Elwood Curtis

Former Nickel Boy living in New York who monitors the investigation but avoids reunions. Provides detailed childhood background, family, early civil‑rights exposure, work at Richmond Hotel, and the blank‑encyclopedia incident Joins the protest at the Florida Theatre, receives a silent‑treatment from Harriet, is offered free college courses, gets a fountain pen from Mr. Marconi, and rides with Rodney to the college, confronting a white deputy.