Martín is the speaker of the poem and the middle generation of his family. Growing up in a Brooklyn neighborhood obscured by factory smoke and burning mattresses, he never sees the actual stars in the sky. During the 1966 riots, he remains locked in his bedroom like a suspect, insulated from the street violence but deeply affected by his environment and systemic inequality. He utilizes poetry to process his family's experiences and record the slow progress they achieve over decades.

Frank is the speaker's father and a Puerto Rican migrant who knows the harsh, violent realities of survival. For him, "seeing stars" means the white flash of a fist to the head, an experience that resonates with other men in their Brooklyn community. Despite this background of physical conflict, he operates as a community protector, talking truce on the streets during the 1966 riots to keep his neighborhood safe.

Klemente represents the third generation of the Espada family and the direct beneficiary of his father and grandfather's struggles. Unlike his ancestors, who were blocked by violence or poverty, he has the access, space, and time to study the night sky. He names the galaxies using the numbers and letters of astronomy, symbolizing new opportunity and educational mobility.