Character guide

Max Disher

major

Also known as Disher, old Max Disher

Protagonist who undergoes a race-change procedure and becomes a leader in the Black No More movement.

Matthew Fisher

major

Also known as Matthew, Fisher, Matt

Max's friend and co-founder of Black No More, Inc., who becomes a prominent businessman.

Bunny Brown

supporting

Also known as Bunny

Max's close friend who accompanies him on his journey and later works for the movement.

Arthur Snobbcraft

supporting

Also known as Mr. Snobbcraft, Snobbcraft

A wealthy white man who becomes involved with the Black No More movement and later suffers its consequences.

Dr. Junius Crookman

major

Also known as Crookman, Dr. Crookman, Junius

The scientist who invents the Black No More treatment that turns Black people white.

Dr. Samuel Buggerie

supporting

Also known as Dr. Buggerie, Buggerie

A doctor who assists Crookman and later becomes a target of public scrutiny.

Rev. Henry Givens

supporting

Also known as Givens, Rev. Givens, Henry Givens

A prominent Black minister in Atlanta who opposes the Black No More movement.

Helen Givens

supporting

Also known as Helen

The beautiful daughter of Rev. Givens, who becomes romantically involved with Max.

Charlie Foster

supporting

Also known as Chuck, Foster, Chuck Foster

A white man who becomes a leader in the Knights of Nordica and later interacts with the main characters.

Alex McPhule

supporting

Also known as Rev. McPhule, Rev. Alex McPhule

A white supremacist leader who opposes the Black No More movement.

Hank Johnson

supporting

Also known as Henry Johnson, Johnson, Hank

A Black man who undergoes the treatment and becomes a leader in the new white community.

Mr. Walter Williams

supporting

Also known as Mr. Williams, Walter Williams, Walt

A Black man who becomes white and later works in the movement's administration.

Helen Fisher

minor

Also known as Helen

Matthew Fisher's wife, who appears in the later part of the book.

Mr. Licorice

minor

Also known as Licorice

A Black man who undergoes the treatment and becomes a white man in the South.

Mrs. Givens

minor

Also known as Old Mrs. Givens, Old lady Givens

Rev. Givens's wife and Helen's mother, who appears in family scenes.

Dr. Shakespeare Agamemnon Beard

supporting

Also known as Dr. Beard, Beard

A Black intellectual who criticizes the movement and later becomes a victim of it.

Sisseretta Blandish

supporting

Also known as Madame Sisseretta Blandish, Madame Blandish

A Black socialite who becomes white and marries into white society.

Gorman Gay

minor

Also known as Gay

A white man who becomes involved with the movement and later faces scandal.

Grand Exalted Giraw

supporting

Also known as Giraw, Grand Giraw

The leader of the Knights of Nordica, a white supremacist organization.

Dr. Napoleon Wellington Jackson

minor

Also known as Dr. Jackson

A Black intellectual who debates the movement's implications.

Santop Licorice

minor

Also known as Santop

A Black man who becomes white and later appears in the South.

Doc Crookman

minor

Also known as Doc, Crookman

An informal name for Dr. Junius Crookman used by some characters.

Dr. Joseph Bonds

minor

Also known as Dr. Bonds, Bonds, Jo

A Black doctor who assists in the movement's operations.

Big Boy

minor

Also known as Boy

A minor character who appears in a scene with the main characters.

Jesus Christ

minor

Also known as Jesus, Christ

Referenced in religious contexts by characters, not a physical presence.

The Republicans

minor

Also known as Republicans

The political party that becomes involved in the racial politics of the book.

Vanishing Mammy

minor

Also known as Mammy, Sweet Mammy

A stereotypical Black maternal figure referenced in the narrative.

Frazier

minor

A minor character who appears in the later part of the book.

Swanson

minor

A minor character mentioned in the narrative.

The Doctor

minor

Also known as doctor

A generic reference to a doctor, possibly Crookman or another physician.

President Harold Goosie

supporting

Also known as President Goosie, Goosie

The President of the United States in the novel, who deals with the racial crisis.

Mrs. Sari Blandine

minor

Also known as Mrs. Blandine, Blandine

A white woman who becomes involved with the movement.

The Honorable Walter Brybe

minor

Also known as Walter, Walter Brybe

A politician who becomes involved in the racial politics.

The Democrats

minor

Also known as Democrats

The opposing political party in the novel's political satire.

Sandol

minor

A minor character who appears in the narrative.

Colonel Mortimer Roberts

minor

Also known as Colonel Roberts

A military officer who appears in the later part of the book.

Brother Fisher

minor

Also known as Brother

A religious title used for Matthew Fisher in a church context.

Minnie

minor

A minor female character mentioned in the narrative.

The Negroes

minor

Also known as Negroes

The collective Black population referenced throughout the book.

Mrs. Blandish

minor

Another name for Madame Sisseretta Blandish.

Knights of Nordica

supporting

Also known as Nordica

The white supremacist organization central to the plot's satire.

Blickdoff

minor

Also known as Mr. Blickdoff

A minor character who appears in the narrative.

Honey

minor

A term of endearment used by characters, possibly a minor character.

Mr. Hortzenboff

minor

Also known as Hortzenboff

A minor character mentioned in the narrative.

Sammy Snort

minor

Also known as Sammy

A minor character who appears in the narrative.

Kipling

minor

A reference to the author Rudyard Kipling, not a character.

Mr. Foster

minor

Also known as Foster

Another name for Charlie Foster.

Rev. Herbert Gronne

minor

Also known as Rev. Gronne, Gronne

A minister who appears in the narrative.

Miss Smith

minor

Also known as Smith

A minor female character mentioned in the narrative.

Sybil Smith

minor

Also known as Sybil

A minor character who appears in the narrative.

Dr. Gronne

minor

A doctor who appears in the narrative.

Mistah Gay

minor

Also known as Mister Gay, Mr. Gay, Gay

Another name for Gorman Gay.

Dr. Yusaburo Noguchi

minor

A Japanese scientist referenced in the narrative.

Violet

minor

A minor female character mentioned in the narrative.

Senator Rufus Kretin

minor

Also known as Senator Kretin, Kretin

A politician who appears in the political satire.

Mr. Bonds

minor

Another name for Dr. Joseph Bonds.

Dr. Brocker

minor

A doctor who appears in the narrative.

Prof. Handen Moutthe

minor

A professor referenced in the narrative.

Mr. Claude Spelling

minor

Also known as Mr. Spelling, Spelling

A minor character who appears in the narrative.

Doctor Beard

minor

Also known as Beard, Doctor Shakespeare Agamemnon Beard

Another name for Dr. Shakespeare Agamemnon Beard.

Mr. Jack Albert

minor

Also known as Mr. Albert

A minor character mentioned in the narrative.

Old Top

minor

A colloquial term used by characters, not a distinct person.

Surgeon-General Crookman

minor

A title for Dr. Junius Crookman in his official capacity.

Billy Fletcher

minor

Also known as Billy

A minor character who appears in the narrative.

Boogie

minor

A minor character mentioned in the narrative.

Old Bob

minor

Also known as Bob

A minor character who appears in the narrative.

Germans

minor

Also known as The Germans

Referenced as a group in the narrative, not individual characters.

Darling

minor

A term of endearment used by characters, not a distinct person.

Miss Hall

minor

A minor female character mentioned in the narrative.

Imperial Grand Wizard Givens

minor

Also known as Givens

A title for Rev. Henry Givens in his role in the Knights of Nordica.

Squaws

minor

A term used in the narrative, not a distinct character.

Doctor Brocker

minor

Another name for Dr. Brocker.