While the speaker is not explicitly named, the poem makes it very clear that the speaker is a mother who is addressing her son directly. Here's why:
* The poem's title: "Mother to Son" immediately identifies the speaker as a mother.
* The use of "son": The speaker consistently addresses her son directly using the pronoun "you."
* The content of the poem: The speaker talks about her own struggles and experiences, drawing parallels to the challenges her son might face.
Therefore, the speaker in "Mother to Son" is a mother, sharing her own life lessons with her son.