Drew is a 14-year-old Black student attending the prestigious Riverdale Academy Day School (RAD) on a scholarship. He lives with his grandmother in a small apartment in Co-Op City in the Bronx. Drew frequently feels alienated at school, where teachers and peers stereotype him based on his race, causing him to hide his genuine interests to avoid fitting into their expectations. He struggles to reconcile his working-class background with the immense wealth of his classmates.

Jordan is a 14-year-old Black student who lives in Washington Heights with his parents. As the youngest student in his grade, he battles deep insecurities about his maturity and contemplates abandoning his passion for drawing comics to appear older. Because he has a lighter complexion and finer hair than Drew, his peers and teachers often overlook his racial identity, leaving him feeling out of place in discussions about diversity.

Liam is a white student at RAD who comes from extreme wealth, living in a Riverdale mansion equipped with a heated indoor pool, a maid, and a butler. Despite his financial privilege, he suffers from emotional neglect due to his parents' frequent absences and arguments. He struggles to make friends within his own social class and deeply values his bond with Jordan and Drew.

Andy is an abrasive student at RAD who actively bullies Drew. He consistently makes racially insensitive remarks, such as insisting Drew can only dress up as Black Panther for Halloween rather than Thor. He lacks empathy and fails to understand the impact of his prejudice, even when a prank leaves his own skin temporarily dyed green.

Mr. Roche is a white teacher at RAD who frequently displays a clumsy, antiquated understanding of race and diversity. He makes assumptions about his minority students, failing to pronounce basic names during a sister school visit and singling out Drew based entirely on his appearance. The school administration eventually tasks him with running the "SOCK" (Students of Color Konnect) program.

Alexandra is an unapologetically unique student at RAD who acts as a peer counselor for her classmates. She always wears shirts featuring happy faces and carries hand puppets, like "Pigmund Freud," which she uses to disarm others. She possesses a rare comfort in her own identity that makes her a valuable confidante.

Ashley is a student at RAD who harbors an intense, overbearing crush on Drew. She struggles significantly with understanding personal boundaries, repeatedly touching Drew's hair without consent and aggressively gifting him baked goods. She eventually realizes her approach is flawed and seeks help to change her behavior.

Mr. Pierre is a Haitian man employed as a butler for Liam Landers' wealthy family. He works in America out of necessity to send money back to his wife and daughter in Haiti. He serves as a grounding adult presence for the boys, offering them quiet wisdom about class, wealth, and character.

Jordan's father lives in Washington Heights and provides a stable, encouraging environment for his son. He actively supports Jordan's dreams of becoming an artist. He also carries the anxiety of navigating the world as a Black man, reacting with deep panic when pulled over by a police officer while driving the boys.

Jordan's practical mother values the long-term stability and prestige offered by Riverdale Academy Day School. She pushes Jordan to remain at the academic institution, worrying about the viability of his artistic ambitions and focusing on his future financial security.

Drew's grandmother is his sole guardian, raising him in a small apartment in Co-Op City. She works double-shifts across two jobs to afford their living expenses, sacrificing her own rest and retirement years to provide Drew with a stable foundation.

Wendell is a boy from Drew's neighborhood in Co-Op City. He resents Drew's attendance at the prestigious RAD, accusing him of acting superior and abandoning his roots.

Ruby is a student at RAD who contributes to the microaggressions Drew faces daily. She touches his hair and then immediately denies it, turning instead to gossip with her friend Ashley.

Trisha is an intelligent student visiting RAD from an underfunded inner-city school. She astutely reads the environment of the prestigious academy, asking Drew if the school actually supports his intelligence or attempts to stifle him.

Dahlia is a biracial student at RAD. Her attempt to join the school's new diversity program is met with an insensitive joke from her teacher regarding her heritage.

Liam's mother is a wealthy woman who does not work but employs a full staff to manage her massive Riverdale mansion. She remains physically and emotionally distant from Liam, focusing on appearances and protocol over genuine connection.

Liam's father is a highly successful businessman who provides his family with extreme wealth but offers little personal presence. His constant absences contribute to the emotional isolation Liam feels at home.