The series revolves around the Dawn family: Paige (Monet), a Spelman College sophomore whose life derails after falling for a "bad boy"; her father, Councilman Robert Dawn (Christie), whose mayoral aspirations come with significant personal and moral sacrifices; and his wife, Connie (Ali), striving to hold the family together. Set against the backdrop of Atlanta's two major cultural events at the time - Freaknik and the 1996 Summer Olympics - their personal drama unfolds.