Duquan "Dukie" Weems, played by Jermaine Crawford, is a pupil at the Edward Tilghman Middle School. His home life is anarchic because all the adults in his home are alcoholics or drug addicts. He lives in rank poverty, as his peers tease him for his body odor and his clothes. Anything that Dukie brings into his home is used by his family to make money. He relies heavily on his friends Namond Brice, Michael Lee and Randy Wagstaff for emotional and sometimes financial support. However, Namond and others often mercilessly bully Dukie. Michael however remains loyal to Dukie more than the rest of the boys giving him both work and residency at the season's end.