How do the poets of Half-Caste and Not my Business talk about discrimination?

Agard’s poem ‘Half-Caste’, mocks the use of the word ‘half-caste’ as a derisive term. The first stanza is sarcastic and the message of the poem is how the short sightedness of which people view people of a mixed race is wrong and that they need to actually look ‘wid de whole of ya eye’ and not just half. The poet puts across the message that just because someone is half caste, they shouldn’t be mistaken for half the person they are. In the second stanza, Agard takes very famous people, namely Picasso and Tchaikovsky, “when yu say half-caste yu mean when Picasso mix red and green is a half-caste canvas/” The point he is making here is that Picasso used complementary opposite colours, red and green, but of course nobody questioned that because he was a genius. He was respected. Similarly, “when yu say half-caste yu mean Tchaikovsky sit down at dah piano an mix a black key wid a white key is a half-caste symphony/”. This example is perhaps even more potent, since the black and white keys are used as metaphors referring to black and white people. It is obvious that a composer would use both black and white keys of a piano: nobody would question such a thing, so Agard argues that people of mixed nationality, having one black parent and one white parent, should be accepted in the same way that Tchaikovsky's music is. Conversely, In the poem ‘Not My Business’ the poet doesn’t comment so much on injustice, he is waiting for it to happen to him. The poem begins with violent verbs such as “beat”, “stuffed”. This instantly conveys to the reader that the message of the poem has something to do with violence and injustice. These brutal verbs portray to the reader vivid images of the brutality triggered in the tragic events: causing them to empathise with the poet. The poet’s use of personification and metaphors to create the thought of being “stuffed” into “the belly of a waiting jeep” illustrates an idea that the jeep is a machine or monster- which obviously has no feelings. Correspondingly, this links to the unconcerned narrator sitting down to eat his yam; who shows no pity towards those who had to face ominous, unknown consequences due to discrimination. Furthermore, Euphuism is used to make the situation seem more tolerable than how sinister it actually was, “Then off to a lengthy absence.” Osundare causes the reader to think of the numerous frightening thoughts of what the victim could have to be drawn against just because of the narrow-mindedness. The poet further expresses that no one will help us unless we begin to act on unjust procedures, “No query, no warning, no probe”. This line refers back to the Bible story of ‘Peter’s denial’ where he repeatedly says “No” three times. Osundare here makes the reader realise if we turn a ‘blind eye’ then we will be facing equivalent or even worse penalties. Moreover, repetition of the final three lines of the first three stanza’s presents how often these injustices occurred. The ironic line in the final stanza, “As I sat down to eat my yam” asserts that we cannot survive unless we stand up and make a difference. The reader is made to recognize that the term “yam” is metaphorical for “survival” – forcing them to think deeper of the message which the poet is putting across.

The narrator from 'Half-Caste' holds the reader directly responsible for use of the term by writing in first person and by addressing them directly, “but yu must come back tomorrow...” The poet endeavours to portray to the reader that he is addressing those who have no foundation for their own values. Agard sounds sarcastic, “Excuse me standing on one leg…” the first stanza is said in an ironic tone, it’s very obvious to the reader he isn’t standing on one leg but does this to mock those who have strong stereotype. He objects to being called half a human being, and asserts that there is much more to him than we realise. Likewise, The title ‘Not My Business’ is ironic as in the end all that has gone on that “isn’t his business” eventually happens to him and so becomes his business. The final stanza creates a moment of suspense, “Waiting, waiting in its usual silence.” This frightens the reader causing them to contemplation of what could have happened to the apathetic narrator- as they now know that no one will be there to help him. Osundare makes the reader reflect deeply on what could have happened to all the victims and the carefree narrator. The poem has been structured in the style of a ballad or a song: to resemble the teaching of a moral from a ballad or song. Equally, both Agard and Osundare demand that readers look, “wid de whole of yu eye” and understand that they must prioritise helping others in order to stand up for our justice; instead of worrying about their, “savouring mouth”.