Characters
Miss Jane Pittman - The protagonist in the book. She is a physically and mentally strong woman. She flees the plantation where she once lived and was enslaved, then travels with her adopted son, Ned Douglass.
Ned Douglass - Miss Jane Pittman's adopted son. He flees with Miss Jane Pittman, then parts ways with her. He helps the people by building a school, but is killed for his actions.
Joe Pittman - Miss Jane Pittman's husband. He is kind and tough. He breaks horses as a job to show that he is tough. His inability to realize he is an aging man eventually leads to his death as he refuses to retire.
Albert Cluveau - A fisherman who fishes near Miss Jane Pittman's cabin. He shoots and kills Ned Douglass for acceptance and rank.
Tee Bob - Robert Samson's son, owner of Sampson Plantation. He commits suicide because he cannot understand the social order of the South.
Big Laura - The slave woman who leads the freed slaves as they leave the plantation. She is big physically. She is killed by the "patrollers."
Mr. Bone - The man who runs the plantation where Ned and Jane stay and get jobs. He runs the plantation in fairness to the blacks and is a nice man.
Jimmy Caya - Born on the Samson Plantation. The leader of the protest. He is killed at the end of the protest.