The Emigree + Checking out Me History

• • both peoms present the power of history, identity and memory, and how they can shape the persona of someone
• • Agard critises the education provided majority Europe that has marginalised the history and contributions of black people
  • speaker is frustrated with how his heritage is distorted
  • talks about fictional characters to show how fiction was prioritised over true, black history
  • draws parallels between European and Black figures - emphasises Eurocentric view that has been taken into history
  • repeated refrain of "I checking out me history" to show desire to reclaim power and story
  • use of many Caribbean figures to show reclamation of personal and cultural history
• • Agard uses non standard spelling and syntax - "de" instead of "the" to resist dominant, colonial language
  • highlights tension between personal identity of speaker and historical narrative that has been put forward
  • suggests that reclaiming identity is a challenge, and requires rewriting history
  • shown by "carving" - difficult process, takes perservance
• • Agard uses enjambment and abrupt shifts in tone to show inner turmoil and frustation
  • alternates between forceful rejection of colonialism and respect for historial figures who represent his heritage
  • shift in tone shows journey from disillusionment to empowerment
  • starts as "bandage" and "blind" from history, being mentally injured due to colonisation
  • moves to "I carving out me identity" - shows shift from oppression to now exploring history, through black hereos
• • Rumens focuses on effects of displacement and nostalgia for a lost home
  • her memories of her home are untarnished - "branded by an impression of sunlight" - shows permanent view of country and defiance to country that is now "sick with tyrants"
  • constant viage of sunlight to show how she sees the truth of her country despite the propaganda
• • Rumens longs for her memories and the past
  • she wants "every coloured molecule of it", "I have no passport, there is no way back at all" - nostalgia
  • nostalgia and wistful tone of Rumens is contrasted with Agard's combatted tone, she wants to preserve her memories rather than challenging what is trying to ruin her memories
  • she dreams of protecting her country, as her city "hides" behind her
  • she is not able to physically protect her city, but dreams to protect her memory