Context + Structure + Form

• John Agard : Context

  • Born in 1949 to mixed nationality parents
  • In school he was told that Guyanese history began in 1492 by Columbus
  • Poem is part of his collection"Half-Caste and other poems"
  • Published it after living in britain for 30 years
  • Poem is for those living under oppression and denied a cultural identity
• John Agard : Structure

  • Long Stanzas : Passion for Black history and how historical figures like Nanny De Maroon did not receive enough recognition for her work
  • Short lines : Shows history was cut short
  • Italic Font : Shows how black people were treated differently
• Checking out me history : Context

  About John Agard's childhood and how he was never taught about black history only white british history and how that impacted his identity and who he was.