Theo Stephens

Theo Stephens is one of the main characters in the novel. He works as press secretary for the mayor of Berkeley. Even though Theo went to Harvard and had opportunities that some black men do not have, Theo still cares about the poor. One of the issues that he cares deeply about is universal pre-k, a program that would ensure that all children in California would have a pre-k program available to them. Maddie comments to Theo how much a program like that would have helped her mother, a single mother, when she was raising Maddie.

Theo recognizes and experienced the difficulties that black men face in life due to racial tensions. He tells Maddie that he feels he has to keep proving himself over and over again just because he is black. He also explains that he feels he has to dress in business attire in...