Anna is an artist from New Jersey who wins a New Deal competition to paint a post office mural in the Southern town of Edenton. Reeling from the recent loss of her mother, she views the project as a welcome distraction and a way to prove herself. She experiences culture shock upon arriving in the Jim Crow South, finding her progressive Northern sensibilities at odds with local traditions. She is determined to execute her artistic vision while managing the town's conservative expectations.

Morgan is a 22-year-old former art student serving time for a devastating DUI accident. Given a sudden reprieve, she is tasked with restoring a mysterious 1940s mural to secure her freedom. Dealing with strict probation rules and feelings of guilt over the accident, she struggles with her lack of art restoration experience. She hopes to meet the impossible deadline and reclaim her life.

In 1940, Jesse is a highly talented 17-year-old Black high school student whose artistic prodigy catches Anna's eye. Despite his gifts, his prospects are severely limited by the systemic racism of the Jim Crow South and his family's reliance on their farm. In the modern timeline, he is known as a recently deceased, highly acclaimed artist whose will dictates that Morgan must restore Anna's mural.

Lisa is Jesse's daughter and a successful real estate agent managing her father's estate. Stressed by the strict stipulations of his will, she must ensure his new gallery opens on time or risk losing her family home. She maintains a chilly, professional exterior with Morgan, treating the mural restoration as a stressful obligation rather than an artistic endeavor.

Oliver is the curator for Jesse Williams's new art gallery. A beneficiary of Jesse's past charity, he is deeply dedicated to seeing the gallery succeed. He quickly steps in to assist Morgan with the overwhelming task of cleaning the mural, offering both technical advice and emotional support as they work against the clock.

Nelle is Jesse's younger sister, known as Mama Nelle in 2018. As an eight-year-old girl in 1940, she witnesses Anna's integration into their community. In the present day, she serves as an unpredictable link to the past, possessing fragmented but vital memories of Anna's time in North Carolina.

Martin is a prominent, well-liked local portrait artist in Edenton who expected to win the post office mural commission. Surprised by losing to an outsider, he masks his frustration with a facade of Southern gentility. He frequently drops by Anna's workspace to offer unsolicited advice, projecting an air of territorial expertise.

Miss Myrtle is Anna's landlady, an older Edenton resident with a blend of traditional values and relatively progressive ideas. She encourages Anna to include the feminist Edenton Tea Party in the mural and helps the young artist acclimate to Southern culture. She frequently worries about Anna's intense work habits.

Peter is a local high school student who volunteers to help Anna build and prepare the massive canvas for her mural. He is industrious and possesses strong drafting skills, proving to be a reliable assistant. Unbothered by the racial divisions enforced by the adults in town, he works easily alongside his peers.

Pauline is Miss Myrtle's daughter, a kind and practical woman who befriends Anna. She acts as a sounding board and a source of local insight, often warning Anna about the dangers of ignoring Edenton's strict social rules and rampant gossip.

Karl is Pauline's husband and a local police officer in Edenton. He represents the town's law enforcement and maintains a cautious, protective eye on the goings-on in the community, occasionally stepping in to manage local disputes.

Trey is Morgan's former boyfriend. He was driving the car during the tragic accident but allowed Morgan to take the blame, leading to her incarceration. His cowardice leaves Morgan to face the severe legal and moral consequences alone.

Emily is a young woman whose life was drastically altered by the car accident involving Morgan and Trey. Left using a wheelchair, she represents the living consequence of the tragic night, occupying a large space in Morgan's conscience.

Sterling is the mayor of Edenton in 1940. He acts as a primary liaison between Anna and the town's civic leaders, helping to secure a warehouse for her to use as a studio. He favors a mural that highlights modern industry.

Rebecca is Morgan's assigned parole officer. She enforces the strict conditions of Morgan's release, including mandatory alcohol monitoring and meetings.

Jewel is Jesse's aunt and the most educated, worldly member of the Williams family. She serves as a midwife and offers a sharp, realistic perspective on the dangers and limitations facing Black families in the segregated South.