Checking Out Me History Key Quotes

"Dem tell me"

Repetition throughout the poem, emphasises the separateness of the british educational system from himself. Further creates a sense of "them&us"

"Bandage up me own eye with me own history"

Deliberate attempt to hide history. Images of banage is ironic - bandages should aid healing, but here they've caused blindness

"Blind me to me own identity"

Metaphor for not allowing him to see his own history. Repetition implies that history and identity are closely linked together

"Dem tell me about 1066 and all dat"

Dismisses British history - assues the reader knows it.

"Touissant."

Succession of short lines slows the pace - suggests he's breaking off from his main point to recall his memory.

"Napoleon... battalion"

Strong rhymes & broken syntax show the importance of communication

"with vision" & "beacon"

Images of light and vision contrast with the blindness of his formal education.

"De cow who jump over de moon"

Uses nursery rhymes as an example of British history. Makes it seem trivial but also links it to the tradition lf reciting poems out loud.

"see-far woman"

Linked to vision - she can see into the future.

"Columbus amd 1492" & "Caribs amd de Arawaks too"

European coloniser compared to Native American cultures that resisted slavery - restriction contrasted with freedom. Also a reminder that there's always more than one version of history, but he's only been taught one - that of the colonists.

"Healing star" & "yellow sunrise"

Metaphor links her to the wider universe. Images suggest light, hope and warmth.