Melvin B. Tolson

Denzel Washington

James Farmer Jr.

Denzel Whitaker

Dr. James Farmer Sr.

Forest Whitaker

Henry Lowe

Nate Parker

Hamilton Burgess

Jermaine Williams

Jurnee Smollett

Jurnee Smollett

Ruth Tolson

Gina Ravera

Pearl Farmer

Kimberly Elise

Sheriff Dozier

John Heard

Helen Farmer

Devyn Tyler

Nathaniel Farmer

Trenton McClain Boyd

Deputy

Ritchie Montgomery

Pig Owner

Jackson Walker

Pig Farmer

Tim Parati

Dunbar Reed

Robert X. Golphin

Harland Osbourne

Justice Leak

Harvard Debater No. 1

Glen Powell Jr.

Harvard Debater No. 2

Brad Watkins

Harvard Dean

Brian Smiar

Wilson

Damien Leake

Paul Quinn Debate Judge

Gordon Danniels

Dr. Jennings

Bonnie Johnson

Paul Quinn Debater #1

Voltaire Sterling

Paul Quinn Debater #2

Stephen Rider

Benita

Charissa Allen

Trudell

Michael Beasley

Oklahoma City College Debater #1

Donny Boaz

Samuel

George Wilson

Clementine

Fahnlohnee Harris

Oklahoma City College Debater #2

Samuel Elliott Whisnant

Captain Wainwright

J.D. Evermore

Lila

Sharon Jones

Security Guard

Frank Ridley

Radio Announcer at Harvard Debate

Jeremiah Kissel

Enormous Man

Gary Mathis

White Man at Lynching

Jack Radosta

Howard Debater #1

Marcus Lyle Brown

William Taylor

Harold Evans

Joseph

Kelvin Payton

White Labor Organizer

Southey Blanton

Denzel

White Sharecropper #1

Michael Mattison

White Sharecropper #2

Jeff Braun

Prairie View Professor

Milton R. Gipson

Juke Joint Musician #1

Alvin Youngblood Hart

Juke Joint Musician #2

Dom Flemons

Juke Joint Musician #3

Justin Robinson

Juke Joint Musician #4

Rhiannon Giddens

Fisk Professor

Ahmad Powell

Enormous Man

Gary Mattis

Klansman at Lynching (uncredited)

Kevin Beard

Puppeteer

Gregory Nicotero

Puppeteer

Gino Crognale

Puppeteer

Michael Deak

Puppeteer

Alex Diaz