Velma is a Black activist who recently left the Academy of the 7 Arts to work with computers at a local nuclear power plant. She suffers from a severe mental health crisis brought on by activist burnout and marital strife. Her consciousness splits into different versions of herself as she struggles to process her trauma. She participates in the Women for Action group and possesses powerful but unmanaged psychic gifts.

Minnie is a local faith healer in Claybourne known for her bright red dresses and deep connection to Yoruban gods. She leads the healing circle at the Southwest Community Infirmary, using music and spiritual offerings to cure ailments. Despite her reputation, she initially doubts her own abilities during this particular session. She frequently argues with spirits that others cannot see.

Old Wife is a deceased Christian woman, formerly known as Karen Wilder, who now exists purely as a spirit guide. She communicates exclusively with Minnie, often criticizing the healer's methods and reliance on non-Christian entities. She provides crucial advice when Minnie stalls during the healing session.

Obie is Velma's husband and a founding member of the Academy of the 7 Arts. He struggles with the factional splintering within his activist community and harbors guilt over his extramarital affair. He desires wholeness in both his marriage and his political work but often avoids direct confrontation with his problems.

Jan is an activist with the Women for Action group and a close friend of Velma. She integrates spiritual practices like tarot reading into her daily life, contrasting with the purely material approaches of her political peers. She maintains a calm demeanor while participating in the ideological debates within her community.

Ruby is a pragmatic member of the Women for Action group who advocates for direct electoral engagement over esoteric practices. She is highly critical of the factions within the local academy and worries that her fellow organizers are taking on too much responsibility.

Sophie, widely known as M'Dear, is Velma's godmother and a respected elder in Claybourne. She is deeply attuned to signs and omens, choosing to wait out the healing session in silence until the new moon. She possesses significant knowledge of psychic abilities and plans to mentor her goddaughter.

Palma is Velma's sister who travels to the local Spring Festival. She experiences physical stress symptoms, including menstrual irregularities, due to her intense anxiety over Velma's psychological decline. She attempts to maintain a sense of normalcy while interacting with her peers.

Doc Serge is the head administrator at the Southwest Community Infirmary. He is a retired pimp who applies the principles of self-love from his past profession to running the hospital. He is highly pragmatic and supportive of both traditional medicine and spiritual healing practices.

Dr. Meadows is a young, light-skinned physician recently hired at the infirmary. He feels alienated in Claybourne due to his complexion and country upbringing, leading him to wander the streets in search of connection. He struggles to reconcile his formal medical training with the spiritual practices he observes.

Campbell is a cafe waiter, aspiring writer, and creator of an educational board game called Disposal. He is highly observant of his customers and writes articles about nuclear energy. He uses his job to test his game concepts on regulars and to flirt with women he admires.

Fred is an unhappy bus driver suffering from nausea and severe grief over the death of his friend Porter. He frequently tunes out his passengers to indulge in dark daydreams about crashing the bus. He keeps a gun taped under his seat but considers seeking medical help at the infirmary.

Buster is a young man attempting to write a paper about the local Brotherhood. He prioritizes his academic research over attending Velma's healing session, seeking out Doc Serge for an interview. He often frustrates the older organizers with his lack of focus.

Nadeen is a pregnant teenager who remains steadfastly in the healing circle. She observes the spiritual events with awe and compares the experience to other religious revivals she has attended. She draws comfort from the presence of community elders.

Cora is a dedicated member of the 12-person healing group who surrounds her home with mystical and religious objects. She stays for the entire duration of the ritual and openly expresses her annoyance when Dr. Meadows leaves the room.

Marcus is an organizer with the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists. He meets Palma during a chaotic political gathering and later greets her at the bus station, suggesting they go eat barbecue rather than dwell on her family anxieties.

Ahiro is a masseur who provides physical therapy to academy members. He offers comfort to Obie, advising him to cry to release his excess salt and stress.

Cecile is an activist traveling with Palma's group. She is highly engaged in ideological debates and later tries unsuccessfully to flirt with Campbell at the cafe.

Inez is a Chicana activist traveling to the festival. She thinks frequently about the various political events she must attend instead of returning home to New York.

Mai is a writer and activist who travels with Palma. She draws inspiration from the conversations around her to fuel her writing projects.

Nilda is an Indigenous activist who travels with the group. She is highly observant of nature, thinking about jackrabbits and contaminated soil while waiting out the rainstorm.

Iris is a Puerto Rican activist who travels with Palma. She frequently thinks about her home in New York and observes how exhausted her fellow organizers appear.

Chezia is an activist traveling with the group to Claybourne. When thunder sounds in the cafe, she removes her Kashisk pendant and gives it to Mai.

Mr. Daniels is an old-timer and community elder in Claybourne. He participates in the 12-person prayer group that surrounds Velma during her spiritual recovery.

Porter is Fred's deceased friend. During his life, he was obsessed with atomic blasts and corporate overreach, predicting that companies like Transchemical would ruin local communities.

Roland is Obie's brother who is currently serving time in Rikers prison for assaulting a woman. His situation adds to Obie's overall sense of failure and stress.

Thurston is a local resident who is initially hostile toward Dr. Meadows, mistaking him for a white man or a corporate spy. He quickly becomes friendly and invites the doctor for drinks upon learning his actual identity.

Hull is a local man concerned about corporate spies from Transchemical. He joins Thurston in interrogating and eventually befriending Dr. Meadows.

Anna is a member of the healing circle who frequently sighs and calls out to religious figures during intense spiritual moments and card games. She comforts her friend Cora when the singing shakes the room.

Daddy Dolphy is a figure from Velma's past who appears in her memories dragging tubs of oysters alongside Sophie Heywood. He once received a salt poultice from Sophie to cure a snakebite.

Portland Edgers is a neighbor of Sophie Heywood who assists with chores around her house. He is also remembered by Sophie for beating her while they were incarcerated.

Margie is Fred Holt's romantic partner. Their failing relationship heavily contributes to Fred's current state of depression and severe nausea.

Donaldson is a man attempting to gather intelligence about a store of guns located at the academy. Frustrated by his lack of success, he considers falsifying a report to complete his task.