JT Character Analysis

JT is a Black Lives Matter-Los Angeles organizer and Patrisse’s long-time friend. After Patrisse’s divorce with Mark Anthony, he became her romantic partner and the father of their child, Shine. JT and his young daughter were with Patrisse when her home was raided in June 2013, after Trayvon Martin was killed and before his killer was acquitted. Fearing for JT’s life—he is a large, dark-skinned Black man—Patrisse tried to handle the dozen police officers pointing guns at her house herself, but eventually JT and his daughter were also forced outside. They were all aware that JT could easily be killed for the slightest movement, but they all survived the encounter. A couple years later, while JT and Patrisse were in a non-monogamous relationship, Patrisse became pregnant with Shine. Despite expressing desire to raise a child with Patrisse, JT was not excited about the pregnancy and emotionally withdrew, leaving Patrisse to rely on Future and Carla to get through her pregnancy. Later, they went through a restorative mediation process in which JT shared that he was unable to be present for Patrisse because he was processing grief over both the deaths of family members and high-profile killings of Black people.