Joe is a middle-aged cosmetics salesperson living in Harlem in 1926 with his wife, Violet. Originally from rural Virginia, he is a friendly and well-liked man in his community who sells beauty products door-to-door. He carries deep abandonment issues from his childhood, which fuel his intense need for validation and intimacy. To escape the growing silence in his marriage, he seeks affection from a younger woman, setting off a tragic chain of events.

Violet is a 50-year-old unlicensed hairdresser working in Harlem. Haunted by a family history of severe trauma, she struggles with her mental stability, sometimes slipping into total silence or sitting down in the middle of the street. She directs her intense grief and anger toward the young woman who captivated her husband, eventually tracking down the girl's relatives to learn everything she can about her.

Dorcas is a young orphan living in Harlem under the strict supervision of her aunt. Having lost both parents in the East St. Louis riots, she hungers for the vibrant, adult life of the city. She seeks out male attention and dominance to mask her internal pain, drawn to parties, music, and the physical manifestations of romance.

The ungendered narrator functions as the voice of Harlem itself. Relying on close observation and local rumors, the narrator watches the neighborhood residents intently, making hasty judgments about their motivations. The narrator views this constant surveillance as a form of personal protection against a dangerous world.

Wild is a mysterious, feral woman living in the woods of Virginia. She exists entirely outside the bounds of society, refusing to conform to traditional expectations of womanhood or domestic life. Her physical presence is usually announced by the appearance of red-winged blackbirds.

Felice is a young woman navigating life in Harlem while her parents work out of town. Pragmatic and observant, she seeks closure regarding her deceased friend and the return of a stolen opal ring. Her directness brings a stabilizing energy to the grieving adults she visits.

Alice is a conservative, fearful woman who takes in her orphaned niece after the East St. Louis riots. She attempts to shield the girl from Harlem's vibrant music and male attention by enforcing strict rules. Her life is heavily dictated by her anxiety regarding the safety of Black women in urban spaces.

True Belle is Violet's grandmother, a resilient woman who spent years in Baltimore raising her enslaver's grandson. When her own daughter's life falls apart, she returns to Virginia to take over the care of her grandchildren, bringing stories of her time in the city with her.

Golden Gray is a young man raised in privilege in Baltimore by his mother and True Belle. Believing himself to be an orphan of different origins, he discovers a shocking truth about his parentage that upends his identity. He embarks on a journey south that forces him to confront his own internal biases.

Henry Lestroy is a highly skilled hunter and independent man living in Virginia. Capable and self-sufficient, he serves as a grounded mentor figure to the young boys in his area, passing down his deep knowledge of the woods.

Rose Dear is Violet's mother, a woman who is completely overwhelmed by her husband's abandonment and the subsequent seizure of all her family's belongings. Her immense grief paralyzes her, leaving a lasting traumatic impact on her children.

Malvonne is a practical, observant neighbor living in Harlem. She opportunistically rents out her empty apartment during the hours she is at work, maintaining a cynical view of the romances happening around her while collecting the extra income.

Acton is a young, self-absorbed man whom Dorcas pursues. He is controlling and critical, demanding that the women he dates change their behavior to suit his specific preferences.

Victory is a young boy raised in the same foster household as Joe Trace. Together, they learn the ways of the woods under the instruction of a local hunter, forming a bond similar to brotherhood.

Vera Louise Gray is a wealthy white woman who becomes pregnant by an enslaved Black man. Given a sum of money and ordered to leave her family's home, she moves to Baltimore to raise her son in secret.