Checking Out Me History

Question 1

‘Dem tell me/wha dem want to tell me’

Answer 1

Power - the powerful are holding back information from the powerless. “Dem” repeated suggesting that Agard sees this as a conflict between ‘us’ and ‘them’

Question 2

‘Beacon / fire-woman / healing star / yellow sunrise’

Answer 2

Repeated imagery of light and nature when describing key figures in black history. Agard sees these people as powerful forces of nature – they bring light, hope and show the way to others.

Question 3

‘I carving out me identity’

Answer 3

Metaphor suggests that Agard is taking matters into his own hands to find out who he is. verb ‘carving’ implies he is removing the unimportant things in order to discover the truth beneath.

Question 4

Structure

Answer 4

Two different structures – strong rhyme when discussing the European history he was taught – suggests he sees this as unimportant like a nursery rhyme.

Question 5

Idea/Perspective/Context (AO3)

Answer 5

Agard was taught in the 1950s, following a curriculum which focused on white history and ignored other cultures. Saw this as a racist act - disempowered black
people.

Question 6

Links

Answer 6

The Emigree
London
Ozymandias
Tissue