Minor Characters
Maggie
Maggie is Michael’s mother. She is less racist than her husband and seems somewhat open to having a relationship with Leonie and her grandchildren, but ultimately does not stand up to Big Joseph.
Michael’s Cousin
Michael’s cousin is a man who, in his early thirties, made a bet while hunting with Given. When Michael’s cousin lost the bet, he shot Given in a fit of racist rage. He was sent to Parchman for only three years after claiming the murder was a hunting accident.
Kinnie Wagner
Kinnie Wagner is a notorious white criminal who is in charge of the dogs at Parchman. He recruits Pop to help him with the dogs.
Hogjaw
Hogjaw is an enormous white man who was at Parchman during Pop’s time there.
Carlotta
Carlotta is a white woman who makes crystal meth with her husband, Fred. Jojo witnesses her viciously beat her infant son with a baseball bat.
Fred
Fred is Carlotta’s husband. He cooks meth and gives it to Misty and Leonie to transport on their journey.
Al
Al is Michael’s lawyer. He is friendly and kind, but is seemingly a meth addict. He gets high with Misty and Leonie and possibly has sex with them.
Police Officer
The police officer stops Jojo’s family after they pick up Michael from Parchman. He treats them with suspicion and brutality, handcuffing Jojo even though he is only thirteen.
The Sunshine Woman
The Sunshine Woman is a prostitute who would come to work at Parchman, so named because she would always wear yellow. She once told Pop about a lynching that happened in the town near Parchman.
Maman Brigitte
Maman Brigitte is a mystère (a kind of intermediary spirit in some voodoo practices) known as the “Mother of the Dead.” Mam asks to be possessed by her shortly before her death.
Blue
Blue is an inmate in Parchman who Pop describes as being “not right in the head.” He and Richie escape together, but are caught by the guards, who skin Blue alive.
Bishop
Bishop is Misty’s boyfriend. He does not appear in the narrative directly, though we learn that he is black and is also imprisoned at Parchman.