Langston Hughes is an American poet and a central figure of the Harlem Renaissance. He draws on his varied experiences working on farms, on ships, in restaurants, and in nightclubs to craft his written work. He cultivates a carefully considered public persona and uses the income from his theatrical works to purchase a home in Harlem, writing consistently about the lives and struggles of Black Americans.

The anonymous voice of the poem acts as a thoughtful observer of systemic injustice. Implied to be a Black American speaking to or for the Harlem community, this voice uses a mix of formal academic inquiry and visceral imagery. They carefully weigh sensory possibilities of what happens to blocked aspirations without ever directly naming the specific oppressors responsible for the delays.

This conceptual figure embodies specific Harlem residents and the broader Black American community waiting for racial equality. They carry the psychological and physical weight of denied opportunities, suffering adverse health effects when their ambitions are continuously pushed out of reach. Prolonged exposure to these broken promises threatens to break them under a heavy load or push them toward violent release.

She is the mother of Langston Hughes. After a divorce and the later passing of Hughes's grandmother, she travels with her son to several cities. They eventually settle in Cleveland, Ohio, where Hughes begins writing poetry in high school.

She is the grandmother of Langston Hughes who raises him in Lincoln, Illinois, during his early childhood. She provides stability for him following the divorce of his parents. Her eventual passing prompts Hughes to relocate to several other cities with his mother.

He is the father of Langston Hughes. He divorces Hughes's mother when the poet is very young. His departure results in Hughes being raised primarily by his grandmother in Illinois.

Vachel Lindsay is an established poet who encounters a young Langston Hughes working as a busboy. Recognizing Hughes's talent, he actively helps promote his art to a wider audience. This early connection assists Hughes in building his literary career.

Arnold Ampersand is the primary biographer of Langston Hughes. He studies the poet's carefully considered public persona and private letters. Based on his research, he suggests that Hughes was asexual, contributing to historical debates regarding the poet's sexuality.

W.E.B. Du Bois runs The Crisis, a prominent publication during the Harlem Renaissance. He serves as an influential editor who accepts and publishes Hughes's early work. His editorial choices provide a crucial platform for Black artists to reach audiences.

Jesse B. Semple is a fictional character created by Langston Hughes for a newspaper column. He later appears in several of Hughes's books and plays. He serves as a reliable vehicle for Hughes's social commentary during a period of growing artistic success.