Solomon Northup was born a free person of color in New York and was kidnapped into slavery for 12 years before he was freed. His memoir, Twelve Years a Slave, serves as a primary historical source and is frequently quoted in To Be a Slave.

Josiah Henson was enslaved from infancy and became a skilled farmer and businessman before escaping to Canada. His life story significantly impacted Uncle Tom's Cabin and is featured in To Be a Slave to showcase the psychological impact of slavery.

Thomas Jefferson was the third president of the United States and a founding father, who owned enslaved people. In To Be a Slave, Julius Lester includes Jefferson's writings to illustrate prevailing racial beliefs during slavery.

George Washington was the first president of the United States and also a slave owner. In To Be a Slave, his plantation's slave quarters are described to highlight the poor conditions endured by enslaved people.

Abraham Lincoln was the 16th president of the United States who issued the Emancipation Proclamation. In To Be a Slave, former slaves share their perspectives on how Lincoln's assassination impacted African American history.

Harriet Beecher Stowe was an author and abolitionist known for her novel Uncle Tom's Cabin. Her work is both influential and critiqued in To Be a Slave, pointing to the necessity of African Americans telling their own narratives.

Nathan Bedford Forrest was a Confederate general and the first Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan. His post-war activities, including his role in the Klan, are briefly referenced in To Be a Slave.