as Mother Sister

as Lucinda Purify

as Mama Lucas

as Mrs. Harper

as Female

as Corrine Dart

as Narrator (voice)

as Evangeline Ferguson

as Rachel

as Ruth

as Nanna Maria

as Rachel

as Lucy Tyler

as Ruth Younger

as Rae Robinson

as Joan Robinson

as Hortence

as Nanny

as Elsie Claviere

as Netta's mother

as Valerie

as Rowena

as Laurie

as Mrs. Henry

as Sophia

as Ruth Campanella

as Grandmother

as Self

as Narrator

as Doris

as Grandmother Baxter

as Ruth

as Christine

as Jennie

as Lutiebelle Gussie Mae Jenkins

as Narrator

as Self (archive footage)

as Joan

as Lucinda

as Mary Tyrone

as Narrator (voice)

as Mommit Porter

as Mrs. Mitchell (segment "The Badge")

as Leah Matanzima

as Grandmother (voice)

as Emelda West

as Jackie's Mother

as Narrator

as Annie Elizabeth 'Bessie' Delany

as Vicky Kingsbury

as Connie Brooks (uncredited)

as Indigo

as Self (archive footage)

as Julia Augustine

as Miss Candy

as Self

as Herself

as Irene Whitfield

as Mrs. Grimes

as Self

as Lydia Wilson

as Annie McCall

as Zora Neale Hurston

as (archive footage)

as Elizabeth

as Thief

as Self

as Narrator

as Irma Jackson

as Self

as Margo

as Self (archive footage)

as Lorraine Hansberry and other assorted characters

as Sue Ann Lucas

as Self

as Narrator (voice)

as Narrator (voice)

as Self

as Self

as Ms. Ella

as Drugstore Girl

as Self

as Mother Abagail Freemantle

as Writer

as Vocals