Half-Caste by John Agard
Excuse me
Standing on one leg
I'm half-caste
Explain yuself
Wha yu mean
When yu say half-caste
Yu mean when picasso
Mix red an green
Is a half-caste canvas/
Explain yuself
Wha u mean
When yu say half-caste
Yu mean when light an shadow
Mix in de sky
Is a half-caste weather/
Well in dat case
England weather
Nearly always half-caste
In fact some o dem cloud
Half-caste till dem overcast
So spiteful dem dont want de sun pass
Ah rass/
Explain yuself
Wha yu mean
When yu say half-caste
Yu mean tchaikovsky
Sit down at dah piano
An mix a black key
Wid a white key
Is a half-caste symphony/
Explain yuself
Wha yu mean
Ah listening to yu wid de keen
Half of mih ear
Ah looking at u wid de keen
Half of mih eye
And when I'm introduced to yu
I'm sure you'll understand
Why I offer yu half-a-hand
An when I sleep at night
I close half-a-eye
Consequently when I dream
I dream half-a-dream
An when moon begin to glow
I half-caste human being
Cast half-a-shadow
But yu come back tomorrow
Wid de whole of yu eye
An de whole of yu ear
And de whole of yu mind
An I will tell yu
De other half
Of my story
In "Half Caste", Agard creates visual imagery through the use of metaphors to express the negative representation of being a 'half-caste'. Each stanza allows a series of odd definitions to the term and further develops his argument to stress on the absurdity of using colonial-era language. With this thought, there is a comparison between people of high value doing activities involving mixing to create beautiful and extraordinary art. For example, he suggests a half-caste is "....when picasso/ mix red an green/is a half-caste canvas" (7-9). This evokes sensations of painting in the manner of famous icons such as Picasso and embodying multiracial idividuals as works of art. Just like how the artist mixes different paints, half-castes are a blend of nationalities and without this mixture it is not the same. Therefore it challenges the opinions of people who recognise using the slur as being appropriate to see it as an insult instead, due to the poor image it influences that masks their 'expensive' characters. Further more, its positive tone effectively proves that this unique identity should be appreciated as a valued feature through this relationship between art and hierarchy in society. Ultimately, he is able to present his views on race and cause a changing attitude to the usage of the term.