Checking Out Me History

• Checking Out Me History

  A poem by John Agard about reclaiming his cultural identity and history that was suppressed by colonial education
• Checking Out Me History was inspired by reading a school textbook that claimed West Indian history began with Columbus
• Poem structure

  • - Dual structure with italicised stanzas about black historical figures
  • Repetition of "Dem tell me" creates accusatory tone
  • Rhyme scheme ties together sections on white and black history
  • Enjambment shows speaker's emotion overflowing
  • Volta at end as speaker takes ownership of his identity
• Motif of light

  • References to black historical figures as "beacon", "fire-woman", "healing star" etc.
  • Symbolises their emotional significance and importance as guides
• Metaphors

  • Violent metaphors like "blind me to me own identity" show cruelty of colonialism
  • "Carving out me identity" has painful connotations of an ongoing process
• Non-standard phonetic spelling

  • Use of "dem", "de", "bout" reflects Creole language
  • Shows resistance to restrictions of standard English
• Tone

  • Angry tone through repetition of "dem tell me"
  • Childish tone through simple rhyme scheme
  • Implies colonial education is one-dimensional and childish
• Checking Out Me History

  Compared to:

  • Ozymandias: Both show how oppression strips away identity
  • The Emigree: Both poets attach emotional significance to cultural identity
• One of the central themes in "Checking Out Me History" is the exploration of the impact of colonialism on personal and cultural identity.
• Name a violent metaphor?

  "blind me to my own identity"
• Name a painful metaphor?

  "carving out me identity"
• What are some references to black historical figures?

  "fire-woman", "beacon", "healing star"