Jabari was a slave brought from Africa. He was a strong and powerful man. However, while Jabari had tolerated the plantation heirs under his cruel elderly father, under the plantation owner's son, Jabari could become truly unruly.

Kai, as the new owner was called, was thin and too meek. There weren't many slaves. But he couldn't cope. Jabari also beat him. Sometimes, though, Jabari took care of him while he was sick, playing the harmonica for him, or sometimes they discussed a book.