Justyce is an ambitious 17-year-old African-American senior attending the elite Braselton Preparatory Academy on scholarship. He comes from a low-income neighborhood but strives for academic excellence, holding a standing offer from Yale University. His worldview is shaken when he is wrongfully arrested while helping a friend, prompting him to write letters to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to process the systemic racism he encounters.

Manny is Justyce's wealthy, confident best friend and the only other Black student in their immediate social circle at Braselton Prep. Having grown up in an affluent bubble, he tries to brush off the offensive behavior of his white friends to keep the peace. He cares deeply for Justyce but struggles to relate to the realities of racial profiling.

SJ is a highly observant, outspoken white student at Braselton Prep who serves as Justyce's debate partner. She actively acknowledges her own privilege and directly challenges the ignorant statements made by her peers. She shares a strong intellectual and emotional connection with Justyce.

Jared is a privileged white student at Braselton Prep and a long-time friend of Manny. He firmly believes that racial inequality is a thing of the past and often expresses resentment over policies like affirmative action. His inability to see beyond his own affluent worldview creates friction within his social circle.

Garrett is an off-duty police officer who initiates a dangerous confrontation over a noise dispute at a traffic light. He operates with a deep-seated bias and a quick temper, reacting aggressively when he feels disrespected.

Justyce's mother is a protective single parent who raised her son following the alcohol-related passing of his father. She pushes Justyce to prioritize his education and consistently warns him about the harsh realities of being a young Black man in America. She maintains strict boundaries regarding who her son dates.

Doc is a mixed-race teacher and debate coach at Braselton Academy. Having grown up in affluent environments before transitioning to a diverse high school, he understands the pressure of existing between different cultural expectations. He serves as a trusted mentor to his students.

Quan is Manny's cousin who grew up in the same low-income neighborhood as Justyce. He faces severe legal trouble after being accused of a serious crime. His negative experiences with the justice system have left him cynical and heavily reliant on local gang affiliations for protection.

Martel is the eloquent leader of the Black Jihad gang. He operates out of a home filled with African cultural symbols and recruits young men from the neighborhood by offering them a sense of brotherhood. While he projects a calm demeanor, his environment hints at underlying danger.

Manny's parents are highly successful professionals who have worked hard to provide their son with a comfortable life. Mr. Julian is a corporate executive, while Dr. Tiffany Rivers is a respected medical professional. They attempt to shield Manny from the racial discrimination they have historically faced.

Melo is Justyce's ex-girlfriend. She relies heavily on Justyce for help when she makes irresponsible decisions, such as attempting to drive under the influence. Her presence consistently creates complications for Justyce's personal life.

Officer Castillo is a police officer who racially profiles Justyce, forcefully arresting him under the assumption that he is assaulting a young woman. His aggressive actions violently disrupt Justyce's sense of security.

Trey is a member of the Black Jihad gang from Justyce's old neighborhood. He frequently mocks Justyce for trying to succeed in the white prep-school world, arguing that Justyce's wealthy classmates will never accept him as an equal.

Blake is a wealthy, insensitive classmate of Justyce and Manny. He frequently makes highly offensive choices, such as wearing a racist costume to a Halloween party, while remaining completely ignorant of the harm he causes.

While a historical figure rather than a physically present character, Dr. King serves as Justyce's spiritual and intellectual sounding board. Justyce writes a series of diary entries directly addressing the late civil rights leader to process his daily struggles.