Welcome to "Checking Out Me History" by John Agard
In this chapter, we are looking at one of the most vibrant and rhythmic poems in your Power and Conflict cluster. "Checking Out Me History" is a poem about identity, the power of education, and the conflict between what we are taught and who we actually are. Don't worry if the style of the poem looks unusual at first—that is exactly what John Agard wants you to notice!
What is this poem about?
At its heart, this poem is a protest. The speaker is angry that his education in the UK focused only on white, European history (like 1066 or Dick Whittington) while completely ignoring his own Caribbean and African heritage. He feels that by hiding his history, the "powers that be" have hidden his identity.
The poem alternates between two things:
1. The nursery rhymes and British history he was forced to learn.
2. The rebel heroes and figures from Black history that he had to discover for himself.
Understanding the "Power and Conflict" Connection
In this section of your GCSE, every poem must be linked to Power or Conflict. Here is how Agard does it:
- The Power of Control: The education system has the power to decide what is "important." By leaving out certain people, they are exercising power over the speaker's mind.
- The Conflict of Identity: The speaker feels a conflict between his lived experience and the history he is told. He has to "check out" (discover) his own history to resolve this.
- The Power of the Individual: By the end of the poem, the speaker takes the power back. He decides to "carve out" his own identity.
Analyzing the Language (AO2)
John Agard uses language in a very specific way to make his point. Here are the key features to look out for:
1. Use of Phonetic Spelling (Creole/Patois)
Agard writes the poem using phonetic spelling to represent his Caribbean accent (e.g., "Dem tell me / Wha dem want to tell me").
Why? This is a deliberate choice. By refusing to use "Standard English," Agard is rebelling against the rules of the people who controlled his education. He is showing that his language and culture are just as important as "the King's English."
2. Metaphors of Vision and Injury
The speaker says the authorities "Bandage up me eye with me own history" and "Blind me to me own identity."
Why? Usually, bandages are used to heal. Here, Agard uses them as a metaphor for being blinded. It suggests that the history he was taught was actually used as a tool to keep him from seeing the truth about himself.
3. Light Imagery
When Agard describes the Black historical figures like Toussaint L'Ouverture or Mary Seacole, he uses words associated with light: "beacon," "fire-woman," "yellow sunrise," and "star."
Why? This contrasts with the "blinding" mentioned earlier. These figures bring light, hope, and clarity to his life. They are "shining examples" that were kept in the dark by the school system.
Quick Tip: Memory Aid
Remember the "Three B's" for this poem:
- Blindness: The education system hid the truth.
- Britishness: The trivial things he was taught (like nursery rhymes).
- Beacon: The heroes who light the way to his real identity.
Analyzing the Structure and Form (AO2)
The way the poem looks on the page is just as important as the words!
- Lack of Punctuation: There are no full stops or commas in the poem. This creates a sense of freedom and unending energy. It’s as if the speaker is refusing to be "contained" by the rules of English grammar.
- Two Different Fonts/Styles: The sections about British history are written in a "sing-song" nursery rhyme rhythm. The sections about Black history are written in italics with shorter, more serious lines.
- The Final Message: The poem ends with the line "I carving out me identity." The verb "carving" suggests that this is hard, active work. He is a sculptor creating himself.
Understanding the Context (AO3)
Context is about the "world" of the poem. John Agard was born in Guyana (a former British colony) and moved to Britain in the 1970s.
- Colonialism: For a long time, the British Empire controlled many countries. In these colonies, the schools often taught British history and ignored the local culture. This is the "Eurocentric" view that Agard is criticizing.
- Oral Tradition: Caribbean culture has a strong history of "oral storytelling" (telling stories out loud). The rhythm of the poem sounds like a performance or a song, which links back to Agard's roots.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Don't say Agard "can't write properly": Some students think the phonetic spelling means he doesn't know grammar. This is a big mistake! He is a highly skilled poet making a deliberate political point.
- Don't ignore the nursery rhymes: Mentioning "Old King Cole" or "The Cow jumped over the moon" is important because it shows how Agard thinks British history is often treated like a childish fairy tale, while his own history is ignored.
Quick Review: Key Takeaways
- Main Theme: The struggle to find your own identity when it is hidden by those in power.
- Key Quote: "Bandage up me eye with me own history."
- Structural Point: No punctuation = a rejection of authority and rules.
- Comparison Idea: This poem compares well with "The Emigree" (about memories of a home country) or "London" (about the power of institutions over people).
Final Encouragement
Don't worry if this poem feels different from the others in the cluster! Agard wants you to feel the rhythm. Try reading it out loud to yourself—you’ll hear the "drumbeat" in the words, and the meaning will become much clearer.