Half-Caste - John Agard

John Agard wrote Half-Caste as a response to people in England who referred to him using this term. His mother is Portuguese, and his father is black. Agard thinks that the term 'half-caste' is unfair as it implies that people of a mixed race are only half a person. Ironically, it could be argued that they are rich with diversity and often have experienced a wealth of cultural difference due to their mixed parentage.

Agard argues logically against the term 'half-caste' using several images:

• He questions whether Picasso should be seen as second-rate because he mixed a variety of colours in his paintings. Interestingly, Picasso's use of abstract images made him a pioneer in the art world - perhaps John Agard is similarly trying to push boundaries? You could also argue that Agard is trying to show the 'fullness' of his knowledge or demonstrate how 'well-rounded' (not fat!) he is by making references to popular culture.
• He questions whether the English weather should be scorned because it is full of light and shadow. Here, he lightly mocks the English weather, which encourages the listener to laugh at themself and their prejudices, much like the clouds are personified as stubborn and 'scornful'.
• He asks whether the music of Tchaikovsky should be seen as inferior because he used both the black notes and the white notes on the piano. Again, Agard is demonstrating his cultural knowledge, extending it to show his understanding of European artistry. These images, mixed with his Guayanan accent, shows his mixed heritage clearly.

The poet ends 'Half-Caste' by asking the listener to begin to think in a more open-minded way.

The use of the strong Guayanan accent and presentation of his ideas in a colloquial language shows a pride in the speaker's origin. However, the use of colloquialisms could also be read as slightly aggressive - certainly, this tone is enforced by the confrontational language, as seen in short, sharp questions ("What yu mean") and imperatives ("Explain yuself").

• What is the effect of the way that the poem is structured?
• What is the effect of the opening line?
• What is the effect of the poem's conclusion?