The Illegal

Lula is a contradictory character. The madam of a brothel, she deals in the underside of society, making money from human trafficking and using the poor and undocumented to grow her empire. However, as she argues, these same people would otherwise be unemployed and homeless, so she convinces herself she is a good person. Other characters see her in a similar light; they aren’t sure if she has their best interests at heart or her own, but they risk her company because they are often better off with her help. Even the prime minister is at her mercy: “[W]hen Lula drew him near, something about her exuded, I dig you baby, but if you double-cross me, I’ll tear you apart” (337). She gains power by holding secrets over people and threatening to expose them if they don’t meet her demands. Ironically, she holds her own secret: She is not a citizen of Freedom State. She is just as at risk as those she takes advantage of, which explains why she deals in illegality and secrecy. If she were to pursue her good intentions more publicly and honestly, she would risk exposing her own secret. This moral ambiguity lends nuance to the often-stark dichotomy the novel establishes between Legality Versus Justice.

Viola is “blagaybulled—black, gay, and disabled—and proud of it” (63). As a child, Viola was struck by a speeding car that killed her mother and left her without her legs. She is a writer who aspires to use her talents to expose and end the corruption in Freedom State and Zantoroland, making her a key figure in the novel’s exploration of The Power of Marginalized Voices. Despite her physical limitations, she shows immeasurable strength and bravery. She avoids being killed while researching the government in Zantoroland and makes her way home only to endanger herself again with Lula. Dedicated to truth and helping others, Viola is an example of someone who draws strength from the hardships she has experienced.

Calder is the prime minister of immigration. He is not a politician but a businessman who ran a successful used-car dealership—a job that simultaneously evokes Freedom Land’s capitalist ethos and Calder’s own moral ambiguity. His character represents the “everyman,” and the portrait that emerges is initially unflattering, as Calder spouts his culture’s racist ideas without stopping to think for himself. For example, he reasons that refugees cannot be good parents because they are breaking the law: “Son, that’s what you would call a bleeding-heart question […] why did they bring them here? Why are they working illegally in an underground economy, not paying taxes and not registered as citizens of this country?” (264). As the novel progresses, however, it becomes clear that this character is ignorant rather than intentionally cruel. He needs exposure to and conversations with actual refugees and “Illegals” like Keita and Darlene to challenge his long-held beliefs. The novel suggests there’s hope for people like Calder, as in the end, he manages to change, seeing the corruption right in front of him and even acting to help those in need.

Candace is a Black female police officer born and raised in AfricTown. Accordingly, she has developed a very strong personality to fight against adversity like racism and sexism. For instance, she occupies the traditionally masculine position in her romantic relationship with Keita: She is often there to help when he needs her, at one point swooping in to rescue him on horseback like a fairytale knight saving a princess. She fights against systemic racism by excelling in all of her endeavors. At the end of the novel, she rushes in, guns blazing, and saves Keita’s life. She is the protector, savior, and moral compass in an otherwise corrupt government.

John is a 15-year-old boy living alone in AfricTown because his mother is in a psychiatric hospital. He is very smart and independent and is the first Black student to attend Clarkson Academy for the Gifted. After winning an essay-writing contest, he receives equipment to make a documentary about AfricTown, and the reader witnesses the Freedom State government’s wrongdoings primarily through his camera lens. John’s position as voyeur points to the ultimate source of power and agent for change: exposure. Through John’s experiences, the novel shows that exposing the secrets of the powerful is the ultimate weapon for fighting oppression. John’s willingness to risk himself in this fight leads to Wellington’s arrest and reveals the corrupt plot between Freedom State and Zantoroland.