Checking Out Me History Flashcards
“Dem tell me Dem tell me Wha dem want to tell me”
Repetition of “dem tell me” signifies that this a protest poem.
Assonance builds up a rhythm to make a political point. Simplistic rhyme scheme to appeal to children.
The education is inadvertently racist by ignoring Afro-Carribean history and culture in favour of White British history.
Dialect choice of “dem” shows that he is in opposition to the them.
“Bandage up me eye with me own history”
Metaphor of eye being bandaged shows that his own history is being hidden from him when there is nothing wrong with it.
Homophone for “I” shows that his identity is being bandaged up and hidden away.
Form: How does the rhyme scheme reflect life in Britain?
The simple AA rhyme is constrictive, reflecting the British education system.
When he talks about Afro-Carribean history, the form changes. The free verse emphasises personal freedom.
“Toussaint a slave with vision lick back Napoleon”
The contrast of a mere slave with the European dictator Napoleon shows that Toussaint was more powerful because Napoleon could not conquer his island.
The poem mirrors Toussaint overthrowing Napoleon by criticising the Eurocentric history taught in Britain.
“Dem tell me bout Columbus and 1492 but what happen to de Caribs and de Arawaks too”
Agard attempts to give the reader a sense of guilt about our own history by highlighting the genocide of the Caribs and Arawaks by European settlers in the Americas.
We too have had our eyes bandaged up as we have not been educated about this event.
“A healing star”
This metaphor mythologises Mary Seacole by portraying her as a star in the sky, someone to guide us.
Agard is saying that he wants to guide the reader like Seacole did, to a new understanding of history. Like Seacole did, he will heal us.
“But now I checking out me own history I carving out me identity”
Agard feels empowered by seeing the real history of his ancestors, he has a new identity.
He ends the poem on a couplet, to show that this story has a happy ending, talking as a role model for people of Afro-Carribean identity.
The imagery of “carving” presents Agard as like a sculptor, suggesting that when you carve out your own identity, it is like creating a piece of art.
