Characters

The most important characters in “Sweet Potato Pie” by Eugenia Collier are Buddy as the main character, and his older brother Charley as a secondary character.

Buddy comes from a very low-income family, but unlike his siblings, he manages to escape poverty with his family’s support. He is grateful and loving towards his brother Charley, as he realizes that Charley sacrificed his childhood and his future so that he can have a better life.

Charley is a taxi driver who lives in Harlem. Although poorer than Buddy, Charley is humble, proud, and still protective of his little brother. Charley’s wife, Bea, and their daughters also appear in the story. Buddy and Charley’s siblings - Lil, Alberta, and Jamie - their parents, Jess (Buddy’s wife), and Jake (Lil’s husband) are also mentioned in the story.

You can find characterizations of Buddy and Charley in the next pages.