Half Caste (poem)
So, a long time ago, some people used to use a word called "half caste" to describe people who had parents from different races or different parts of the world.
But that word is very hurtful and mean, because it makes it sound like someone is only half a person because of their heritage.
A poet named John Agard wrote a poem called "Half Caste," where he talks about how silly and wrong it is to use that word. He asks why we can't appreciate and enjoy all the different parts of someone's heritage, instead of putting them down for it.
He also makes fun of the idea that someone who is "half caste" would only be able to do half of something – like, if you're half English and half Caribbean, does that mean you can only speak half of each language? Of course not!
In the end, the poem is a message that everyone should be proud of where they come from and that no one should ever be made to feel like they aren't a whole person because of their background.
But that word is very hurtful and mean, because it makes it sound like someone is only half a person because of their heritage.
A poet named John Agard wrote a poem called "Half Caste," where he talks about how silly and wrong it is to use that word. He asks why we can't appreciate and enjoy all the different parts of someone's heritage, instead of putting them down for it.
He also makes fun of the idea that someone who is "half caste" would only be able to do half of something – like, if you're half English and half Caribbean, does that mean you can only speak half of each language? Of course not!
In the end, the poem is a message that everyone should be proud of where they come from and that no one should ever be made to feel like they aren't a whole person because of their background.