Joanie Micklewhite Character Analysis

Joanie Micklewhite is a radio operator for the cab service, which means she’s one of Shug’s coworkers. Shug and Joanie carry on an affair, and Shug eventually leaves Agnes for her. Joanie is plain in comparison to Agnes, but her predictability and devotion win out over her competitor’s beauty. Joanie has several children, whom Shug helps raise. Joanie attempts to befriend Shuggie early on by giving him roller-skates when he is young. Joanie is subject to constant harassing calls from Agnes, whom Shuggie routinely finds yelling at Joanie over the phone for years. Later, when Shuggie comes to stay with her and Shug after Agnes’s suicide attempt, Joanie is colder to him. Agnes breaks Joanie’s front window and hits her in the head with her high-heeled shoe when she eventually comes to collect Shuggie after she recovers.