Rowan is a 17-year-old biracial teen from a wealthy family living in the historic midtown section of Tulsa. Sheltered by her family's financial status, she feels disconnected from her black heritage and initially views issues of racial inequality as problems of the past. She spends her summer working at a low-income medical clinic, where she begins to recognize the systemic challenges facing marginalized communities.

William is a 17-year-old teen born to a white father and an Osage Indian mother. He works at his father's Victrola shop as punishment after breaking his wrist in a barroom brawl. He initially carries the racist attitudes common among his white peers in 1921, but his interactions with black customers begin to shift his perspective on the segregated society around him.

James is Rowan's best friend, a teen of black and Native American descent who attends school with her on a scholarship. He is deeply aware of racial inequality and police brutality, often pushing back against Rowan's insistence that racism is a problem of the past. He spends his free time tutoring undocumented immigrants and researching the history of the skeleton.

Stanley is Will's white father and the owner of the Victory Victrola Shop. He claims to care only about his bottom line, selling to black customers in secret despite Jim Crow laws, though he imposes punishing financial terms on them. He married his wealthy Osage wife to build an estate but deeply resents her financial independence.

Kathryn is Will's mother, a wealthy Osage Indian who inherited lucrative oil shares. Despite funding the family's large estate, she lost legal control over her own money when the US government mandated white guardians for Osage citizens. She knits caps for orphans and provides quiet but steady affection to her son.

Vernon runs a tobacco store near Stanley Tillman's shop. He is a terrifying, openly violent Ku Klux Klan member who takes pride in brutalizing the local black population. He actively tries to recruit Stanley into the Klan and uses physical intimidation to force Will into adopting his white supremacist worldview.

Isis is Rowan's mother, a black woman who works as a public defender. She possesses impeccable fashion sense and a stubborn streak. She uses her professional influence to protect undocumented workers from police scrutiny and encourages her daughter to step outside her comfort zone by working at the Jackson Clinic.

Tim is Rowan's white father. He comes from a wealthy background, and his family has owned their historic Tulsa home for nearly a century. He defers to his wife's judgment on issues of race and law enforcement, supporting Rowan's independence and her new job at the clinic.

Tru is the highly capable receptionist at the Jackson Clinic. He manages the chaotic waiting room with ease, switching smoothly between Spanish and English. A former meth addict whose teeth show the damage of his past, he wears his recovery as a point of pride and survival.

Arvin is an older, homeless black man who frequents the Jackson Clinic to manage his asthma and diabetes. He relies on bus tokens provided by Dr. Woods to make his appointments. Despite society largely ignoring him, he remains cheerful and eager to connect with others, including Rowan.

Clete is Will's wealthy friend in 1921. He holds deep-seated racist views, specifically despising black men while seeking out black women at a local brothel. He acts as a catalyst for trouble, escalating the conflict at the speakeasy and actively advocating for a junior branch of the Ku Klux Klan in Tulsa.

Joseph is an 18-year-old black teen living in the Greenwood district in 1921. He confidently negotiates with Stan Tillman to purchase a Victrola on a strict installment plan, arriving every week to pay his $5 debt without fail. He is protective of his younger sister and acutely aware of the racial boundaries that govern Tulsa.

Ruby is Joseph's 10-year-old sister, a fiercely independent and stubborn child who frequently visits Will at the shop. She advocates for her brother by demanding Will write a receipt for the Victrola payments. She refuses to be intimidated by the racial segregation lines of 1921 Tulsa.

Addie is a white teenage girl from a formerly wealthy family that recently lost its fortune. She is the object of Will's affection, though she views him only as an acquaintance. She grew up alongside Clarence Banks and deeply regrets placing him in danger by meeting him in a segregated public space.

Clarence is an 18-year-old black teen whose mother moved in with the Dobbs family after his father died. He grew up as Addie's close friend and dreams of moving to Texas to become a cowboy. He faces severe mob violence after defending himself against Will's drunken attack in the speakeasy.

Geneva is an uncertified forensic anthropologist who takes charge of examining the skeleton found in Rowan's yard. She methodically analyzes the bones, teeth, and artifacts to determine the victim's age, physical condition, and race, sharing her findings directly with Rowan.

Angelina is the black maid employed by the Tillman family in 1921. She maintains a quiet demeanor while working in the house to avoid Stanley's anger, but she worries constantly about her son and his family who live in the Greenwood district.

Dr. Woods is the head physician at the Jackson Clinic, a medical center located in a low-income neighborhood. She possesses impressive medical credentials but chooses to use her education to serve marginalized communities. She takes Rowan on as a shadow intern to teach her the value of everyday healthcare.

Della is the mother of Joseph and Ruby, living in the prosperous Greenwood district. She owns and operates the Nut-n-Honey café, where she is locally famous for baking exceptional peach pies. She struggles to keep her headstrong daughter safe from the dangers of a segregated society.