the weekend with the local gang and does ___________.
What are alcohol and marijuana?
A large boxer at the gym who often provides humor to story because of the size of his stomach. His name is also the name of a candy that is sold today!
Who is Jelly Belly?
The protagonist's aunt and uncle whom he visits on Thanksgiving. His uncle is particularly focused on "advancement" and getting ahead (one name needed for points)
Who are Uncle Wilson and Aunt Dorothy?
The name of the reverend who runs the protagonist's church. The protagonist's aunt often goes to him for advice. His church does not advocate hate against white people, which gets criticism at times from others in the neighborhood.
Who is Reverend Price?
The protagonist is often called __________ as an insult in reference to his working for white people.
What is "Uncle Alf/Uncle Alfred"?
The protagonist goes to Coney Island with the neighborhood gang in a stolen car. When approached by the police, he ___________.
What is "run's away"?
A fighter who is supposed to be "the next big thing". He gets his eye cut in a fight and the coach realizes he should retire.
Who is Willie Streeter?