Rose Lee is a 12-year-old Black girl living in Freedomtown, a segregated neighborhood in Dillon, Texas. She secretly enjoys drawing and hides her sketchbook in a shed to practice her art out of sight. When she begins working as a maid in the wealthy Bell household, she overhears the white community's plans to raze her neighborhood for a city park. This places her in a difficult position as a silent observer trying to gather information for her family while processing the racial injustices surrounding her.

Rose Lee's 21-year-old brother is a military veteran who fought in France during World War I. Having experienced a society with different racial dynamics in Europe, he strongly resents the oppressive Jim Crow laws in Texas and follows the Pan-African teachings of Marcus Garvey. He urges the older men in the community to openly resist the white citizens' plans to take their land, bringing him into direct conflict with conservative elders.

A prominent, wealthy white citizen in Dillon. He holds significant financial power over the Black community by employing many of its residents, while simultaneously using his political influence to orchestrate the removal of their neighborhood to build a city park. His outward generosity masks deep racial prejudice.

Rose Lee's aunt is a college-educated schoolteacher visiting from St. Louis, Missouri. Because she lives in a more progressive border state, she possesses a broader view of the world than the residents of Dillon. She serves as a calming voice of reason during the crisis in Freedomtown, advising the community to stay united and talk through their problems together.

The 14-year-old daughter of the wealthy Bell family. She and Rose Lee were friends as small children before societal rules forced them apart. Catherine Jane begins questioning the bigoted attitudes of her parents and the larger white community, quietly establishing herself as someone willing to challenge the status quo.

An art teacher at the Dillon Academy for Young Ladies. Originally from Philadelphia, she is an outsider who does not subscribe to the racial prejudices of the local white community. She notices Rose Lee's artistic talent and actively encourages her to document the buildings and people of Freedomtown.

Rose Lee and Henry's father. He operates a barbershop that serves as a central gathering place for the men of Freedomtown to discuss community issues. He favors the pragmatic, accommodating approach of Booker T. Washington to survive the deeply segregated society, bringing him into heavy conflict with his radical son.

Rose Lee and Henry's hardworking mother. She takes in heavy laundry from wealthy white households to help support her family. The growing racial tensions in Dillon cause her intense anxiety and frequent tears as she fears for her family's safety.

Rose Lee's grandfather is a highly skilled gardener who lovingly cultivates his own personal paradise using trimmings discarded from the Bell estate. He takes immense pride in his white lilacs and provides a sense of stability and historical roots for the Jefferson family.

Rose Lee's grandmother works as a midwife, bringing new life into the segregated neighborhood. She is a source of quiet strength and gentle encouragement for her family.

Rose Lee's aunt works as a cook for the wealthy Bell family. She trains Rose Lee on how to properly serve food and handle the strict expectations of the white household.

Aunt Tillie's daughter. Her pregnancy makes her unable to continue her work as a maid, prompting Rose Lee to take over her duties in the Bell household.

Cora's husband. When the white community begins legally maneuvering to seize Freedomtown, he is one of the first men to openly consider leaving Texas entirely to protect his growing family.

The wealthy matriarch of the Bell family. She employs much of Rose Lee's extended family but shows profound thoughtlessness regarding their humanity, actively pushing for the displacement of Freedomtown because she wants a new city park.

The son of Mr. and Mrs. Bell. He harbors deep-seated racial prejudices and seeks to assert his dominance over the Black citizens of Dillon, acting aggressively toward anyone who denies him respect.

The mayor of Dillon, who works alongside the wealthy white citizens to orchestrate a legally binding vote to seize the land belonging to the Black community.

The man in charge of the Dillon Academy for Young Ladies. He supports the displacement of Freedomtown because he believes removing the Black community will increase funding and prestige for his school.

The spiritual leader at Forgiveness Baptist Church. He attempts to guide his congregation through their crisis with humility and faith, though his peaceful approach is openly challenged by the younger generation.

The town's undertaker. As a prominent business owner in the Freedomtown community, his decisions regarding whether to stay or leave carry significant weight among his neighbors.

Mr. Morgan's daughter, representing the younger generation of Black citizens whose lives are uprooted by the city's park project.

The principal of the Booker T. Washington School in Freedomtown. He tries desperately to maintain the education of the community's children despite having their physical resources destroyed.

A property owner in Freedomtown who runs a boardinghouse. When he attempts to purchase land in a better neighborhood, he faces swift intimidation from the white community.

The owner of the grocery store in Freedomtown who decides to move to Kansas rather than accept the city's unjust payment for his land.

The owner of a shoe-repair shop in Freedomtown, notable for being the head of the first family to permanently leave the community when the threats begin.