An eleven-year-old African boy captured from his village and forced onto a slave ship headed for America. Despite the horrific conditions of the middle passage and separation from his family, he maintains a fierce determination to survive. He becomes the foundational ancestor of the Lewis family, and his original iron shackles are preserved by his descendants as a symbol of endurance.

A thirteen-year-old enslaved girl on the Live Oaks plantation in South Carolina. Orphaned after her mother's death in the rice fields, she is unofficially adopted by Moses and Saran Lewis. She is relatively sheltered compared to other field workers and maintains a complex, deceptively friendly dynamic with the master's daughter until acts of physical cruelty force her to face the harsh realities of her enslavement.

The fifteen-year-old son of Richard and Lizzy Lewis. He lives with his grandparents and takes immense pride in working the family's eight acres of land, named the Glory Field. He feels a deep responsibility to provide for his family and protect their property from financial trouble, driving him to take dangerous risks to earn money.

The sixteen-year-old daughter of Elijah and Goldie Lewis living in Chicago during the Great Migration. She works part-time as a maid and hairdresser to save money for her education. Proud and ambitious, she refuses to return to South Carolina to work the family land, preferring to build an independent life and pursue her dream of attending the University of Chicago.

A sixteen-year-old high school student and star basketball player in Johnson City, South Carolina. He hopes his athletic abilities will earn him a college scholarship and initially avoids civil rights demonstrations to protect his future prospects. He views integration cautiously until violence against his friend forces him to publicly commit to the cause of equality.

A fifteen-year-old student and talented musician living in Harlem. He plays the alto-flute and saxophone in a band called String Theory and works part-time at his great-aunt's cosmetics factory. Though surrounded by successful relatives, he takes his comfortable life for granted and feels disconnected from his family's deep historical roots.

An enslaved man on the Live Oaks plantation who serves as a patriarch for the black community there. He lives in the largest slave cabin, which doubles as a gathering place for worship and community support. He unofficially adopts Lizzy after her mother dies and later works hard to maintain the Glory Field.

An enslaved woman at Live Oaks who provides maternal care to the community. Alongside her husband Moses, she adopts Lizzy and offers spiritual and emotional guidance to the younger generation. Years later, she cares for a blind white child and fights to keep her family's land despite severe financial strain.

Moses's brother and an enslaved man at Live Oaks. Driven by a desire for freedom for himself and his girlfriend, Neela, he escapes the plantation. He is fiercely protective of his family and willing to use violence against overseers to protect his nephew and secure their escape to join the Union Army.

The son of Moses and Saran. He attempts to escape the plantation but is captured and tied to a tree as punishment. His plight acts as a catalyst for Lizzy's awakening to the true brutality of enslavement before he manages to escape with his uncle to join the Union Army.

Tommy's father and an elder of the Lewis family by 1994, when he goes by the name Planter. He strongly believes in the advancement of civil rights and supports his son's opportunities, even when they carry risk. In his later years, he becomes the keeper of the family's history, tracking down and purchasing Muhammad Bilal's original shackles to pass down to the younger generation.

Malcolm's cousin, a teenager living in New York who struggles with severe drug addiction. He feels alienated by his family's high expectations and success, residing in a homeless shelter and frequently spending any money he gets on drugs. He is deeply cynical about the family reunion but agrees to travel south with Malcolm.

Luvenia's godmother and best friend in 1930s Chicago. She serves as a grounding force for Luvenia, offering practical advice and emotional support when Luvenia's college plans are derailed. She actively supports Luvenia's independence by throwing a rent party to help fund her new business.

The seventeen-year-old daughter of Luvenia's wealthy white employers in Chicago. She attends the University of Chicago and enjoys a life of privilege. Though she treats Luvenia cordially, she thoughtlessly uses Luvenia in a deceptive scheme to borrow her father's car, entirely oblivious to the severe consequences her lie will have on Luvenia's livelihood.

A fifteen-year-old white boy in Johnson City who is best friends with Tommy Lewis. He is fiercely loyal to the Lewis family and risks his own safety to participate in a civil rights demonstration alongside the local black community, inspiring Tommy in the process.

The daughter of Old Master Lewis, the owner of the Live Oaks plantation. She acts friendly toward Lizzy, sharing tea and talking about dresses, but her kindness masks manipulation. She uses Lizzy to gather intelligence about the runaway slaves and casually speaks in derogatory terms about African Americans.

The cruel overseer at the Live Oaks plantation. He enforces the master's rules with violence, tying Lem to a tree and whipping Lizzy simply for offering water to a captive. His brutality triggers Joshua's violent intervention.

The owner of the Live Oaks plantation. He holds legal ownership over Muhammad Bilal's descendants and strictly enforces the brutal rules of enslavement on his property.

Lem's brother and Lizzy's husband. He works hard in the pulp mills in Georgia to support his family, frequently leaving Curry Island to find better employment. He instills a strong sense of family pride in his son.

Elijah's cousin who assists him in the dangerous boat rescue of David Turner during a severe storm. He is pragmatic and cautious, contrasting with Elijah's boldness.

Elijah's romantic interest who later becomes his wife. She shares his devotion to the family and later moves to Chicago with him, raising their two children while supporting Elijah's efforts to save the Glory Field.

A prominent white official in the Curry Island area in 1900. He desperately seeks the safe return of his blind son, David, and agrees to pay Elijah a reward that will cover the Lewis family's taxes.

The local sheriff in Curry Island in 1900. He is opportunistic and heavily prejudiced, attempting to intimidate Elijah and steal the credit and reward money for rescuing a missing child.

A wealthy white man in Chicago who employs Luvenia as a part-time live-in maid. He is strict about honesty and immediately fires Luvenia when he mistakenly believes she is pregnant and involved in a deception.

Luvenia's employer in Chicago. She holds rigid, prejudiced views about social class and race, outright refusing to help Luvenia attend college because she believes a maid should not reach beyond her current station.

A white college scout and former player for Johnson City State. He approaches Tommy with a controversial proposal to skip his senior year and quietly integrate the segregated university campus.

A high school friend of Tommy Lewis who harbors a deep affection for him. She is highly motivated and secures a scholarship to Meharry Medical College, frequently teasing Tommy about their future together.

The sheriff of Johnson City in 1964. He attempts to downplay the violence at civil rights demonstrations, prompting Tommy to take a public stand by chaining himself to the sheriff.

Malcolm's father, who travels ahead of his son to the family reunion. His past advice about manhood guides Malcolm's decisions in Harlem when he considers abandoning his cousin.

Malcolm's mother, who travels to Curry Island for the gathering of the Lewis descendants.

Muhammad Bilal's father, a farmer in Sierra Leone. His fate is left unknown after slave traders attack his village, leaving Muhammad to wonder if his parents survived.

Muhammad Bilal's mother in Sierra Leone. She is separated from her son during the violent raid on their village.

A blind white child who is cared for by Saran Lewis. He is taken by a heavy drinker named Foster and becomes stranded on Key Island during a severe storm until Elijah rescues him.