Character Analysis
Henry's the first son of Lucas and Molly Beauchamp. When Cass Edmonds's wife dies giving birth to Roth Edmonds in "The Fire and the Hearth," Molly takes baby Henry and moves into Cass' house to nurse Henry and Roth together.
Until they're both seven years old, Henry grows up and shares everything including a bed with Roth. Then, suddenly, Roth refuses to share a pallet on the floor with Henry, and Henry, still a child, has to learn his place in the Jim Crowe-era South's racial hierarchy. But even at that tender age, he tells Roth that he's not ashamed of himself. He's probably been taught about his proud heritage from Lucas.