Maya is a passionate and observant high school senior who dreams of studying journalism at Spelman College. She feels a deep attachment to her community's history and actively opposes the gentrification displacing long-time residents like her best friend. As student body president at Richmond High, she advocates for her peers and seeks to preserve Black history and traditions.

Nikki is Maya's identical twin sister. She distinguishes herself with straightened hair and a laidback demeanor. Unlike Maya, Nikki embraces the new amenities that gentrification brings to their neighborhood and asserts her right to take up space in the new establishments. She is open to forming connections with the new residents, which causes occasional friction with her sister.

Essence is a high school senior and the lifelong best friend of the Younger twins. She displays great resilience and skips class to work as a hairstylist to save money for college applications. She faces significant challenges at home due to her mother's alcohol addiction, forcing her to adapt quickly to unstable circumstances.

Tony is an incoming senior who transfers from a private school to Richmond High after his family moves into Maya's neighborhood. He hopes to study music engineering at Stanford despite his father's disapproval. He shares Maya's love for black-and-white horror movies and demonstrates an eagerness to learn about the community he has joined.

Principal Green is the latest in a rapid succession of administrators at Richmond High and the first Black principal Maya has had. He is highly focused on improving the school's public image and boosting enrollment by appealing to the new, wealthier families moving into the area. His top-down leadership style frequently ignores the voices of the elected student council.

Darlene is Essence's single mother. She struggles with an addiction to alcohol, leading to erratic behavior and verbal abuse toward her daughter. Once a close friend of Mrs. Younger, her current instability makes her a highly unreliable parent who frequently breaks promises to get sober.

Devin is a star football player and dedicated student being raised by his aunt after his parents died. He is fiercely focused on earning a college scholarship and participating in a mentorship program run by Maya's father. His intense ambition leaves him with very little free time to spend with his girlfriend.

Kate is Tony's younger sister, an incoming freshman who transfers from a private Catholic school. She is naive about her new community and asks insensitive questions about soul food and Maya's hair. Despite her lack of cultural awareness, she is eager to fit in and quickly latches onto Nikki for guidance.

Cynthia is a new, confident student at Richmond High who immediately clashes with Maya. She has curly hair and a self-assured attitude, quickly gaining favor with Principal Green. She actively inserts herself into school leadership and takes every opportunity to oppose Maya's ideas.

Charles, sometimes known for his straitlaced demeanor, is the student council vice president at Richmond High. He is a dependable and principled student who shares Maya's frustration with Principal Green's superficial approach to diversity.

Star is a passionate white student at Richmond High who cares deeply about educational equity. She is unafraid to speak her mind and delivers fiery speeches protesting the school's lack of funding and heavy emphasis on test scores.

Thomas Younger is Maya and Nikki's father. He works as a professional community activist and mentors local youth. His dedication to his cause frequently keeps him away from family dinners, a point of pride for Maya but a source of frustration for his wife and Nikki.

Mrs. Younger is Maya and Nikki's mother, a Spelman College alumna who previously engaged in local activism alongside her children. She provides stability at home while her husband works, though she increasingly wishes for more quality family time.

Mrs. Armstrong is one of the few Black teachers at Richmond High. She teaches journalism and actively encourages her students to think critically about history, media representation, and civil rights. She provides a safe and intellectually stimulating environment for her class.

Mr. Jacobs is Tony and Kate's father and a middle school teacher. He moves his family from Northwest Portland to the Northeast neighborhood to be closer to his job. He holds prejudiced views about the local Black community, creating tension within his family.

Mrs. Jacobs is Tony and Kate's mother. She works professionally to acquire resources for underfunded public schools. She is prone to anxiety when hearing about local crime, reacting nervously to news reports in her new neighborhood.

Tasha is a student at Richmond High who aligns herself with Cynthia. She is quick to hurl insults, mock her peers, and escalate conflicts, frequently targeting Maya for her associations with white students.

Z is an unhoused Black man who has lived on Eleventh Street for years. He represents the neighborhood's marginalized long-time residents who are treated with suspicion and hostility by the new, affluent white crowds frequenting Jackson Avenue.

Mr. Washington is an elderly Black man who serves as an unofficial historian for the neighborhood. He possesses deep knowledge of Portland's past, including the devastating Vanport flood and the complex history of urban renewal, offering balanced perspectives on gentrification.

Roberto is a senior on the Richmond High football team. He is Mexican American and quickly becomes the object of Kate Jacobs's affection, though Kate hides the interaction from her prejudiced father.

Malachi is Essence's boyfriend and part of the core group of six friends that includes the Younger twins and their partners. He is a supportive presence at social gatherings, though the group begins to fracture as senior year approaches.

Ronnie is Nikki's boyfriend and a member of the twins' tight-knit social circle. He attends neighborhood events and parties with the group, providing a steady presence in Nikki's life.

Vince is a disruptive student at Richmond High. He frequently attempts to turn serious situations into jokes and is quick to point fingers and escalate racial tensions during school conflicts.

Bags is one of the class clowns at Richmond High. He usually follows Vince's lead in disrupting meetings and contributing to the chaotic atmosphere when school tensions rise.