Herman E. Calloway Character Analysis in Bud, Not Buddy

Herman E. Calloway is the grandfather of Bud Caldwell and the estranged father of Bud’s mother, Angela Janet Caldwell. Herman is the band leader of the Dusky Devastators of the Depression/Nubian Knights. He has a volatile relationship with most people in the story, especially his late daughter and long-lost grandson. Herman is often set in his ways and does not want to entertain any opinions that go against him. Most notably, he takes Bud’s insistence that he is Herman’s son as a challenge and vows to find out the truth. While everyone else gives a measured response to Bud’s sudden appearance that later turns into acceptance, Herman continually rejects Bud and often treats his presence as an inconvenience at best and a nuisance at worst. He is also a perfectionist and demands the absolute best from everyone around him, including his band and his family. Nevertheless, Herman is a deeply sensitive man and truly cares about the people in his life. His grumpy, closed-off demeanor begins to unravel towards the end of the novel when Bud reveals to him that his daughter—Bud’s mother—is dead, and that Bud is the man’s grandson. It is a sobering moment for Herman who realizes that he was much too hard on his daughter during her life, and that he has made the mistake of pushing the people closest to him away by pushing them too hard. In the end when he apologizes to Bud, it is a sign that he is beginning to change and accept the things and people he can’t control.

Herman E. Calloway Quotes in Bud, Not Buddy

The Bud, Not Buddy quotes below are all either spoken by Herman E. Calloway or refer to Herman E. Calloway. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

Economic Insecurity and Community Theme Icon

I knew if I was a regular kid I’d be crying buckets of tears now, I didn’t want these men to think I was a baby, so I was real glad that my eyes don’t cry no more. My nose plugged up and a little growl came out of my mouth but I kept my finger pointed, cleared my throat and said, “I know it’s you.”

Related Characters: Bud Caldwell (speaker), Herman E. Calloway

Related Symbols: The Flyers

Page Number and Citation: 148

Explanation and Analysis:

Herman E. Calloway Character Timeline in Bud, Not Buddy

The timeline below shows where the character Herman E. Calloway appears in Bud, Not Buddy. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...then “Direct from S.R.O. engagement in New York City.” Underneath that, it has the words “Herman E. Calloway and the Dusky Devastators of the Depression!!!!!!” (full context)

...stories. He dreams first about the “man with the giant fiddle,” from the photo, then Herman E. Calloway, and then Deza Malone. (full context)

...should maybe stay in Flint. He takes out the flyer again and wonders again if Herman E. Calloway is his father, especially since it’s a really similar name to Caldwell. (full context)

Bud remembers the “seed” of his idea that Herman E Calloway was his father began with a boy named Billy Burns. Billy had challenged... (full context)

...from his suitcase, and he notes that two of them have the same picture of Herman E Calloway, while some just have drawings with names. After putting the flyers back, Bud... (full context)

...family, so Bud tells him that his mother is dead and that his father is “Herman E. Calloway.” The man is surprised at first but, tells Bud that everyone knows his... (full context)

Bud continues listening, trying to learn something about his dad, Herman E. Calloway. Eventually he pieces together that his father “was married to someone before he... (full context)

...Bud slept. He also tells him he sent a telegram to the “Log Cabin” that Herman E. Calloway apparently owns to let him know Bud is okay. (full context)

...approach what Bud assumes is the Log Cabin. He notices, according to a sign (“… HERMAN E. CALLOWAY AND THE NUBIAN KNIGHTS OF THE NEW DEAL”), that his father has joined a new... (full context)

Lefty pulls up to Herman’s car, the “Packard,” and notes that Herman is inside. Bud, thinking quickly, tries to convince... (full context)

...he goes back outside to retrieve his suitcase from Lefty, pretending he’s already spoken to Herman. Acting on Herman’s behalf, Bud tells Lefty “thank you,” for his help. (full context)

...[he] set[s] out on [his] own again.” Lefty then tells Bud to say hello to Herman for him and hands Bud his suitcase. Bud waves until he sees the car enter... (full context)

As Herman recounts to his audience a fight that he lost, he says something that convinces Bud... (full context)

...meet his father. The men think he’s referring to the drummer but Bud points to Herman and says, “You know it’s you.” Herman stops smiling and appraises Bud. Bud is glad... (full context)

Meanwhile, Herman is confused and chastises Bud for “accusing folks of being [his] father.” He then asks... (full context)

He hears Herman tell Jimmy that this is Jimmy’s “little red wagon” to pull how he wants before... (full context)

Herman loudly interjects and says he doesn’t want to hear Bud’s story as he’s eating, lights... (full context)

Jimmy tells them that Bud will go with them for dinner, and he and Herman will come separately. The “sax man,” Steady Eddie, then gets Bud to help him grab... (full context)

...old daddy.” They laugh and then all of them take turns advising Bud to show Herman more affection. The Thug tells Bud to hug him, call him daddy and kiss him... (full context)

...Bud gets in the car and The Thug asks Bud how he found out that Herman is his father. Bud tells them that his mother told him. The Thug asks if... (full context)

Bud sees Herman and Jimmy sitting at a table with a woman. He sees there’s one more table... (full context)

...Miss Thomas chastises the men at the table for not noticing the cut is infected. Herman tells Miss Thomas to “talk to James” (Jimmy), because “he’s the one who looked at... (full context)

...a pencil all the way up his nose. He explains they fought afterwards. He hopes Herman is listening to him as he explains that he “fell down,” during the fight because... (full context)

...her Momma died four years ago. When she asks about his daddy, Bud points to Herman. Though Miss Thomas wants to smile, she tells Bud it’s rude to point. So, Bud... (full context)

Herman gets up and goes to the other table to ask if one of the other... (full context)

...supper for him. Tyla, the woman who comes to attend to them, jokes that the Herman’s band mates are getting “younger” every day. Eventually she apologizes for “mistaking Bud for a... (full context)

Miss Thomas tells Bud that Herman can’t be his father and suggests that because Herman is famous, Bud may have misunderstood... (full context)

...Bud also notices how funny Jimmy is and how his stories of his travels with Herman make everyone at their table and outside their table laugh. He notices it is only... (full context)

...all the places he’s been, he is finally where he belongs. Bud refuses to let Herman “scare [him] out of this,” and before he knows it, he starts to cry. (full context)

...grabs his suitcase and asks her about the name of the house. She says that Herman named it after the New York City Grand Central Station. (full context)

...with a “skinny little black horse” on it in the room. She tells Bud that Herman needs to clear out the closet and tells him to put his suitcase on the... (full context)

Miss Thomas tells Bud where her room, Herman’s room, and the bathroom all are. She is about to leave when Bud asks her... (full context)

...to push against one of the closet’s doorknobs, but a conversation between Miss Thomas and Herman interrupts Bud. Bud hopes Herman wins so he can sleep somewhere else. (full context)

Herman enters the room angrily, but Bud isn’t worried because he sees Miss Thomas. Herman takes... (full context)

Bud thinks that Herman sounds like a white lifeguard he remembers from the YMCA who used to warn the... (full context)

Bud thinks Herman shouldn’t worry because he’s a “liar, not a thief.” He’s only ever stolen food from... (full context)

Bud is on his way to the kitchen when he hears Miss Thomas and Herman arguing about him. Miss Thomas accuses Herman of having “no sympathy” and insists that they... (full context)

Bud enters the kitchen and says good morning to everyone. They all respond back, except Herman, who leaves the room shortly after to check on his car, Loudean. Miss Thomas tells... (full context)

...be patient with each other. She adds that he’ll especially have to be patient with Herman. (full context)

...with himself with the bucket and soap as the band members load their instruments. Despite Herman trying to work him “like a dog,” Bud continues to enjoy doing his chores; he... (full context)

Miss Thomas arrives with Jimmy and Herman and thanks Bud for doing a great job, but Bud is mesmerized by the playing... (full context)

Steady Eddie tells Bud that Herman always has a white person in the band for “practical reasons.” Later Dirty Deed explains... (full context)

The next day, Bud receives bad news. Herman has decided to stay to catch up with Eugene, an old band member, so Jimmy... (full context)

Herman eventually comes out and begins kicking stones with his shoe. When Bud approaches him, he... (full context)

Bud tells him that he has rocks that are the same, but Herman misunderstands the meaning of Bud’s words, so Bud opens up his saxophone case and takes... (full context)

...they arrive at Grand Calloway Station, and while Jimmy helps them unload, Bud finally shows Herman his rocks. Herman reaches for the rocks and Bud lets him take them even though... (full context)

Herman asks where he got the rocks from, but Bud doesn’t answer. Instead, he waits for... (full context)

Herman accuses Bud of snooping around, and Bud tells him he hasn’t been. Herman asks him... (full context)

...responds he got them from his mother. Jimmy finally asks Bud for his mother’s name. Herman begins to accuse Bud of being rude, so Bud screams out that his mother’s name... (full context)

Herman stumbles into the house, “like he’d been struck blind,” and Bud confirms that his reaction... (full context)

Herman locks himself in his room while Bud sits at the kitchen table. After Jimmy and... (full context)

...mother looked like, but Miss Thomas objects to Jimmy’s suggestion that Bud is not truly Herman’s grandson. (full context)

...a picture. He ends up running and then tiptoeing up the stairs—so he doesn’t anger Herman since Bud sees his door open—to his room. Inside Bud’s room, however, Bud sees Herman... (full context)

Herman is making noises in his hands, so Bud tries to tiptoe out of the room.... (full context)

Bud feels sorry for Herman and walks over to him. He puts his hand on Herman’s back, and Herman whips... (full context)

Bud then asks Miss Thomas why Herman never called to check in on him and Momma, so his mother wouldn’t have been... (full context)

...and that “no one knew where [his] mother had gone.” Jimmy interjects and says that Herman was hard on her, but Miss Thomas politely asks him to “check on Herman,” so... (full context)

Miss Thomas then explains that Herman is hard to get along with because he has such high standards, so he “get[s]... (full context)

Miss Thomas finally reveals to Bud that Herman’s dream never became his daughter’s dream. She also hints that Bud’s mother “ran off with... (full context)

...She reminds him that the grief of his mother’s passing is new to her and Herman, who she reveals thinks about his daughter every day. (full context)

Miss Thomas tells Bud that Herman looks for Bud’s mother in every show. She also tells Bud that the stones he... (full context)

Miss Thomas finally reveals that they need him to remember that she and Herman love his mother as much as he does. Bud doesn’t believe them; he especially doesn’t... (full context)

...and notices that Miss Thomas’s door is closed, but he can hear both her and Herman talking. He doesn’t want to listen, so he takes his saxophone to his room. (full context)

...that says Flint and puts it on his table. He takes the flyers, knocks on Herman’s door even though he knows he’s not in, and then leaves the flyers and the... (full context)

Herman E. Calloway Character Analysis

Herman E. Calloway Quotes in Bud, Not Buddy

Chapter 12 Quotes

Herman E. Calloway Character Timeline in Bud, Not Buddy