Comparison of the poems Half-caste and Not My Business.

Authors Avatar

Half-caste and Not My Business

Essay

John Agard and Niyi Osundare have both written poems that protest about events or attitudes of people. Agard is From the Caribbean where the population is made up of people from lots of different races. Therefore he is used to being around people of mixed race and will know from first hand experience how horrible it can be to be called only half a person. Osundare has got a good point to make here which is that if people see something going on that is wrong but does not directly involve them, they should do what they can to stop the wrong doing rather than leave it as it may well be them someday and there could be no one to save them. You never know.

The first poem is about the term ‘Half-Caste’ which the poet: John Agard, objects to as he thinks that it makes us think of people of mixed race as only half a person instead of a whole person or individual. The next poem ‘Not My Business’ is about the violence used by the state authorities against the people of Nigeria. The poet: Niyi Osundare believes that you should stand up for what is right, regardless of whether it bothers you at that specific time.

Join now!

        ‘Not My Business’ is said to echo this statement:

“First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out because I was not a socialist.

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews and I did not speak because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak for me.”

The statement is by ‘Pastor Martin Niemoller’ it is very much like the poem ‘Not My Business’ not only because ...

This is a preview of the whole essay