Mary is the president of Bethune-Cookman College and a prominent civil rights leader. Born the first of seventeen children to parents who were formerly enslaved, she is a deeply principled educator committed to securing equal rights and resources for Black Americans. She possesses a firm sense of her innate worth, asserting her dignity quietly when others refuse to treat her with respect. She builds educational institutions and national organizations from the ground up to empower her community.

Eleanor is the wife of politician Franklin D. Roosevelt, though she feels constrained by traditional domestic expectations. Born into wealth and privilege, she uses her position to champion social reform, women's rights, and anti-poverty initiatives. She operates as her husband's political partner and moral conscience, charting her own path toward independence through teaching, writing a daily newspaper column, and unapologetic activism.

Franklin is a charismatic politician who relies heavily on his wife's counsel and physical support to maintain his public image. Diagnosed with polio years earlier, he uses heavy iron braces and canes to hide his paralysis from the American public. He balances his genuine desire to help the country through economic hardship with the pragmatic need to appease opposing political factions to stay in power.

Sara is Franklin's wealthy and influential mother, acting as a powerful matriarch within the Roosevelt family. She adheres to high society norms but remains deeply supportive of Eleanor's personal ambitions when it matters most. She actively involves herself in her son's political career, occasionally using her authority to force him into meetings he wishes to avoid.

Lorena, known to her friends as Hick, is a dedicated and observant reporter who becomes a constant presence in Eleanor's life. She advises Eleanor to host all-female press conferences, changing how the first lady interacts with the media. She offers Eleanor unconditional admiration and seeks a romantic bond with her.

Walter is the head of the NAACP, a passionate advocate who frequently uses his light-skinned appearance to conduct undercover investigative work. He demands direct accountability from political leaders and works relentlessly to bring national awareness to the horrors of lynching. He expects tangible legislative results over empty public statements.

Albert is Mary's adult son, an entrepreneur who opens businesses in Daytona Beach with varying degrees of success. He often worries about the safety of his family in a segregated society and occasionally clashes with his mother over her continued faith in white politicians.

Albert Jr. is Mary's beloved grandson, whom she has raised since his infancy. Growing up in Florida, he experiences the harsh realities of racism firsthand, such as being harassed at a segregated beach. His experiences directly motivate his grandmother's drive to secure a safe and equal future.

Steve is a political adviser who takes over press responsibilities for the Roosevelt administration. He is highly concerned with managing the president's public image and views Eleanor and Mary's civil rights advocacy as a severe political liability. He actively attempts to restrict their access to the president.

Louis is Franklin's closest adviser and a stalwart supporter of the Roosevelt family. He has managed Franklin's political campaigns and provided essential daily medical and emotional support since Franklin's polio diagnosis, remaining loyal despite his own chronic breathing problems.

Marion is one of Eleanor's closest friends and the head of the Todhunter School. She shares a private, domestic life at Val-Kill Cottage with her partner Nan, providing Eleanor with a refuge from the intense pressures and scrutiny of public political life.

Nan is a secretary for the Democratic Party and part of Eleanor's tight-knit inner circle. Alongside her partner Marion, she offers Eleanor companionship, political support, and a peaceful retreat away from the demanding public eye.

Earl is Eleanor's head of security and a trusted confidant. He is highly protective of the first lady, insisting she carry a small revolver for personal safety when traveling without him due to the severe threats she receives for her activism.

Robert is a Harvard-educated activist and debater who works within the New Deal administration. He pushes for aggressive action and direct pressure on the government to end segregation, occasionally criticizing Mary for her more patient approach with the Roosevelts.

Clark is a progressive white man appointed by the president to oversee economic issues facing the Black community. His appointment causes friction among civil rights leaders, who feel the position should have gone to a Black candidate rather than a white supervisor.

Mr. Gamble is a wealthy white donor and early supporter of Mary's educational initiatives. He invested in her vision after seeing her teach on a former garbage dump, becoming a crucial financial backer for her school over the decades.

Marian is a famous opera contralto whose talent draws national attention. When she is denied the right to perform at Constitution Hall due to her race, her resulting open-air concert becomes a monumental event symbolizing unity and the fight against segregation.

Charles is the chief flight instructor for the Tuskegee Airmen. He is a rigorously trained, expert pilot who is honored when Eleanor Roosevelt requests a flight with him to prove the capabilities of Black pilots to the American public and military leadership.