Telephone conversation Friday, 23 November 2018

The poem The subject is racism and the attitudes entrenched in “polite” society. The price seemed reasonable, location Indifferent. The landlady swore she lived Off premises. Nothing remained But self-confession. “Madam,” I warned, 5 “I hate a wasted journey—I am African.” Silence. Silenced transmission of Pressurized good-breeding. Voice, when it came, Lipstick coated, long gold-rolled Cigarette-holder pipped. Caught I was, foully. Look at the lines highlighted and discuss possible reasons for the choice of language Note the use of metaphor in line 6. Remember the work on Steinbeck in a similar passage?

“HOW DARK. ”. I had not misheard. “ARE YOU LIGHT OR VERY DARK “HOW DARK?” . . . I had not misheard . . . “ARE YOU LIGHT OR VERY DARK?” Button B. Button A. Stench Of rancid breath of public hide-and-speak. Red booth. Red pillar-box. Red double-tiered Omnibus squelching tar. It was real! Shamed 15 By ill-mannered silence, surrender Pushed dumbfoundment to beg simplification. Considerate she was, varying the emphasis— What do you think is the purpose of the capitalisation of the voice on the phone? Why us “hide and speak such an effective metaphor choice? Is this all some form of societal game? Look at the punctuation and choose one example to discuss.

“ARE YOU DARK. OR VERY LIGHT. ” Revelation came “ARE YOU DARK? OR VERY LIGHT?” Revelation came. “You mean—like plain or milk chocolate?” 20 Her assent was clinical, crushing in its light Impersonality. Rapidly, wavelength adjusted, I chose. “West African sepia”—and as an afterthought, “Down in my passport.” Silence for spectroscopic Flight of fancy, till truthfulness clanged her accent 25 Hard on the mouthpiece. “WHAT’S THAT?” conceding, “DON’T KNOW WHAT THAT IS.” “Like brunette.” Can you detect the irony at the centre of Soyinke’s responses here? What is he trying to do as he answers the questions?

“THAT’S DARK, ISN’T IT. ” “Not altogether “THAT’S DARK, ISN’T IT?” “Not altogether. Facially, I am brunette, but madam, you should see The rest of me. Palm of my hand, soles of my feet 30 Are a peroxide blonde. Friction, caused— Foolishly, madam—by sitting down, has turned My bottom raven black—One moment madam!”—sensing Her receiver rearing on the thunderclap About my ears—“Madam,” I pleaded, “wouldn’t you rather 35 See for yourself?” Why is it so important that the woman sees for herself? What is he suggesting by the word “foolishly”?

Consider and discuss: Do you think Soyinka’s poem is an effective way of making others aware of prejudice?