Papa is a symbol of strength, love, and determination. Against all odds, he continues to own his own land and keep his family safe.
Kaleb, Thurston, and Dewberry Wallace are a symbol of white hate and racial abuse. These three white brothers own the Wallace store, the only store in town. They sell alcohol illegally and host a room where black teenagers dance. The store is on Granger property, making it profitable for Harlan Granger as well as the Wallaces. The Wallaces burn the three black Berry men, killing one and severely injuring the other two, after drunk white men accuse John Henry Berry of flirting with a white woman.