Robert Jones
This black American begins by telling us of his premonitions for warfare. He has nightmares about racism too. After all, he is constantly harassed by racists who linger around his job and talk down to him when he walks by. At work, he is demoted when an insubordinate woman disrespects his authority, calling him the n-word. He loses his temper and finds himself demoted. His relationship with Alice Harrison only makes his situation worse.
Madge
Madge is a racist white woman who has an ironic lust for Jones because he is black. She is defined by her sadomasochistic relationship to shame and humiliation, and she only wants to have sex with Jones as a way of making herself feel worthless. He is offended by this, and he rejects her, whereupon she screams that he is raping her and suddenly, there's a warrant for his arrest.
The racists
Although the entire culture is racist against black Americans during this story, there are characters who are completely defined by their hatred of black people. They linger around Jones's job, and they harass him and pick fights when he walks by. They use racial slurs. Madge also treats Jones this way.
Alice Harrison
This upper class black woman is light-skinned, and her complexion comes with privilege. She doesn't quite understand what Jones's life is like, because she is insulated from racism by her white culture and by her money. She encourages Jones to go back to work with his tail between his legs, ready to make peace and say he's sorry, but still, Jones finds himself seriously mistreated by everyone there. She believes that America can be good for African Americans only if they're willing to look past racism and define their own happiness.
