Amanda Gorman is a poet and sociologist from Los Angeles, California. She overcomes a childhood speech impediment to become a noted youth poet laureate and social justice activist. She performs her poetry in a bright yellow coat, using her platform to advocate for progress and multiculturalism. Her activism focuses on improving conditions for marginalized communities in America.

Joe Biden is the incoming United States President who takes office following a divisive election cycle and an insurrection at the Capitol. He campaigns on a platform of hope and forward movement. His inauguration provides the setting for the poem, matching his political messaging of repairing the country.

Donald Trump is the outgoing President whose administration represents a period of darkness and division for progressive activists. He relies on regressive policies and campaigns on a message of returning to an idealized past. His rhetoric creates a culture of antagonism that the poem pushes back against.

Martin Luther King Jr. is a historical civil rights leader whose rhetoric heavily influences the poem's structure and message. His writings on the dangers of negative peace and white moderates serve as a foundation for the poet's definitions of true justice.

Barack Obama is a former United States President whose political themes of hope and unity shape the cultural background of the poem. His legacy as an African American leader serves as a direct reference point for the poet's own presence on the inaugural stage.

Michelle Obama is a former First Lady who engages in a dialogue with the poet about art, identity, and optimism. She provides a platform for discussing the state of Black art and activism in America.