The fierce and formidable matriarch of the Shepherd family. Having migrated from Georgia to Philadelphia in 1922 to escape racial violence, she endures intense poverty and maternal heartbreak early in her marriage. She raises her large brood of children with a hardened, unsentimental approach, prioritizing their physical survival over emotional tenderness.

Hattie's husband, a man who migrated from poverty in Georgia. He struggles to consistently provide for his large family, often spending his meager earnings at night clubs rather than at home. He relies heavily on his wife's strength while resigning himself to the systemic racial limitations placed upon his employment prospects.

One of Hattie's daughters, who harbors a deep-seated belief that she is unlovable and defective. Resenting her mother's harshness, she seeks escape through a reckless lifestyle in the city, associating with dangerous men and avoiding her relatives.

Hattie's oldest living son, a handsome and talented musician traveling the southern states. Though he effortlessly charms women on the road, he grapples with intense internal conflict regarding his attraction to men, feeling overwhelmed by societal expectations.

A delicate boy who carries physical and emotional scars from a childhood accident. He experiences sudden, violent physical surges that others interpret as religious grace, forcing him to manage the heavy expectations of faithful congregations despite his own skepticism.

Hattie's daughter, who marries into wealth but feels entirely out of place in her affluent surroundings. Plagued by insecurity about her lower-class origins, she aggressively micromanages her household while devoting her energy to caring for her brother Billups.

Hattie's son, a military man struggling with severe alcoholism and gambling addictions. His destructive impulses repeatedly sabotage his personal life, leaving him estranged from the wife he deeply loves.

Hattie's oldest daughter, who suffers from a condition resembling schizophrenia. She fights against terrifying mental voices that urge her to act destructively, while simultaneously maintaining a desperate desire to find beauty in the world around her.

Cassie's young, school-aged daughter. Frightened and confused by her mother's erratic behavior, she leans on her grandparents for stability and earnestly searches for spiritual comfort to honor her mother.

Hattie's son and Alice's brother, who carries deep emotional wounds from childhood abuse. Despite his trauma, he strives to find employment, establish independence, and live a normal life, sometimes bristling at his sister's overbearing interventions.

A smooth-talking man from Baltimore who drives a nice car and wears fine suits. He projects an image of responsibility and success, offering an escape from poverty, but he hides a persistent gambling habit.

Hattie's younger sister, who lives comfortably in a large house in Georgia with her successful husband. Having no children of her own, she reaches out to her impoverished sister in Philadelphia, though her offers of assistance often strike Hattie's immense pride.

Pearl's husband, a successful businessman who operates a funeral parlor. He manages the racial tensions of the South with a pragmatic, cautious approach that sometimes frustrates his more sheltered wife.

A wealthy doctor married to Alice. He provides his wife with a luxurious lifestyle but treats her with a paternalistic attitude, often dismissing her anxieties and making decisions without her input.

Alice and Royce's highly competent maid. Her formidable efficiency in running the household frequently intimidates her employer, and she develops an unexpected connection with Alice's brother.

Franklin's estranged wife. She repeatedly attempts to make a home with Franklin but ultimately prioritizes her own stability by leaving him when his drinking and gambling debts become too destructive.

A man from the Shepherd children's past who provided lessons. His predatory actions cast a long, dark shadow over both Billups and Alice, leaving lasting psychological scars on the siblings.

A charming, self-assured young man Floyd meets in a southern town. He is open about his sexuality despite the conservative environment, providing Floyd with a brief but profound romantic connection.

A young woman Floyd meets during his travels. She speaks with a coarseness that he associates with southern rural life, yet she readily engages in a brief affair with him.

A former pimp turned petty thief. His mean streak and reckless disregard for himself and others make him an appealing companion for the deeply unhappy Bell, at least temporarily.

A neighborhood juju woman and former neighbor of Hattie. She recognizes Bell's family connection and serves as a vital link between the estranged daughter and her mother.

A small, effeminate boy in Six's class. Because his physical frailty mirrors Six's own vulnerabilities, he becomes a target for Six's projected self-hatred and displaced aggression.

A young woman at the southern revival meeting who appeals to Six to heal her ailing mother, reinforcing the community's belief in his spiritual gifts.

A preacher who takes Six to a tent revival meeting in the South to escape the consequences of Six's violent outburst in Philadelphia.

Hattie and August's firstborn child, a twin named for promise and hope. Her early battle with illness deeply impacts Hattie's worldview and forever alters her approach to motherhood.

Hattie and August's other firstborn twin, born shortly after their migration to the North. Her vulnerability to the winter chill shatters her mother's belief in the promised land.

Hattie and Lawrence's infant daughter. She accompanies her mother during a brief, abortive attempt to leave Philadelphia and start a new life in Baltimore.

Hattie's youngest child. Because the family is struggling intensely with poverty at the time of her birth, she becomes the subject of a tense dispute over adoption with Hattie's sister.