Donte is a twelve-year-old biracial boy with dark skin who attends a predominantly white private school. He frequently faces unjust discipline and stereotyping from the school administration. To build his self-assurance and confront his main bully, he decides to learn the sport of fencing at a local community center.

Trey is Donte's older brother and a talented basketball player at Middlefield Prep. Because he is light-skinned and presents as white, he avoids the systemic prejudice that targets Donte. He actively works to show solidarity with his brother by joining the Boys and Girls Club fencing team.

Arden is a former Olympic fencer who currently runs a youth center. He initially brushes off requests for lessons but changes his mind after recognizing the racial discrimination Donte faces. He teaches his students that physical combat requires intense mental strategy and observation.

Alan is a privileged student at Middlefield Prep and the captain of the school's fencing team. He uses his family's wealth and influence to act with impunity. He frequently harasses classmates of color and relies on his years of expensive private lessons to intimidate newcomers.

Denise is a Black attorney working for the Legal Aid Society. She recognizes the systemic bias in the school system and refuses to let the administration criminalize her child. She begins organizing legal action to protect students of color from disproportionate punishment.

William is a white computer architect who previously fenced in college. He recognizes the limitations of his perspective as a white man but constantly finds practical ways to support his sons, from buying athletic gear to building a training space in their garage.

Zarra is a young fencer who practices at the community center. She draws motivation from successful Black female athletes and immediately accepts Donte's family dynamic without question. She works hard to overcome the dual prejudices of sexism and racism in competitive sports.

Zion is a youth fencer training under Coach Arden. He brings a warm, hospitable energy to the small team, often sharing his cooking with the others. He stands by his teammates during intimidating regional tournaments.

McGeary runs Middlefield Prep. He assumes the worst of his Black students and escalates minor classroom disruptions by calling law enforcement. His attitude toward students fluctuates based entirely on their potential utility to the school's athletic reputation.

Mr. Waters is the assistant headmaster at Middlefield Prep. He assumes Donte is guilty of misconduct before asking for any context, representing the daily friction and unfair assumptions Black students face at the academy.

Jonathan is a veteran fencer who competed on the 1976 USA team. He maintains a decades-long habit of directing racist hostility toward his peers. He acts as an adult parallel to the teenage bullies at the private academy.

Nate is a young fencer competing in the Boston regional circuit. Despite receiving instruction from a highly prejudiced coach, he maintains good sportsmanship and treats his opponents with respect on the strip.

Danny is a student at Middlefield Prep who participates on the school's fencing team. He aligns himself with the wealthy bullies at school and joins in mocking new trainees.