Originally from West Virginia, LaJoe’s mother, Lelia, leaves the South to find a job in Chicago. After moving into the Henry Horner Homes, she is active in the local Democratic Party, but moves out of Horner after LaJoe’s sister is murdered. Paralyzed by a stroke, she then moves back into LaJoe’s apartment but promptly leaves Horner again because of the overcrowded apartment and the neighborhood’s violence.