In the midst of the American Civil War, an intrepid rice farmer, Newton Knight, finds himself caught in a whirlwind of conflict and moral crisis in southern Mississippi. Tired of the injustice faced by his community, especially the poor who are sent to fight while the wealthy avoid combat, Knight decides to raise his voice and rebel against the system. Together with a diverse group of deserters and slaves, he embarks on a desperate struggle for freedom and equity in a world that seems to have forgotten both values.
As he leads a revolt against Confederate forces, Knight forges a new community where freedom and equality are the norm, challenging the social machinery of the time. However, the fight for the sovereignty of the “Free State of Jones” will not be easy, and Knight must confront not only the Southern soldiers seeking to crush his uprising but also racial tensions and dissent within his own group.
Alternating between the 19th-century conflict and a more contemporary narrative that examines the roots of racial injustice, the story becomes a powerful tale of resistance, love, and the quest for a better world. With compelling characters and moments of deep emotional weight, the plot explores the cost of freedom and how a single individual can challenge an oppressive system and make a difference, despite all adversities.