no problem

• summary

  poet - Benjamin Zephaniah

  explores racial abuse and discrimination the speaker has experienced
• context

  raised in Jamacia and Birmingham

  suffered from racial abuse in school

  political activist

  human and animal rights
• language, structure and form

  ABCB rhyming scheme

  subtle or half rhyme - show disconnection

  more natural, less overly poetic

  conversational

  two stanzas - representative

  repetition - counters betrayal of black people

  phonetic spelling

  direct address
• "I am not de problem"


  refrain - repeated several times

  reaffirm racists are the problem not those subjected to it

  title is ironic --> there is a problem

  phonetic Caribbean English
• "now I am branded athletic"


  labelled athletic not academic - racial stereotypes

  connotations to slavery - cannot escape stereotypes
• "yu put me in a pigeon hole but I am versatile"


  not treated with dignity

  injustice

  putting complex things into small restrictive categories - restricted by stereotypes

  shows speakers resilience he has multiple talents despite what people think
• "black is not de problem mother country get it right"


  rising above the discrimination

  speaker includes everyone

  highlights how racism is a widespread issue

  speakers sees England as their home belongs there just as much as anyone else

  believes change can happen