Poem-no Problem Flashcards
Brief summary
The permit explores racial abuse and the discrimination the speaker has experienced for his life. No problem.
Who is the author?
Benjamin Zephaniah
Who is Zephaniah
Raised in Jamaica and in Birmingham, England
Left school at the age of 14
A number of honorary degree from UK universities
“I am not de problem”
The poem starts with a line that is repeated several times the first stanza to affirm the fact that races are the problem not people subject to it
“Of silly playground taunts”
This poem references the racist discrimination and the bullying the speaker has experienced
“Timbuktu”
Timbuktu was historically established as a centre of scholarship and education in Africa
Timbuktu is an almost unreal place
“I can do more than dance”
This line suggests that the speaker has been restricted by stereotypes which he has had to try and overcome
“ these conditions may affect me as I get older”
The speaker may fill the impact of the experience with racism more deeply as he gets older
“No chips on me shoulders”
Having a chip on your shoulder isn’t Don’t I’m expression that means you feel inferior to others or angry
“ black is not de problem”
Explains how being black is not is not the issue he is rising above discrimination that his faced and issues his life with racist behaviour
“Sum of me best friends are white”
Ends on a humorous and sarcastic tone plays on the problematic statement. I’m not racist. I have black friends the fact that the speaker is able to end the per humorously.
Language
The speaker frequently represents stereotypes as being subject to and how these stereotypes have con traded him and meant he couldn’t fulfil his potential
