thirteen

• What does structural racism refer to?

  It refers to laws supporting harmful racial treatment
• How does structural racism affect individuals?

  It creates unfair disadvantages and advantages
• What is implied about the police's treatment of the boy in Thirteen?

  They stop him because of his skin colour
• How old is the boy who is stopped by the police in Thirteen?

  13 years old
• What does Femi describe the boy as being in Thirteen?

  Cornered and patted on the shoulder
• What did a government study between 2021 and 2022 reveal about police stops?

  Black individuals were stopped more than others
• What might Femi be reflecting on in Thirteen?

  The experiences of Black boys with police
• How do police officers in Thirteen treat the boy in terms of age?

  They adultify him, treating him as older
• What is suggested about the police's adultification of the boy?

  It is implied to be due to his skin colour
• What impact does structural racism have on young Black boys according to Thirteen?

  It affects how they are perceived and treated
• What is the juxtaposition presented in "Thirteen" regarding the police officer's treatment of the boy?

  The treatment differs from primary school to adolescence
• How did the police officer describe the children in primary school?

  He called them "supernovas"
• What does the term "supernovas" suggest about the children in primary school?

  They are bright, explosive, and full of energy
• What do the children learn about supernovas later on?

  They are dying stars becoming black holes
• How does the police officer's approach to the boy as a teenager reflect societal issues?

  It reflects racial inequalities and prejudices
• How does the boy feel about the police officers' actions in "Thirteen"?

  He feels they misuse their power
• What does Femi suggest about the boy's feelings of powerlessness?

  He imagines himself as "powerless – plump"
• What does Femi mean by "You will watch the two men cast lots for your organs"?

  The boy feels dehumanized and objectified
• What does Femi say about the relationship between the community and the police?

  There is a general lack of sense of relationship
• What real experience inspired "Thirteen"?

  Femi's experience when he was 13 years old
• What happens to the boy when he is four minutes away from home?

  He is stopped by two police officers
• Why do the police officers stop the boy?

  He fits the description of a robbery suspect
• How does the boy respond to the police officers when stopped?

  He laughs and says he is 13 years old
• What does the boy remember about one of the officers in the second stanza?

  He remembers the officer from primary school
• What does the boy try to do to remind the officer of their past interaction?


  He tries to smile at the officer
• What does the boy feel frightened about in the final stanza?

  He asks if the officers remember him
• What does the boy recall his teacher saying about supernovas?

  They are actually dying stars
• What striking realization does Femi express about his childhood experience?

  He felt he wasn't afforded the privilege of being a kid
• Where was Caleb Femi born?

  Nigeria
• At what age did Caleb Femi move to London?

  Around seven years old
• Where did Femi grow up in London?

  In a housing estate in North Peckham
• What was Femi's profession before becoming a filmmaker?

  He was an English teacher
• What title did Femi hold in 2016?

  First young people's poet laureate for London
• What was Femi's role as poet laureate?

  To inspire young people to love poetry
• What additional responsibility did Femi have as poet laureate?

  Advise on issues for young people's literature
• What does the negative semantic field in the poem reflect?

  It mirrors the boy's negative feelings.
• Which words are part of the negative semantic field?

  "Powerless", "fear", and "dying".
• How does the positive language in the poem contrast with the negative semantic field?

  It reflects the boy's happy memories of school.
• Which words are part of the positive language used in the poem?

  "Stars", "horizon", "brightest", and "warmth".
• What might Femi be contrasting through the use of juxtaposing semantic fields?

  The boy's potential versus racial prejudice reality.