Denzel Whitaker

Character: James Farmer Jr.

Denzel Washington

Character: Melvin B. Tolson

Nate Parker

Character: Henry Lowe

Jurnee Smollett

Character: Samantha Booke

Forest Whitaker

Character: Dr. James Farmer Sr.

Kimberly Elise

Character: Pearl Farmer

Jermaine Williams

Character: Hamilton Burgess

Gina Ravera

Character: Ruth Tolson

John Heard

Character: Sheriff Dozier

Devyn A. Tyler

Character: Helen Farmer

Trenton McClain Boyd

Character: Nathaniel Farmer

Ritchie Montgomery

Character: Deputy

Jackson Walker

Character: Pig Owner

Tim Parati

Character: Pig Farmer

Robert X. Golphin

Character: Dunbar Reed

Justice Leak

Character: Harland Osbourne

Glen Powell

Character: Harvard Debater #1

Brad Watkins

Character: Harvard Debater #2

Brian Smiar

Character: Harvard Dean

Damien Leake

Character: Wilson

Voltaire Sterling

Character: Paul Quinn Debater #1

Stephen Rider

Character: Paul Quinn Debater #2

Gordon Danniels

Character: Paul Quinn Debate Judge

Donny Boaz

Character: Oklahoma City College Debater #1

Samuel Elliott Whisnant

Character: Oklahoma City College Debater #2

Bonnie Johnson

Character: Dr. Jennings

Charissa Allen

Character: Benita

Michael Beasley

Character: Trudell

Gary Mathis

Character: Enormous Man

George Wilson

Character: Samuel

Fahnlohnee R. Harris

Character: Clementine

Harold Evans

Character: William Taylor

J.D. Evermore

Character: Captain Wainwright

Sharon Jones

Character: Lila

Kelvin Payton

Character: Joseph

Southey Blanton

Character: White Labor Organizer

Michael Mattison

Character: White Sharecropper #1

Jeff Braun

Character: White Sharecropper #2

Milton R. Gipson

Character: Prairie View Professor

Frank Ridley

Character: Security Guard

Jeremiah Kissel

Character: Radio Announcer at Harvard Debate

Jack Radosta

Character: White Man at Lynching

Alvin Youngblood Hart

Character: Juke Joint Musician #1

Dom Flemons

Character: Juke Joint Musician #2

Justin Robinson

Character: Juke Joint Musician #3

Rhiannon Giddens

Character: Juke Joint Musician #4

Ahmad Powell

Character: Fisk Professor

Marcus Lyle Brown

Character: Howard Debater #1

Gary Mattis

Character: Enormous Man

Kevin Beard

Character: Klansman at Lynching (uncredited)