‘No Problem’ by Benjamin Zephaniah is an ideal example of a poem that utilizes voice as best as it can be used. Voice is a crucial element of poetry — of all literature. The author decides to allow their personality to enter the work, to fill it with their unique perspective and feeling. When reading several works by the same author, there tends to be a continuity of voice present. Poets who choose to use their voice — to make their presence in ‘No Problem’ unmistakable — are often some of the most memorable writers who create the most memorable works, because it’s as though they are speaking to the readers themselves.
Explore No Problem
- 1 Summary
- 2 Meaning
- 3 Tone and Voice
- 4 Poetic Techniques
- 5 Analysis of No Problem
- 6 Historical Context
Summary
‘No Problem’ by Benjamin Zephaniah is a poem describing how the poet faced racial discrimination in his early life.
‘No Problem’ by Benjamin Zephaniah says that the poet is not a problem in a white-dominated society. It’s their problem that they can’t accept the poet as he is. His color isn’t the actual problem, it’s the mindset that sees the only color. That divides humans according to their speaking style, origin, and bodily characteristics. The poet goes beyond such discriminatory thoughts and welcomes an air of individual freedom in his poem. He proclaims himself as a “versatile” person who wants to teach the things he knows. But, “they” rejected the overall person for his ‘black” identity. The poet doesn’t mind it and shows his love for the country without any disgrace to her. He doesn’t even hate white men. That’s why some of the “best friends” of the poet “are white”.
Meaning
‘No Problem’ by Benjamin Zephaniah isn’t a poem that is hard to comprehend. The simplicity of the verse paints the portrait of the poet as a man with simple thoughts. A person who avoids the complexity of any kind sees only the positive side of every situation. Some of the words in the poem appear to be not in the correct spelling. But it’s correct for the poet, as he speaks in the same manner as he wrote this poem. It reflects the poet’s avoidance of the order established by white men that somehow destroys diversity and wants to bring everything in order. For the sake of protecting his identity and individual voice, the voice adopts this syntax and pronunciation of words. However, the most important meaning of the poem is the poet hasn’t any problems with the discriminatory attitudes of “them”. He hates the mindset of hatred toward “black people”. In his heart, there is not a single amount of hatred towards white men in this world.
Tone and Voice
The most striking thing about Zephaniah’s work is his use of voice, which he imbues into ‘No Problem’ by intentionally spelling the words phonetically, rather than in a strictly “correct” way. The spelling of each word emphasizes an accent typical of the African continent, which makes sense by the message the work attempts to convey. Importantly, none of the changes in working or spelling inhibit the piece from conveying its meaning properly, but still, add a new dimension to the poem.
The first word in the poem is “I,” and it is followed by words that convey an accent foreign to the readership. Right away, the reader is informed that this is someone else’s story, and are told, in that one line, who that someone is, and why they should care about what they have to say — and it’s all in the tone of the speaker.
Poetic Techniques
‘No Problem’ by Benjamin Zephaniah is divided into two verses of short lines without any particular adherence to rhyme or pattern. The primary poetic device being used is in the line breaks that isolate each idea and make sure the reader is feeling the full impact of each one.
Analysis of No Problem
Verse One
I am not de problem
(…)
But I a versatile.
Throughout the first verse, this line is repeated several times, each time to view a different dimension of the actual problem. “I am not the problem,” the speaker declares for the first time, “but I am treated as though I were.” The mention of taunts and slurs in the first few lines is a smart choice by the author, because this early into the reading, this is our only context for the speaker — that they are victimized. At the time of reading, there is no reason to assume or believe they deserve any kind of victimization, so the effect is that the reader is “meeting” the speaker for the first time, only to learn that they are bearing weight. It is an effective and emotional way to begin the piece.
The next several lines reference the stereotype that pushes people of color away from academia, and towards athleticism. The speaker is described as being a “born” academic and a “branded” athlete. The rest of the verse concludes similarly, with the narrator being constantly misunderstood. They are a person who could tell you about Timbuktu, but all anyone seems to care about is dancing in the region. They are a complex individual, a unique and inspiring person, but the simplicity of the popular stereotypes overshadows them entirely.
Verse Two
These conditions may affect me
(…)
Sum of me best friends are white.
The last verse opens with an interesting expression; that these “conditions” might affect the speaker as they age. It is as though the opinions and scorn from others are debilitating, and the speaker compares them with age-related diseases. Despite this, they declare that they’ve no grudges or anger towards anyone, and point out that they have some really good friends in this same world that stereotype and abuse them.
The second verse is about completing the picture that the commentators quoted in the first verse got wrong. It is also about clarity; when, in the first verse, the narrator speaks of not being the problem, the repetition may imply anger to some. Understandably enough, many people would become bitter and unhappy after being blamed for so much for so long. And yet, the image painted by this poem is of someone with a great deal of acceptance for their world, and both the good and the bad within it.
It’s an interesting choice on the author’s part to use the voice that conveys the accent most associated with the stereotypes being fought by the poem. By doing this, the author creates a conflicting view by perpetuating one element of the stereotype (the accent) while dispelling the rest. This is likely a stylistic choice related to the pride referenced in the second verse: “Mother country get it right.” The speaker is proud of their accent and their country and doesn’t want to be judged for that pride.
Historical Context
This is a powerful and honest poem that is more than likely a strong reflection of Benjamin Zephaniah’s struggles with racism and stereotyping, which he has famously fought against in his own life. Much of his work has been in favor of equality and social justice, and it makes sense for a poem such as ‘No Problem’ too.
