In the poems half-cast by John Agard and No problem by Benjamin Zephaniah the poets similarly express their views of racism and prejudice.

As well as this, both poems exploit the theme of being incomplete, in the quote “yu put me in a pigeon hole but I am versatile” Zephaniah uses a metaphor to suggest comparing himself being isolated because he has no skills or is viewed as half a person, which is similar to the poem “half cast”, to being placed in a pigeon hole the effect of this metaphor is powerful because it allows the reader to visualise the emotional effects Racism by comparing it to something understandable. Correspondingly the title “half cast” uses the word “half” to display the poet being viewed as “half” this may connote Agard being incomplete. The word “cast” implies slavery when black people were casted away at sea to work in a foreign country because they were viewed as not good enough which relates back to Benjamin Zephaniah being viewed as not good enough by being placed in a “pigeon hole”. John Agard also uses enjambment to interlink with the theme of incompleteness by making his poem seem half finished due to lack of punctuation. The connotations of incompleteness may be worthlessness which delivers the effect of how racism and prejudice is making the poets feel emotionally to the reader.

However, in the poem No problem Zephaniah displays his views in a more personal manor by relating his experience back to childhood in the quote “but I bear de brunt of silly playground taunts” the use of imagery in the noun “playground” suggests childish behaviour which may imply Zephaniah views racism as childish as well as creating the image in the readers head of Zephaniah being “taunted” about his skin colour as a child growing up in Birmingham, he also uses the personal pronoun “I” within the quote which creates the idea of Benjamin Zephaniah speaking from personal experiences, the effect of this on the reader exposes them to the personal effects of racism towards the poet to tyrannize his readers for “taunting” him. Benjamin Zephaniah also displays his poem as a personal experience by making his poem appear as a monologue which makes the poem seem as if he is speaking from his heart as a plea for change rather than making the poem appear as a political message the effect of this on the reader allows them to visualise a personal experience of racism.

This opposes the poem “half cast” which appears as a declaim about Agard’s views on racism, the quote “I’m sure you'll understand” the word “sure” carries a sarcastic tone, which appears to challenge the reader to justify prejudice comments. Agard also uses a metaphor in the quote “a black key mixed wid a white key is a half cast symphony” the word “symphony” suggestively argues that when you mix “half” things you get something beautiful like one of Tchaikovsky’s compositions, this makes agard appear as if he is giving a subliminal message that may be mixed race people are also beautiful as well as people who are pure, the effect of this on the reader makes Agard seem as if he is angry that mixed race people are not viewed as beautiful so instead he confronts them to the fact “black’ and “white” piano keys work together to make a beautiful symphony.

Overall, despite both poems being written in 1996 and sharing the same theme they offer different views and experiences on racism, ‘half cast” is much more of a confrontational poem that seeks justification whereas “No Problem” appears to be about personal experiences that aims to tyrannize its readers.