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Character Introduction Animation

Deacon King Kong by James McBride, Riverhead Books
Featured on Oprah's Book Club

"Sportcoat is that lovable, harmless, drunk that so many of us know and have seen in our neighborhood. In this case, Sportcoat used to be the neighborhood baseball coach and is a deacon at the church but he can't stay away from the rotgut which he calls King Kong, homemade booze that he likes to drink."

"Sister Gee is the head usher and wife of the pastor of Sportcoat's church, which is known as Five Ends Baptist Church. Sister Gee is a beautiful and handsome middle-aged Black woman who knows everything and who has done a lot . . . "

"Deems Clemens is an eighteen-year-old drug dealer, the most notorious drug dealer in Cause House history. He's the one who gets shot by Sportcoat at the very beginning of the book, and we discover as the book rolls forward that Deems was once the most promising baseball player to ever come out of the Cause Houses."

"Hot Sausage is Sportcoat's best friend. He's also the janitor of Building 9 in the Causeway Housing Projects, and he also lives in the Cause Houses himself. Hot Sausage is a voice of reason and he's also Sportcoat's favorite drinking partner."

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