Checking out me history

• The poem "Checking Out Me History" discusses various historical figures and events that are not commonly taught
• The poem "Checking Out Me History" highlights the lack of representation of certain historical figures and events in traditional education
• uses repetition to emphasize the importance of the untold stories
• uses contrast to show the disparity in the representation of different historical figures and events
• uses metaphor, personification, repetition, contrast, and themes to convey its message
• The poem "Checking Out Me History" does not have a consistent structure or rhyme scheme, reflecting the uncertain understanding of the speaker about the city
• uses enjambment to create a flowing pace to the work of a narrative speaker
• can represent growth and change in identity with all people
• Repetition suggests constant barrage of learning by rote without insight
• Restrictive verbs create the idea that the version of events given to them is harmful
• Mixing fact and fiction in order to create a sense of confusion
• Pronoun 'dem' represents a faceless body, general dislike of authority
• Verse structure


  Written in irregular rhyme and with short mixed enjambment in verses, creating the tone of a man speaking out and angry/frustrated. It captures the accent and rhythm of the Caribbean ethnicity of the poet. Parts in italic are almost song-like with a rhythm that suggests stories passed down in song or to a beat
• Themes: Racial identity and history are important to the poem. The poet writes with a phonetic style to capture their voice and create tone emphasizing his Caribbean origins. Conflict occurs when we see the contrast with what we are taught and what we are not, the nature of the characters and history involved being 'conflict' and the conflict of the victor (whom we remember) and those we don't. The poet is also at conflict with 'dem' or with fact and fiction to emphasize the conflict in his own identity
• The poet shows the conflict between cultures and the need to forge his own identity by embracing his Caribbean heritage, even if it is not encouraged by authority
• The poet looks, not just at his own ethnicity, but all those groups who are overlooked in favor of the 'white British' contemporaries. Highlighting the conflict in these 'false' history
• The poet explores the background of different ethnicities
• The poet is at conflict with the way he is taught history and his own background


  The poet looks through the voice and experiences at our understanding of identity through history
• The poet uses structure to build in rhyme and rhythm and portray an oral tradition of stories
• The poem looks at how history is taught and the conflict between fact and truths which is sometimes obscured by race or gender
• Examples of powerful black figures from history

  • Mary Seacole
• "dem tell me" - phonetic spelling of carribean accent - narrators voice links to his identity