Harmond is an idealistic, successful African American real estate developer who aspires to become Pittsburgh's first Black mayor. Operating out of the Hill District where he grew up, he hopes to revitalize the economically struggling neighborhood through a multimillion-dollar commercial and residential redevelopment plan. Though highly ambitious, he possesses a strong underlying sense of morality and a genuine belief in racial progress.

Roosevelt is a Vice President at Mellon Bank and Harmond's long-time college friend and business partner. An avid golfer who teaches the sport on the side, he views networking on the golf course as a crucial tool for social climbing. Fixated on material wealth and gaining access to historically exclusive spaces, he approaches the redevelopment project with a strictly profit-driven mindset.

Sterling is an old classmate of Harmond's who works as a self-employed contractor and neighborhood handyman. Having grown up in an orphanage and spent time in jail for a bank robbery thirty years prior, he has cultivated fierce independence and a strong awareness of systemic inequalities. He serves as a critical voice in the community, questioning the ethics of the redevelopment plan and advocating for the preservation of neighborhood history.

Elder Joseph Barlow, often referred to as Old Joe, is an elderly man born in the Hill District in 1918 who has recently returned to the neighborhood. Eccentric and resolute, he claims ownership of the dilapidated house at 1839 Wylie Avenue, which is slated for demolition by Harmond's redevelopment company. His steadfast refusal to abandon the property makes him a living embodiment of the neighborhood's marginalized history.

Mame is a pragmatic professional public relations representative and Harmond's wife of over twenty years. She acts as his meticulous campaign strategist, having sacrificed much of her own professional business to focus on ensuring his political victory. Strategic and highly organized, she believes in the importance of maintaining a carefully controlled public image and encourages her husband to compromise his ideals for the sake of political viability.

Bernie is a wealthy, unscrupulous white businessman with known legal troubles. He uses his capital to buy influence and often relies on minority tax incentives to purchase assets below market value. His financial influence and offers of partnership test the moral boundaries of the Bedford Hills team.

Aunt Ester is a deeply symbolic historical figure in the Hill District. Said to have arrived in America in 1619, she represents the spiritual and cultural heritage of African Americans. Though she is no longer living, her legacy permeates the neighborhood and profoundly influences those who seek to protect her former home.

Raymond is Harmond's twin brother who died fighting in the Vietnam War. His memory heavily influences Harmond's sense of duty and his reflections on those who sacrificed their lives under the American flag.

Caesar is Harmond's grandfather, representing the Wilks family's long-standing roots in Pittsburgh. His past financial decisions connect the modern-day Wilks family to the neighborhood's older properties.

Arleen is Roosevelt's wife. She is described as a patient woman who tolerates her husband's intense ambition and frequent absences.