The relationship between Richard and memebrs of his family-his mother, father, grandparents, uncles and aunts plays a significant role in his life. Richard's relationship with his mother is very close. She does beat him mercilessly when he misbehaves but Richard realizes that she does not do it out of spite. He really loves her and takes up a job to fend for her when she suffers a stroke even though he is merely a boy. The incident in which Richard encounters the boys on his way to the grocery is an example.
She prepares him for life in the violent society in which they live. Richard's father is the exact opposite of the mother. There is mutual hatred between them as is manifested in the kitten incident. His father also treats him brutally as illustrated in the incident in which Richard sets their house on fire. The father ends up abandoning his family with total disregard for the hunger and deprivation which this will cause.
Richard's grandmother in her obsession with religion regards him as a wayward child and treats him as such. She stifles his physical and emotional growth. She prevents him from working on Saturday and whenever he steps out of line, she punishes him severely.
Aunt Addie sees him as a constant threat to all authority and takes every opportunity to subjugate him through punishment. This awakens the rebellious streak in Richard and he resorts to using a knife to threaten her. The effect which Aunt Addle has on Rithard is not much different from that which Uncle Tom has on him. Uncle Tom's persistent caning of Richard forces the boy to engage in violence.
Apart from Richard's mother, the only members of his family who treat him like a human being are Aunt Maggie and Uncle Hoskins. They cater for both his physical and emotional needs. Unfortunately, this relationship is cut short by the murder of Uncle Hoskins.