Speaker
The speaker of the poem is a person who born into hardship. It is strongly suggested that he is Black, as he consistently uses images of darkness and night when describing his birth. He is characterized by his fatalistic view of the world, largely informed by his continually difficult life. As demonstrated over the course of the poem, he is constantly thrown into the worst situation, unable to escape his circumstances, while others enjoy easier lives.
Other Children ("Some")
While never naming them specifically, the speaker is constantly comparing the circumstances of his birth and upbringing to that of more privileged children. It is heavily implied that these children are white, as he depicts them using images of light and stars. He shows them enjoying the comfort of any easy life where everything they want and need is provided for them. The circumstances of these children work as a foil for the rough and unforgiving world in which the speaker grew up. In addition, while he does not criticize them outright, the speaker makes it clear that the difference between his life and theirs hinged entirely on their birth, rather than any merit or virtue like hard work or kindness. For the speaker, these painful differences are rooted in oppression, a status he was born into but cannot exit.
The Speaker's Father
The speaker's father only appears as a character at the poem's end, but he plays an important role. He remarks on the unluckiness of the fact that the speaker was born on a Saturday, before adding that he is simply another child to feed. The harshness of his comments suggests that his family was not very loving, as they were constantly forced to focus on providing for everyone.
