The first-person voice of the poem acts as a prophetic figure and the voice of experience. The speaker understands the deeply rooted connections between Black Americans and the African continent, taking on the responsibility of articulating this identity. Though initially lacking the exact language to foresee the future, the speaker ultimately commands the audience to continue the work of liberation.

The unspecified "you" of the poem represents Black Americans and the wider African Diaspora. Initially unaware of their destination or the future of their identity, the addressee undergoes a difficult journey toward self-knowledge. They are portrayed as sometimes polite but dismissive of the speaker's message, currently resting near the road of progress.

A committed poet from Chicago who becomes the first Black American to receive the Pulitzer Prize. Her artistic journey evolves from representing identity in an American context to embracing the broader African Diaspora. She travels to Africa and aligns herself with the Black Arts Movement, shifting her publication strategy to support independent presses.

The founder of the independent Broadside Press in Detroit. He operates as a crucial figure in the Black Arts Movement, providing a platform for emerging writers when traditional publishers prove resistant to their work. His efforts and eventual financial struggles highlight the challenges of sustaining independent cultural institutions.

A poet and publisher who founds Third World Press, establishing an imprint that handles Brooks's later works. He represents the next generation of literary figures who benefit from established mentorship and continue the legacy of independent publishing.

A South African activist who opposes the apartheid system. His death at the hands of security forces impacts global awareness and serves as a catalyst for understanding the interconnected struggles of the global diaspora.

A prominent Black poet who interacts with the emerging Gwendolyn Brooks in Chicago's thriving arts community during the 1940s. He represents the established literary figures who share space with younger writers in local poetry workshops.

A civil rights leader who works alongside Martin Luther King, Jr. and later visits South Africa. He appeals to Black Americans to recognize the shared history and ongoing liberation struggles connecting them to the global diaspora.

A late leader of the United States Civil Rights Movement. His past work establishes a baseline for the political organizing and revolutionary struggle that later leaders recognize in the anti-apartheid movement.