The speaker / Nikki Giovanni
Because "Nikki-Rosa" is autobiographical in nature, the poem's speaker is the poet herself. The poem relates Giovanni's real childhood experiences, including, for example, her parents' disappointment at not being able to build a home in the Hollydale development.
Mother (Yolande Cornelia Watson)
Yolande Cornelia Watson is Giovanni's mother. Her significance in the poem comes from the positive relationship that Giovanni describes between her mother and herself, a relationship that the media and public fail to understand.
Father (Jones "Gus" Giovanni)
Jones "Gus" Giovanni is the poet's father. In the poem, he is saddened by having to sell his stock in the Hollydale development. He is also portrayed as a drinker whose relationship with Giovanni's mother often becomes contentious. Yet, Giovanni recalls that she and her father loved each other, and she was overall "quite happy" as a child.
