In 1971, the city of Durham, North Carolina, is a hotbed of racial tension. Ann Atwater, an outspoken civil rights activist, is at the forefront of advocating for African-American rights. She fights tirelessly against systemic racism and seeks to desegregate schools in the community. Her main adversary is C.P. Ellis, the local Ku Klux Klan leader who vehemently opposes integration. An incendiary situation arises when an African-American school burns down, compelling the community to confront the issue of desegregation head-on.

A charrette, a type of extended community meeting, is organized to address the problem, and to everyone's surprise, both Ann Atwater and C.P. Ellis are asked to co-chair it. This unexpected partnership forces them to interact closely and challenges their deeply rooted prejudices. As they work through the charrette's processes, they experience a transformative journey that questions their beliefs and fuels discussions on racial equality. The story goes beyond just the public face-offs and captures the personal evolution of these two diametrically opposed figures.