Who is Innis Brown from Jubilee and what is their importance?

Innis Brown was a slave prior to the Civil War. He was traveling with the Union soldiers who descended on the Shady Oaks plantation immediately after the war's end. Innis immediately connected with Vyry's son, Jim, and he spent the first night by Vyry's door in an effort to ward off attackers. When the army moved on, he remained and helped Vyry and the children recover. he worked in the fields and performed many tasks around the plantation that made life possible for the remaining inhabitants. Innis plead with Vyry to marry him, but he agreed to wait until she was certain her husband, Randall Ware, wasn't going to return.

Innis is described as a hard worker, who adores Vyry and is proud of his ability to provide for her. When Randall Ware later shows up, Innis fears that Vyry will decide to go away with him (her husband).