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The poems ‘Neighbours’ and ‘The British’ by Benjamin Zephaniah both speak of racial discrimination. However, Zephaniah makes use of different imageries and tones in each poem to convey his thoughts regarding this issue.
The image of dark shades is prevalent in ‘Neighbours’. The protagonist is described as “black”. His “shadow” and “chant[s] at night” will disturb his white neighbours. This illuminates the reality where whites view blacks of suspicious and dubious character, once again highlighting the theme of discrimination.
The image of beasts is also dominant. The blacks are described to “talk in tongues”- like serpents. This shows that people think the blacks are unlearned and incomprehensible. The blacks are also likened to those who “sleep with lions”- neither tamed nor civilised.
Such images reveal the stereotypical perceptions the whites hold of the blacks. By beginning the poem with listing several stereotypes of the blacks- that they are “the type [people] are supposed to fear”- Zephaniah acknowledges that the whites view him and his people as scary, shady and uncouth. Such stark introduction shows discrimination was predominant in the poet’s society.
‘The British’, on the other hand, serves to remind readers that “justice and equality” must never be ignored. Zephaniah makes use of the image of a recipe to do so. By giving a guideline, he believes people will follow in accordance, like a step-by-step basis, to achieve the desired outcome and avoid the “bitter unpleasant taste”. Thus, in order to achieve harmony they should be not take for granted that just because the English language has “[bind] them together” their civility would last forever.
The image of heat also appears in this poem. Zephaniah’s instruction to “turn up the heat” is an example. He also describes Britain as a “melting pot” where the ingredients should be left to “simmer”. This serves as a warning of the potential violent outcomes should...