MAIN No Problem(quotes/context)

“I am not de problem” (repeated)   second stanza: “black is not the problem”

colloquial language and phonetic. The definite article used shows that there is a problem of some sort (racism)

the noun black suggests the colour of his skin is not the issue. reductive because it suggests that black people are generally not the problem

“But dey got me on the de run/ Now I am branded athletic”

criminalisation of “on de run” stereotype.

Branded athletic is also a stereotype.

Verb branded has connotations of slavery and also dehumanizing

The rhythm of it is trochaic. Musical. arguably a stereotype because its musical  

“I can teach yu of Timbuktu”

Timbuktu (education hub in Africa on same level as universities)

In western culture has connotations of somewhere really far away. lack of importance.

in contrast, it was a significant place for higher learning in Africa’s history. suggests ignorance of western culture

“Mother country get it right”

mother country(the British empire)

bitter, as if they are being wrongly treated.

imperative and direct address to Britain who hold all the power.

“sum of me best friends are white.”

only full stop in the whole poem because its the end of his argument because he is making the fun of the fact they would think that it is his strongest argument and that there is no comeback. Mockery. ironic.

Enjambment in the rest of poem means that it is ongoing.

Zephaniah context 

first person account

shows his tolerance on others

born 1958

modern poet

left school at 14

lived in BIRMINGHAM

got 20 honorary degrees form UK uni’s

Structure

• lots of enjambment

• 16 line stanza

• trochaic feet (rhythm is made of groups of three syllables)

• poem is free verse, perhaps because he is rejecting the labels and stereotypes he has experienced - he wants to be free

• abcb rhyme scheme

• colloquial dialect

• two stanzas could show the divide between black and white