Mark Anthony Character Analysis

Mark Anthony is Patrisse’s friend whom she ended up marrying. They met when Patrisse is a senior at Cleveland High School and Mark Anthony was a junior. Though Patrisse had never before been attracted to a straight cisgender man, while working as a TA in one of his classes, she was immediately drawn to him. They developed a deep friendship over the next several years, connecting over healing, justice, and art. After graduation, they ran a restorative justice program at Cleveland together about trauma and resilience. They eventually started a romantic relationship, though they were non-monogamous and didn’t kiss each other for years. After they did start a physical relationship, Mark Anthony disappeared again, and Patrisse cut him out of her life. Five years later, they both received divinatory readings in their Ifa spiritual tradition that said they were meant to be together. They decided to give their relationship another shot and eventually got married. Throughout this, Mark Anthony was studying Chinese Medicine and supporting Patrisse in taking care of Monte when he had manic episodes. He was also the victim of a police raid—Patrisse found him handcuffed in front of their house when she got home one night, and he was told that he fit the description of someone committing robberies in the area. After this, they started the prison abolition organization Dignity and Power Now together. But as Patrisse became focused on the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement, she and Mark Anthony realized they were better as coworkers and friends. They ended their romantic relationship, though they stayed close friends.