Sam is thirteen years old as the story opens. He is the youngest son of Roland Childs, a civil rights activist who follows the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Sam is struggling with his identity as the son of this family because he feels that his father's peaceful demonstrations haven't created the changes quickly enough. Sam is struggling also with his independence. He has grown up with his father's demands and ideals, and there's a part of him that feels disloyal thinking there might be another way to think. However, he is learning about the militant group, the Black Panther Party, and when he witnesses the strength of their methods, he wonders if this might be the better alternative. Sam is a strong character though he believes he is not. This is the result of always standing in the shadow of his father and older brother. Sam is also anxious to live up to the expectations of others. For example, he is upset that his actions might have disappointed his father but even more upset that his actions might have come to the attention of Dr. King, a man Sam greatly admires. Against the backdrop of the civil rights movement in Chicago, Sam is also struggling to make friends, establish his first relationship with a girl, and to come to terms with his changing family situation. Sam wants his life to remain as it was before his brother introduced him to the Black Panther Party and he came to question his father's methods.
