# Jimboy — Not Without Laughter character guide > Jimboy in Not Without Laughter by Langston Hughes. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Jimboy Rodgers, sweet daddy Jimboy **First appearance:** 0002-iii-jimboy-s-letter ## Snapshot Sandy's father, a big laughing railroad worker and guitar player who drifts in and out of town singing the blues. ## Who they are Jimboy arrives home with a hurt back and a song, teaching Sandy to pick a chord under the apple tree and to box in the yard. He works harder than any man on the gang when he works at all, but he is a great big kid, cut out for playing, and he leaves again as easily as he came. His charm and unreliability shape Annjee's loneliness and Sandy's hunger for a father, and his music plants something in the boy that the novel never quite lets go. ## Relationships ### [Sandy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/not_without_laughter_se/characters/sandy) _family_ Jimboy is Sandy's father, an itinerant musician whose absence creates longing but also admiration in Sandy. ### [Annjee](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/not_without_laughter_se/characters/annjee) _romantic_ Annjee and Jimboy are married, but their relationship is strained by Jimboy's wandering lifestyle and Annjee's resentment. ### [Ma Bailey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/not_without_laughter_se/characters/ma_bailey) _family_ Jimboy is Ma Bailey's grandson-in-law, and she views him with a mix of affection and concern for his instability. ### [Aunt Hager Williams](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/not_without_laughter_se/characters/aunt_hager_williams) _family_ Aunt Hager is fond of Jimboy as her son-in-law, but worries about his influence on her daughter Annjee. ### [Annjee](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/not_without_laughter_se/characters/annjee) _romantic_ Annjee and Jimboy are married, but their relationship is strained by Jimboy's wandering lifestyle and Annjee's resentment. ### [Sandy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/not_without_laughter_se/characters/sandy) _family_ Jimboy is Sandy's father, an itinerant musician whose absence creates longing but also admiration in Sandy. ### [Aunt Hager Williams](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/not_without_laughter_se/characters/aunt_hager_williams) _family_ Aunt Hager is fond of Jimboy as her son-in-law, but worries about his influence on her daughter Annjee. ### [Ma Bailey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/not_without_laughter_se/characters/ma_bailey) _family_ Jimboy is Ma Bailey's grandson-in-law, and she views him with a mix of affection and concern for his instability. ### [Ma Bailey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/not_without_laughter_se/characters/ma_bailey) _family_ Jimboy is Ma Bailey's grandson-in-law, and she views him with a mix of affection and concern for his instability. ### [Annjee](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/not_without_laughter_se/characters/annjee) _romantic_ Annjee and Jimboy are married, but their relationship is strained by Jimboy's wandering lifestyle and Annjee's resentment. ### [Sandy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/not_without_laughter_se/characters/sandy) _family_ Jimboy is Sandy's father, an itinerant musician whose absence creates longing but also admiration in Sandy. ### [Aunt Hager Williams](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/not_without_laughter_se/characters/aunt_hager_williams) _family_ Aunt Hager is fond of Jimboy as her son-in-law, but worries about his influence on her daughter Annjee. ## In the story ### [Storm](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/not_without_laughter_se/chapters/i-storm) Jimboy is mentioned as absent and unaccounted for; Annjee prays for his safety during the cyclone. ### [Conversation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/not_without_laughter_se/chapters/ii-conversation) Jimboy's letter arrives from Kansas City, prompting discussion about his character. ### [Jimboy's Letter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/not_without_laughter_se/chapters/iii-jimboy-s-letter) Writes to Annjee from Kansas City, saying he strained his back and will return home. ### [Guitar](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/not_without_laughter_se/chapters/v-guitar) Returns to Stanton and plays guitar, singing blues and popular songs with Harriett, ignoring Annjee's attempts to get his attention. ### [Work](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/not_without_laughter_se/chapters/vi-work) Jimboy takes Sandy fishing after being laid off from his bricklaying job because white workers refused to work with a Black man. He offers Sandy lighthearted advice about handling women. ### [VII: White Folks](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/not_without_laughter_se/chapters/vii-white-folks) Lounges at Hager's feet, teases about church and color, and defends the right to enjoy Sundays; he returns after walking Annjee to the corner and encourages Sister Johnson's story. ### [Carnival](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/not_without_laughter_se/chapters/ix-carnival) Takes Sandy to the carnival, enjoys the minstrel show, and later fails to return home after delivering clothes. ### [X: Punishment](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/not_without_laughter_se/chapters/x-punishment) Sandy's father, who delivers a grave and impactful lecture on honesty and integrity after Sandy's lie. ### [XI: School](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/not_without_laughter_se/chapters/xi-school) Returns briefly, teaches Sandy guitar and boxing, but leaves again; gives Sandy money for school books. ### [XII: Hard Winter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/not_without_laughter_se/chapters/xii-hard-winter) Absent; no word from him, causing Annjee worry. ### [One by One](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/not_without_laughter_se/chapters/xv-one-by-one) Sends a letter from Detroit saying he has a job and is doing well, prompting Annjee to join him. ### [Nothing but Love](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/not_without_laughter_se/chapters/xvi-nothing-but-love) Mentioned as the reason Annjee left home. ### [Children's Day](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/not_without_laughter_se/chapters/xviii-children-s-day) Jimboy is mentioned in Annjee's letter as having broken his guitar on a streetcar and changing jobs frequently. Sandy is sorry about the guitar. ### [A Shelf of Books](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/not_without_laughter_se/chapters/xxiv-a-shelf-of-books) Sandy remembers Jimboy, who has left Stanton, as he reflects on his old neighborhood. ### [XXVI: The Doors of Life](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/not_without_laughter_se/chapters/xxvi-the-doors-of-life) Jimboy enlisted and was sent to France; only one letter has come from him. Sandy reflects on his father's carefree nature and early marriage. ### [Chicago](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/not_without_laughter_se/chapters/xxviii-chicago) Mentioned as Sandy's father, serving in France during the war; Annjee has not heard from him in seven months. ### [Elevator](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/not_without_laughter_se/chapters/xxix-elevator) Absent, fighting in World War I; his lack of letters causes Annjee distress and serves as a cautionary example for Sandy. ### [Princess of the Blues](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/not_without_laughter_se/chapters/xxx-princess-of-the-blues) Mentioned as absent and possibly enlisted in the war; Annjee cries remembering him during Harriett's song. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/not_without_laughter_se/characters/jimboy - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/not_without_laughter_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/not_without_laughter_se/characters