Dr. Ossian Sweet

Ossian Sweet is the main character of the book. He is terrified of moving into an all-white neighborhood in Detroit, but knows his wife likes the house and he feels it is a house that fits his status as a physician. Because of his fear, he brings weapons and ammunition and brings in people for defense and protection. This leads to the murder of a white man in the outside crowd, leading to the arrest of all of them. Sweet and the others stand trial for killing Leon Breiner. The People v. Ossian Sweet et al ends in a mistrial. Sweet becomes a national celebrity and a champion in the fight against housing discrimination. He sees himself as doing this all for his race.

Sweet becomes more egotistical due to all the attention and notoriety he receives after the declaration of the mistrial. He and his...