How do Tatamkhulu Afrika and Imtiaz Dharker make us aware of the society they describe in the poems

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How do Tatamkhulu Afrika and Imtiaz Dharker make us aware of the society they describe in the poems ‘Nothings Changed’ and ‘Blessing’?

Tatamkhulu Africa’s poem ‘Nothings Changed’ is a powerful and ironic poem which discusses how society has not changed. It’s about him, moving away and then moving back to find that nothing has changed. The poem is all about racial segregation and apartheid in district six. Nothing’s changed is angrily set out, as the writer feels very strongly against the fact that white’s and non white’s in South Africa should be so segregated. His anger is put into the title as he grew up ion the segregated white’s only district six and apartheid was abolished in 1994. When Tatamkhulu came back to live after 1994, he was devastated and shocked to find nothing has changed.

Where as Imtiaz Dharker’s poem ‘Blessing’ is also based on the title. It talks about the water being scarce in Pakistan as there is a drought. The title ‘Blessing’ revolves around the fact that a pipe has burst and it’s a miracle and a blessing. The society in this poem is similar to the one in ‘Nothings Changed’, as both are a poor community. Also the writers both make out that they want something to change. To completely abolish the racial segregation and for there to be a good word to sum the basic outline of these two poems.

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Nothing’s changed makes you aware of the current society there by making the reader feel jealous of the white people and sorry for the non whites. I get the impression that the society has made the non whites feel aware of the culture difference and they know their place. Also words like ‘incipient port Jackson trees’; which shows that the whites don’t belong and ‘bunny chows’, compare the two segregated groups in the society as one being poor and the other more wealthy.

Where as ‘Blessing’ makes the reader aware that the entire society is poor and desperate ...

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