Born in Flames

Isabel is an outspoken white lesbian who leads Radio Ragazza. She uses bold rhetoric and sharp analysis to broadcast feminist ideas to a wide urban audience. She initially resists joining Honey's Phoenix Radio, but her politics align with the movement as the city faces escalating oppression.

Honey is an African-American organizer who runs Phoenix Radio and initially resists joining the more militant activism. Her steady, principled presence helps sustain the movement as it broadens its reach in the city. Eventually, she teams up with Isabel and pushes the activism into direct action.

Adelaide Norris is a world-traveling political activist who is arrested on arrival at a New York City airport and dies in police custody. Her arrest and mysterious death catalyze the movement, triggering protests and intensified FBI scrutiny. She becomes the spark that connects the radio stations, the women’s army, and broader resistance.

Hilary Hurst leads the Women's Army and directs direct-action campaigns in the city, advising by Zella. She embodies pragmatic militancy and coalition-building, pushing the movement toward bold confrontations with authorities.

Zella is an elderly theorist and mentor who shapes strategy and ideology for younger activists. She provides historical context, guidance, and a consistent moral compass for the movement.

A member of Radio Ragazza who participates in meetings, posters, and broadcasts to mobilize women. She embodies grassroots organizing and the intertwined culture of art and activism.

Another Ragazza member who contributes to activism through organization and broadcasting. She helps keep the movement connected across different neighborhoods.

A woman who experiences a brutal assault on the streets, highlighting the violence women face daily. Her experience fuels the movement's urgency and emphasizes the personal cost of gender-based aggression.