Lorenzo Shannon Character Analysis

Lorenzo Shannon is a Black college student studying history who collaborates with Meridian Henry, Juanita Harmon, Pete Spivey, and others to protest for African-American civil rights. Shortly before the play begins, he has been violently attacked and thrown in jail for protesting. Though the protestors organize in Meridian Henry’s church, Lorenzo thinks of Christianity as an oppressive white religion; he is also openly skeptical of Meridian’s insistence on nonviolent protest, thinking that perhaps Black protestors should get guns for self-defense. When Richard Henry returns home after eight years in New York City, Lorenzo admires Richard’s boldness and self-respect. Lorenzo witnesses Richard’s altercation with racist white store owner Lyle Britten. After Lyle murders Richard, and Lyle’s wife Jo lies at Lyle’s murder trial that Richard sexually assaulted her during the altercation at the store, Lorenzo explicitly states that he was present during the altercation—and Richard never touched Jo.