Joel Davis/Papa D Character Analysis in Blues for Mister Charlie

Joel Davis, usually called Papa D, is a Black man who owns a juke joint in an unnamed town in the U.S. South. Some younger, progressive Black students see Papa D as a traitor because he does business with Lyle Britten, a virulently racist white store owner. Papa D helped Lyle cover up his murder of Willa Mae’s husband as self-defense, but he subsequently testifies against Lyle when Lyle is tried for Richard Henry’s murder.

Joel Davis/Papa D Character Timeline in Blues for Mister Charlie

The timeline below shows where the character Joel Davis/Papa D appears in Blues for Mister Charlie. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...Lyle to the Chief of Police—but that the police do intend to arrest Lyle, as Joel Davis (Papa D) has testified that Lyle was the last person to see Richard alive. Lyle... (full context)

Richard, Juanita, and Pete go to Papa D ’s Juke Joint. Juanita reintroduces Richard to Papa D, who asks how long Richard has... (full context)

...he wants them to be sad—but then he admits that he just “screwed up.” When Papa D walks by, Richard tries to show him the photos—but Papa D says he thought Richard... (full context)

...Juanita warns him not to find out, and they go dance. Lyle comments wistfully to Papa D that he could never “dance like that”—and bumps into Juanita on his way out. When... (full context)

In a flashback, Richard returns home from Papa D ’s juke joint and runs into Meridian. They chat, and Richard mentions that if he’d... (full context)

...Bill fought, then. Lyle says Old Bill suspected Lyle of “cheating” him in business—possibly because Papa D poisoned Old Bill against him. When Parnell asks why Papa D would do that, Lyle... (full context)

...jail. Lorenzo claims they’ve been in jail already and says he’ll leave the hammer at Papa D ’s for Lyle. Richard laughs at Lyle on the floor, mocks the concept of a... (full context)

Joel Davis , who’s known to most as Papa D, is called to the witness stand. In... (full context)

On the stand, Papa D calls Lyle an “oppressor” who, unlike many white people, refuses to change his opinion on... (full context)

Papa D ’s monologue transitions into a flashback. Papa D is telling Richard to leave town if... (full context)

Richard finishes his drink and asks how much he owes Papa D . When Papa D suggests that Richard pay him tomorrow, Richard says he may not... (full context)

...arrive soon so he can “hug” him. Then, in another flashback, Lyle is reminiscing to Papa D about how sexy Willa Mae was and how she told him he was better at... (full context)

...“every chance to live.” In a flashback, Lyle and Richard stand in the dark outside Papa D ’s. Lyle demands that Richard apologize for what he did in the store. Richard refuses... (full context)