How Long 'Til Black Future Month?

Homeless and hungry, the narrator is a self-described “scrawny dude” (25). He often feels paranoid and unloved. When he was “a kid his own mama kicked him out” (19). He spends most of his adult life running from the cops and judgement, until he runs into Paulo, who gives him a mission and path to prosperity. 

Paulo is a smoker with a “nice mouth” and “permanent puppy dog eyes” (15). The narrator has “never seen him eat”, just smoke, drink coffee, and blab (15). Further, “[h]e’s always saying cryptic shit” (22).

Emmaline is a superstitious African American mother of three who does what is best for her children and is skeptical of change and the white race at large.

Pauline is a “pretty,” bold, and intelligent African American woman living in the time of segregation who grows up to have political clout (39). 

France is a disgraced chef living in Milan who redeems herself through her talent and attention to balance. 

One of Toussaint L’Ouverture’s illegitimate daughters, Jessaline is a beautiful dark-skinned Haitian traveling in New Orleans on secret official business. She is a cunning, smart, brave lesbian who has spent her life fighting to sustain Haiti’s freedom from European control. 

Bespectacled but beautiful, Eugenie is the brilliant Creole woman who attracts Jessaline and eventually wins her heart.

Meroe is an avatar leading a pack of wolf-like creatures and living in a world constructed purely of information. He is emotionless until he gets the ability to dream; then, he feels love and hope. 

Zinhle is a smart, ambitious teenager who is often mistreated because of her drive and intelligence. She is creative and thus, in the end, rewarded with more freedom than her peers. 

King Paramenter is a manipulative, greedy, and impotent ruler who sees the people around him as objects to be used. 

Ayan is the leader of the all-female colony called Illiyin. She is stubborn, skeptical, and lonely.

Aihua is an educated Earth woman who finds herself stranded on a planet with unfamiliar beings. She tries to understand them and build relationships with them but ends up dead because of it.  

Sadie is a bipolar caregiver whose job is to give the ruling class the human bodies of the children in her care. She is wracked by guilt and eventually commits suicide to help the children she previously betrayed. 

This narrator is a security guard who desires to make his own choices but is limited by the government. 

Skeptical, selfish, and sad, Harold is a recent divorcee still in love with his ex-wife.

The girl is vengeful and impoverished; she has the capacity to cause earthquakes and eats stone. She lost her home, her family, and her hope as a child, so she spends her more mature years trying to retaliate.

Empathetic and lonely, Death dwells in New York City after all the humans have died out, hoping to feel venerable again. 

Cet is a kind, religious man capable of magic, killing, and healing. He is known as a Gatherer—a highly respected religious position in his community. He goes from being emotionless and stern to emotional and sensual when he meets a woman named Namsut. 

Harkim is a famous author kidnapped by an adoring fan.

Helen is an African American woman who once studied in Japan and felt like an outcast, but is now living in her own isolated universe and feeling love like she never has before.

This narrator is suffering from emotional pain and visual delusions. She is a hardworking, overwhelmed woman living in New York City who reaches out for help from a friend. 

Adele is a single woman living in New York City at a time when luck rather than logic dictates the path of life. She begins the story full of fear and angst, but, set free by the love she finds in her neighbor, she ends the story confident and carefree.