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No ProblemShort story by Benjamin Zephaniah

Flashcards for No Problem

25 cards · 3 characters · 7 key quotes · 4 symbols · 11 literary devices. Nothing is saved and nothing is asked for — close the tab and the deck resets.

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Characters · 3

  1. British Society

    In No Problem (author unspecified), British Society acts not as a distinct character but as a collective, pervasive presence — the social environment the Speaker navigates every day.

    character

  2. The Oppressor / Racist System

    In no Problem by (see coverage_works), the Oppressor / Racist System isn’t portrayed as a singular character but as a constant structural force — the weight of colonial history, institutional racism, and white-supremacist ideology that influences every aspect of the Speaker's life in Britain.

    character

  3. The Speaker (Poetic Voice)

    The Speaker in no Problem by Benjamin Zephaniah serves as the poem's main human voice — a Black British person who confronts systemic racism and cultural erasure with bold confidence.

    character

Key quotes · 7

  1. “I am not de problem”

    This quote, "I am not de problem," is from the work titled No Problem and carries deep themes of identity, belonging, and systemic bias.

    Protagonist/marginalized character

  2. “But I bear de brunt / Of silly playground taunts”

    This couplet is from "No Problem," a poem (or song lyric) where the speaker reflects on the personal toll of facing mockery and social cruelty.

    Poetic speaker / narrator

  3. “I come from a mighty people”

    This quote, "I come from a mighty people," is spoken by a character who takes pride in their heritage and cultural identity.

    <UNKNOWN> · <UNKNOWN>

  4. “I no fit in”

    The quote "I no fit in" is expressed in Nigerian Pidgin English, clearly indicating that the speaker straddles multiple worlds — not fully fitting into Western/colonial frameworks or a singular, fixed cultural identity.

    <UNKNOWN> · <UNKNOWN>

  5. “I am not de problem / I am de solution”

    This bold statement — "I am not de problem / I am de solution" — is from the poem No Problem by British-Caribbean poet Benjamin Zephaniah, who is recognized as one of the leading voices in contemporary performance poetry.

    The poetic speaker (Benjamin Zephaniah, autobiographical voice)

  6. “Check out my full potential”

    The quote "Check out my full potential" is from No Problem, but details about its authorship and genre are still not confirmed in standard literary catalogues.

    <UNKNOWN> · <UNKNOWN>

  7. “I am not de problem / I am not de problem”

    This bold and rhythmic declaration comes from John Agard's acclaimed poem "Half-Caste," which is often linked to a wider range of poems that challenge racial and cultural bias.

    The poetic speaker (Black British voice) · No Problem

Symbols · 4

  1. Language and Dialect

    In No Problem, language and dialect symbolize cultural identity, belonging, and the struggles of assimilation.

  2. Skin Colour

    In No Problem, skin colour symbolizes systemic racial bias and the tension that exists between self-identity and how society categorizes individuals.

  3. The Body

    In No Problem, the body symbolizes vulnerability, authenticity, and the limits of self-reliance.

  4. The Label / Stereotype

    In No Problem, the label or stereotype symbolizes the unseen but heavy burden of racial and social prejudice.

Literary devices · 11

  1. Dramatic Monologue

    The poem is presented entirely from the perspective of a Black British speaker who addresses an implied audience—probably a dismissive or prejudiced society—insisting, "I am not de problem."

  2. Repetition

    The refrain "I am not de problem" appears at crucial points in the poem, serving as both a rhetorical insistence and an emotional anchor.

  3. Anaphora

    Zephaniah organizes several stanzas around the repeated phrase 'I am not de problem,' using anaphora to create a powerful rhetorical impact.

  4. Irony

    The poem's main irony lies in the fact that the speaker has to defend themselves against a 'problem' created entirely by others.

  5. Free Verse

    The poem avoids sticking to a set rhyme scheme or metrical pattern, flowing instead with the natural rhythms of spoken Black British vernacular.

  6. Slam Poetry

    Zephaniah is a key figure in British performance poetry, and 'No Problem' is crafted to resonate when spoken as much as when read.

  7. Juxtaposition

    The poem consistently contrasts the speaker's self-awareness with society's misrepresentation, creating striking differences.

  8. Metaphor

    The poem's main idea is that Black people have been labeled as a 'problem'—a concept taken from W. E. B. Du Bois's question, 'How does it feel to be a problem?'

  9. Allusion

    The poem’s persistent self-defence reflects the tradition of Black protest literature — think Du Bois, Langston Hughes, and Claude McKay’s ‘If We Must Die’ — even if it doesn’t mention them explicitly.

  10. Apostrophe

    Throughout the poem, the speaker directly addresses 'yu' — an unnamed 'you' that symbolizes a wider society, the media, the state, or a biased observer.

  11. Motif

    The poem explores the theme of visibility and invisibility: the speaker is prominently viewed as a racialized 'problem,' yet remains unseen as a complete human being with their own culture, history, and contributions.