Exploring Identity and Historical Bias in John Agard's 'Checking out Me History', Slides of History

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Checking out Me History

Key Learning: to explore the context and meaning of the poem.

John Agard

• Afro-Guyanese playwright, poet
• People are inhabitants of Guyana who are of Sub-Saharan African descent, generally descended from slaves brought to the Guianas to work on sugar plantations.
• Studied in a British school.
• He is very proud of his background and his poems explore this pride and aim to educate people about his life and his roots as well as challenging racism and other negative attitudes/views.

Structure – how is it written and why? John Agard does this to reflect his own identity and show he is proud of his identity. This is done by explicitly marking sections of ‘white history’ and ‘black history.’

Poetry reading John Agard very often wrote his poems in his own dialect/accent. Why? To show how proud he was of his identity and where he came from.

Dem tell me about 1066 and al dat dem tell me about Dick Whittington and he cat But Toussaint L’Ouverture no dem never tell me about dat Reference to the battle of Hastings in 1066 and Dick Whittington

• conquering of England and an English politician, (all parts of English History.)

Reference to African

History. A black Slave

Who Defeated Napoleon,

(a French leader.)

He is never told about his

history.

Contrasts between white and black history.

Toussaint

A slave

With vision

Lick back

Napoleon

Battalion

And first Black

Republican born

Toussaint de thorn

To de French

Toussaint de beacon

Of de Haitian Revolution

Shows his history is important to him. He has not been taught about it at school but he knows about Toussaint. Metaphors links to nature to emphasise how great and influential he was. A beacon is referring to light and the idea that Toussaint is illuminating the poet's true historical identity. Repetition of his name shows strong feeling towards him. He is so very important.

Nanny See-far woman Of mountain dream Fire-woman struggle Hopeful stream To freedom river

Imagery again

linked to

nature to

show how

precious

Nanny de

Maroon

is/was.

Fire links to

the idea of

light –

illuminating

John Agard’s

true identity.

Verb struggle links to the idea of Nanny De Maroon’s journey not being easy – this is why the poet admires her so much and is so proud of his identity. Could reflect anger as to why she isn’t studied when she is so powerful and great. Metaphor – reference to Nanny de Maroon and others becoming free from slavery. This is what is important to John Agard.

Dem tell me bout Lord Nelson and Waterloo But dem never tell me bout Shaka de great Zulu Dem tell me bout Columbus and 1492 But what happen to de Caribs and de Arawaks too A British flag officer in the navy – became an inspirational leader in United Kingdom. A battle in which Britain took part. One of the most influential monarchs in the Zulu (African) Kingdoms. Italian explorer – even this is important in History, but the History of the poet seems irrelevant and unimportant as they do not learn about it in schools. Minority groups from the Caribbean. Poet is questioning why they seem unimportant. Poet could also be questioning if people know about these groups because he does and believes other people are ignorant to his culture/identity.

From Jamaica She travel far To the Crimean War She volunteer to go And even when de British said no She still brave the Russian snow A healing star Among the wounded A yellow sunrise To the dying Referring again to Mary Seacole.Someone he feel passionately about. Emphasising her journey/struggle. Metaphor – to emphasise how strong and wonderful Mary Seacole is. Why do they not learn about someone so influential? Positive imagery surrounding her. Contrasts show how important she was in helping the wounded and dying people. She should be celebrated.

Dem tell me Dem tell me wha dem want to tell me But now I checking out me own history I carving out me identity

They are British and

so want to learn about

British icons/leaders

as that’s what’s

important to them.

He takes it upon himself to educate himself about his

background if others won’t.

He tries to educate other people by ‘metaphorically’

carving his identity.