Kerry Washington as Charity Adams

Sam Waterston as Franklin Delano Roosevelt

Susan Sarandon as Eleanor Roosevelt

Oprah Winfrey as Mary McLeod Bethune

Ebony Obsidian as Lena Derriecott King

Shanice Williams as Johnnie Mae (credited as Shanice Shantay)

Kylie Jefferson as Bernice Baker

Sarah Jeffery as Dolores Washington

Pepi Sonuga as Elaine White

Milauna Jackson as Captain Campbell

Jay Reeves as Private Hugh Bell

Jeanté Godlock as Vera

Moriah Brown as Inez

Baadja-Lyne Odums as Susan

Gregg Sulkin as Abram David

Dean Norris as General Halt

Austin Nichols as Colonel Collins

Ben VanderMey as Captain Mathews

Nick Harris as Chaplain Clemens

Scott Johnson as General Lee

Jeffery Thomas Johnson as Colonel Davenport

Brian Kurlander as Mr. David

James E Hammond as Parade Officer Colonel (uncredited)

Bill Barrett as Staff Sergeant Hill

Bern Cohen as Rabbi

Jon Wennington as Racist Officer (uncredited)

Rachel Sophia-Anthony as Officer (uncredited)

Donny Ness as Schoolboy (uncredited)