Denzel Whitaker as James Farmer Jr.

Denzel Washington as Melvin B. Tolson

Nate Parker as Henry Lowe

Jurnee Smollett as Samantha Booke

Forest Whitaker as Dr. James Farmer Sr.

Kimberly Elise as Pearl Farmer

Jermaine Williams as Hamilton Burgess

Gina Ravera as Ruth Tolson

John Heard as Sheriff Dozier

Devyn A. Tyler as Helen Farmer

Trenton McClain Boyd as Nathaniel Farmer

Ritchie Montgomery as Deputy

Jackson Walker as Pig Owner

Tim Parati as Pig Farmer

Robert X. Golphin as Dunbar Reed

Justice Leak as Harland Osbourne

Glen Powell as Harvard Debater #1

Brad Watkins as Harvard Debater #2

Brian Smiar as Harvard Dean

Damien Leake as Wilson

Voltaire Sterling as Paul Quinn Debater #1

Stephen Rider as Paul Quinn Debater #2

Gordon Danniels as Paul Quinn Debate Judge

Donny Boaz as Oklahoma City College Debater #1

Samuel Elliott Whisnant as Oklahoma City College Debater #2

Bonnie Johnson as Dr. Jennings

Charissa Allen as Benita

Michael Beasley as Trudell

Gary Mathis as Enormous Man

George Wilson as Samuel

Fahnlohnee R. Harris as Clementine

Harold Evans as William Taylor

J.D. Evermore as Captain Wainwright

Sharon Jones as Lila

Kelvin Payton as Joseph

Southey Blanton as White Labor Organizer

Michael Mattison as White Sharecropper #1

Jeff Braun as White Sharecropper #2

Milton R. Gipson as Prairie View Professor

Frank Ridley as Security Guard

Jeremiah Kissel as Radio Announcer at Harvard Debate

Jack Radosta as White Man at Lynching

Alvin Youngblood Hart as Juke Joint Musician #1

Dom Flemons as Juke Joint Musician #2

Justin Robinson as Juke Joint Musician #3

Rhiannon Giddens as Juke Joint Musician #4

Ahmad Powell as Fisk Professor

Marcus Lyle Brown as Howard Debater #1

Gary Mattis as Enormous Man

Kevin Beard as Klansman at Lynching (uncredited)