Ruby is a driven Black high school student living in Philadelphia in 1948. Raised in generational poverty, she hopes to become an optometrist to help people like her blind grandmother. She participates in the rigorous We Rise program to earn a college scholarship. She heavily polices her own behavior and appearance to avoid unwanted attention while pursuing her educational goals.

Eleanor is a dedicated college student from a working-class family in Elyria, Ohio, studying at Howard University. Acutely aware of her parents' financial sacrifices, she works at the campus library and a department store to fund her education. As a dark-skinned woman of modest means, she frequently feels like an outsider among her wealthier, lighter-skinned peers.

William is a wealthy medical student at Howard University who comes from a long line of prominent Washington, D.C. physicians. Raised in an exclusive, light-skinned Black society, he often overlooks the realities of colorism and classism that affect those around him. He is steadfast and charming, immediately drawn to Eleanor despite their vastly different backgrounds.

Shimmy is a Jewish American boy who works at Greenwald's candy store and takes on adult responsibilities at home due to his father's alcoholism. He treats Ruby with kindness and genuine interest. His position as a white male leaves him deeply ignorant of the severe physical and societal dangers an interracial relationship poses to her.

Rose is William's mother and a proud matriarch of a prestigious, wealthy Black family in Washington, D.C. She actively protects her family's social standing and bloodline, preferring to associate exclusively with other light-skinned Black people of means. She envisions a high-society match for her son and views outsiders with heavy skepticism.

Aunt Marie is Ruby's fiercely independent and supportive aunt. She lives a nonconformist lifestyle, performing at clubs in men's clothing and participating in the underground economy to make ends meet. She serves as Ruby's primary maternal figure and safe haven, prioritizing her niece's education and well-being above all else.

Greta is the glamorous, light-skinned president of the prestigious Alpha Beta Chi sorority at Howard University. Coming from the same affluent social circles as the Pride family, she acts as a gatekeeper to high society and openly expects to date William Pride. She frequently uses her status to belittle those she deems inferior.

Inez is Ruby's biological mother, an emotionally cold woman who prioritizes her romantic relationships with men over her daughter's safety. Having given up primary care of Ruby early on, she frequently kicks Ruby out of the house whenever her boyfriends show inappropriate interest in the teenager.

Mother Margaret is the strict nun who runs the House of Magdalene, a maternity home for unwed mothers. She enforces rigid rules, segregates the residents by race, and uses shame and manipulation to coerce vulnerable young women into surrendering their babies to wealthy married couples.

Mrs. Shapiro is Shimmy's controlling mother. As a board member of the We Rise program, she uses her power and wealth to eliminate what she views as threats to her son's future, holding deep prejudices against interracial relationships.

Lorraine is Eleanor's supportive mother from Elyria, Ohio. She and her husband sacrificed heavily to afford Eleanor's tuition at Howard University, and she views Eleanor's academic opportunities as a path to a better, more secure life.

Dr. Pride is William's father, a successful physician who heads a wealthy, respected Washington, D.C. household. Unlike his wife Rose, he is generally polite and welcoming to Eleanor when they first meet.

Grandma Nene is the blind matriarch of Ruby's family who raised Ruby until the third grade. She provides a source of unconditional love for Ruby, though her physical ailments require constant care from the younger family members.

Leap is Inez's predatory boyfriend. He uses his position of power in the household to sexually harass Ruby, taking advantage of her desperate need for bus fare to attend her scholarship classes.

Nadine is Eleanor's wealthy roommate at Howard University. She is well-versed in the colorist social dynamics of the campus and frequently tries to involve Eleanor in social events, lending her clothes to help her fit in.

Bubbles is a young Black woman residing at the House of Magdalene. Sent to the home by her pastor father to hide her relationship with an older man, she is highly observant and quietly rebellious against the institution's harsh conditions.

Loretta is an unwed mother residing at the House of Magdalene. She pines for her boyfriend, whose darker skin and lower social class caused her affluent parents to forbid their marriage and send her away.

Georgia Mae is a quiet resident at the House of Magdalene who refuses to speak. She carries deep trauma from being repeatedly preyed upon by her employer, facing punishment from his wife rather than justice.

Clara is a resident of the House of Magdalene who fiercely tries to keep her baby against the administration's wishes. She faces severe emotional and physical abuse from the staff for her defiance.

Mrs. Thomas is the demanding teacher of the We Rise program. She pushes her students rigorously, insisting that impoverished young Black women cannot afford to make mistakes if they want to succeed in life.

Mr. Greenwald is the white owner of the candy store where Shimmy works. He strictly enforces Jim Crow-era social norms, refusing to let Black patrons sit at his tables.

Dorothy Porter is Eleanor's boss at the campus library. She mentors Eleanor, inspiring her to switch her major to history and eventually pursue a career as a library archivist.

Fatty is Ruby's cousin, whose irresponsibility and tardiness frequently cause Ruby to run late for her important academic obligations while caring for their grandmother.

Bernie is a dark-skinned contractor hired to convert a guest room into a nursery. He develops an easy, platonic friendship with Eleanor, sharing conversations and snacks while she is confined to the house.