Miss Emma and her lifelong friend, Tante Lou, are virtually inseparable. At times, they seem so close that it is difficult to tell which one is speaking. The women support each other and give each other the courage to continue on despite the hostile circumstances that surround them. Each has hope for the future and a deep, abiding faith in God that is nurtured and supported by their friendship. And each is determined to help Jefferson, believing that he represents an opportunity to provide a sense of continuity for the community. Although both women are outspoken, heavyset, and deeply religious, they are not portrayed as the stereotypical "mammy" or "Aunt Jemima" types of black women; instead, they are hard-working, dignified women who command respect. Miss Emma and Tante Lou are decidedly strong black women who love their families and care about their community.
Miss Emma provides the catalyst for changing an unjust and inequitable system. Although Grant is the "hero" figure who enables Jefferson to die with dignity, it is Miss Emma who sets things in motion. She is the one who persuades Grant to accompany her and Tante Lou to Henri Pichot's mansion, where she convinces Pichot to speak to his brother-in-law, Sheriff Guidry, to allow Grant to visit Jefferson. And in the end, although the men (Grant and Rev. Ambrose) get most of the credit for Jefferson's redemption and transformation, we know that it was Miss Emma's bold act that triggered the sequence of events culminating in Jefferson's ability to "stand." Likewise, it is Tante Lou who has always kept Grant on the morally straight and narrow path of life.
