Langston Hughes is a prolific Black writer and the author of the poem "Children's Rhymes." Raised largely by his grandmother in Lawrence, Kansas, he finds an early refuge in books before moving to New York and becoming a defining figure of the Harlem Renaissance. He is heavily involved in civil rights and faces political scrutiny during the Second Red Scare, continuously producing poetry, novels, and essays that address the inequalities between white and Black people in America.

The speaker of "Children's Rhymes" is a Black child acutely aware of the racial inequalities and systemic racism in the mid-20th century United States. Recognizing that they are denied opportunities like the realistic chance to become President, the speaker feels deeply frustrated. The speaker uses their voice to forcefully reject the false promises of American equality and justice written into national pledges.

Carrie Langston is Langston Hughes's mother, a creative and passionate woman whose ambitions to perform are blocked by 19th-century racist and sexist norms. She struggles with marital discord, eventually leaving her young son with her mother while she follows her husband to Mexico, before later remarrying and moving around the Midwest.

James Nathaniel Hughes is Langston's father. A year after Langston's birth, he leaves his family and moves to Mexico City. He maintains a hard-nosed and cantankerous demeanor during the rare visits his son makes to see him in Mexico.

Mary is Langston Hughes's grandmother who raises him in Lawrence, Kansas. She struggles significantly with finances, often finding it difficult to provide food or pay the mortgage, which creates a stressful early environment for her grandson.

The white kids represent the privileged youth in America who remain unbothered by systemic racial inequalities. They freely receive opportunities, such as the realistic dream of the presidency, that society actively withholds from Black children. As they grow into adults, they continue to benefit from the foundational falsehoods of American liberty and justice.

Carl Van Vechten is an influential backer of the Harlem Renaissance artistic movement. He plays a practical role in advancing Langston Hughes's career by connecting him with the publisher Alfred A. Knopf.

Alfred A. Knopf is a prominent publisher in New York. He publishes Langston Hughes's first poetry collection, The Weary Blues, in 1926, helping to launch the young poet's career.

James Baldwin is a prominent essayist and writer who openly critiques other literary figures. He faults Langston Hughes for producing overly simplistic work and publicly reviews Hughes's selected poems negatively, wishing he were a more disciplined poet.

Richard Wright is a Black author who publishes a violent and controversial novel. Langston Hughes openly criticizes the bellicose message of his work, demonstrating the artistic disagreements within the Black literary community.

Amiri Baraka is a Black writer known for his radical politics. Langston Hughes publicly disagrees with his revolutionary stances, highlighting the generational and ideological splits among Black intellectuals.

Joseph McCarthy is a United States Senator who leads aggressive investigations into alleged communist activities during the 1940s and 50s. His subcommittee summons Langston Hughes, forcing the poet to publicly distance himself from communism.

W.E.B. Du Bois is a prominent writer and intellectual. Following Langston Hughes's testimony before McCarthy's subcommittee, Du Bois breaks ties with him over his disavowal of communism.

Paul Robeson is a well-known actor and notable Black public figure. Like Du Bois, he experiences a severe split from Langston Hughes following Hughes's defensive testimony during the Second Red Scare.