The Speaker

Very little is shared about the speaker’s identity; they’re given no age, gender, economic status, or most notably race. While the poem can be read as autobiographical, it allows for a range of interpretations if viewed through another perspective. What is clear, however, is how deeply the speaker is affected by this man’s music, and how they come to identify with him by the end of the scene.

The Musician

The musician is an unnamed Black man who’s found playing in a Harlem jazz club. He “Sway[s] to and fro” (Line 12), suggesting an overwhelming exhaustion that has led him to this moment. The man sings of his struggles and how he feels death would be better than living. This character represents the wider challenges faced by Black Americans at this time.