The Lewises have been living in the neighbourhood for a number of years. The household is the home to five people and is headed by Whitnee Lewis, a 33-year-old cashier at a small supermarket. After Whitnee's father died, her mother, Margarita Lewis, moved into the house. Whitnee has three children: Ricky, Bobby and Shinelle.
Pictured from RIGHT to LEFT:
- BOBBY LEWIS - Whitnee's youngest son, whom is seven years of age, who has been diagnosed with mild retardation. While he struggles to cope in school, Whitnee has made no effort to get him any special educational needs. He is not fond of any family members except Whitnee. His favourite past-times are watching television and day-dreaming about visiting the places he sees on T.V.
- WHITNEE LEWIS - Whitnee is 33 years old and, though she has three children, has never been married. Shinelle and Bobby are horner children. Whitnee tried unsuccessfully to guilt-trip the same man twice by purposely getting herself pregnant. The man has since then moved to another country with his family. She had Ricky when she was 17 years old with another married man. She is employed as a cashier in a small grocery.
- SHINELLE LEWIS - Shinelle is 9 years old and is at a point in her life where she is questioning her friends. It first started when their teacher asked them what they wanted to be and all her friends wrote down, "Music video ho" while Shinelle put down, "Veterinarian." Whitnee is always telling her that she should not dream that big and she should know her place in society, as a little black girl with little future.
- RICKY LEWIS - Ricky is 16 years old and is extremely sensitive to and self-conscious of his identity and his living conditions. His life dream is to make a lot of money but he vowed never to turn to criminal activity, as his peers did. He is charismatic and popular with girls but has failed to show a tough exterior to fall in with any group of male friends. His favourite type of music is rapso and he likes to paint.
- MARGARITA LEWIS - When Margarita's husband died, she moved in with her daughter. Margarita is currently unemployed and spends most of her day lounging around the house, eating Ruffles and microwaveable food. She has decided to get back in touch with her youth and started dressing in skimpy clothing and flirting with younger men, to some success. The rest of the family does not agree with her antics. Bobby, in particular, wants her gone.
