* Ray Carney: Ray is a young black man who is trying to find his place in the world. He is intelligent and ambitious, but he is also struggling with poverty and racism.
* Cha-Cha: Cha-Cha is Ray's best friend. He is a charismatic and streetwise hustler who is always looking for a way to make a quick buck.
* Queenie: Queenie is Ray's girlfriend. She is a beautiful and strong-willed woman who is determined to improve her life.
* Fonny Hunt: Fonny is Ray's friend who is falsely accused of a crime he did not commit. He is a talented artist and a loving father, but his life is upended by his arrest and subsequent trial.
* Tish Rivers: Tish is Fonny's pregnant girlfriend. She is a strong and determined woman who is fighting to prove Fonny's innocence.
* Mr. Murch: Mr. Murch is the owner of a furniture store where Ray works. He is a hard-working and honest man who is trying to provide for his family.
* Mrs. Murch: Mrs. Murch is Mr. Murch's wife. She is a kind and compassionate woman who is always willing to help others.