Speaker
The majority of Cullen's poems feature a first-person speaker. They are often characterized by their sophisticated use of meter and rhyme as well as the earnest emotionality of their tone. These figures often seem to function as representatives of Cullen himself, as their voices and observations are consistent across his work. In the poem, "Heritage," the speaker tries to come to an understanding of his African ancestry, but struggles to balance it with his American identity. He describes his warring interiority as such: "So I lie, whose fount of pride, / Dear distress, and joy allied, / Is my somber flesh and skin, / With the dark blood dammed within / Like great pulsing tides of wine." He uses the image of "great pulsing tides of wine" to encapsulate the inner turmoil he is experiencing about his identity. His sense of self is unbalanced by these conflicting identities. The dramatic and confessional style is typical of many of Cullen's speakers.
In other instances, Cullen uses the first person plural to give the suggestion of a shared experience. In the poem "From the Dark Tower," the speaker uses the pronoun "we" as they state their outrage: "We shall not always plant while others reap / The golden increment of bursting fruit, / Not always countenance, abject and mute, / That lesser men should hold their brothers cheap." He is saying that there will be a day when white people can no longer take the fruits of Black labor. By using "we" instead of "I," he highlights the communal nature of this struggle as well as the shared effort they will put forward to end it.
The Baltimorean
In one of Cullen's most famous poems, "Incident," the speaker describes his encounter with a boy he refers to as the "Baltimorean." Excited to see the city for the first time, the speaker quickly notices a white boy staring at him. The speaker innocently smiles at him and sticks out his tongue. The Baltimorean responds horrifyingly, calling him a racial slur. The speaker remembers nothing about the long trip, save for this encounter. Cullen uses this boy, and other characters like him, to represent the way hate is passed on. Clearly influenced by his family, the Baltimorean embodies the effect of unthinking generational racism, as he deeply wounds the speaker without hesitation or thought.
The Couple
In the poem "Tableau," the speaker describes two young men walking down the street, locked arm in arm. They appear to be a couple. One of them is Black and the other is white. They receive various disapproving looks and comments, but choose to ignore them. They proudly display their love in the face of hate. Their portrayal is indicative of the way that Cullen writes about characters who are in love. He celebrates them as they show the potential love has to heal and unify, even when tested by the harsh gaze of prejudiced outsiders.
Father
In the poem "Saturday's Child," the speaker's father is quoted briefly. He comments that his son was born on an unlucky day, and that he will just be another mouth to feed. While his appearance in the poem is relatively brief, he is integral to its narrative. He shows the way in which being forced to work constantly to survive makes it difficult to provide emotional support and affection. Where the white children in the poem are shown being celebrated and coddled, the speaker receives no such treatment from his father. His harsh words elucidate this conflict and reveal the lack of love in his household.
