trust and between

discrimination
- races

ALWAYS A SUSPECT
.

>
-

Title/Subject
3 lines -> 4 Stanzas
ist person
Senjambment
I get up in the morning

5
and dress up like a gentleman – shows extra info
A white shirt, a tie and a suit.⑧
shows how I ordea perspective sombre
I walk into the street ends and another tone :
relentless bitter
to be met by a man begins .

mood
, ,

:
who tells meI“to produce.” form of ID despondency
(papers) *
snows that
I show him educated.
the document of my existence
speaker is
*

to be scrutinised and given the nod. THEMES :

-look closely I thoroughly Racism

Then I enter the foyer of the building
& *
Discrimination
to have my way barred by a commissionaire -
doorman
“What do you want?” Nature of man .
lost
lines
stopped short/
hope 8 tone : imitation rude ,
[I trudge7the city pavements cart ,

↓
.

side by side with “madam”

walking who shifts her handbag ~ is it heavy
? FREE
he about to steal ?
from my side to the other, is
-

Slowly/ and looks at me with eyes that say

& VERSE
heavily . “Ha! Ha! I know who you are; ③ interrogation
world
interjectionbeneath those fine clothes by the
ticks the heart of a thief.” him around .

dehumani s i n
Onomatopoeia

description
g verbs show
(machine] endless movement his
daily journey.
ALWAYS A SUSPECT
ALWAYS A SUSPECT

## Always a Suspect

The poem "Always a Suspect" by Mbuyiseni Oswald Mtshali paints a stark picture of the daily
reality faced by a Black man living under apartheid in South Africa.

The speaker, dressed in a suit and tie, attempts to navigate a world where he is constantly
scrutinized and viewed with suspicion. He begins his day by being stopped and asked to "produce"
his identification, a routine humiliation that underscores the lack of basic human rights.

The speaker's journey through the city is fraught with encounters that highlight the pervasive
prejudice he faces. A commissionaire at the building he enters demands to know "What do you
want?", implying that his presence is unwelcome.

Walking alongside a white woman, the speaker feels her constant vigilance, her shifting handbag
and suspicious gaze. He is acutely aware of her unspoken judgment, her belief that beneath his
"fine clothes" lies the heart of a thief.

The poem's powerful imagery and stark language effectively convey the speaker's sense of
alienation and the constant burden of being judged solely based on his race. It serves as a
poignant reminder of the systemic racism and discrimination that permeated South African society
during apartheid.

Reading Summary
● The poem "Always a Suspect" by Mbuyiseni Oswald Mtshali portrays the daily struggles of a
Black man living under apartheid in South Africa.
● The speaker is constantly scrutinized and viewed with suspicion, facing prejudice and
discrimination in every aspect of his life.
● The poem highlights the systemic racism and the constant burden of being judged solely
based on race, using powerful imagery and language to convey the speaker's sense of
alienation.

Vocabulary
Term Definition Example Sentence
scrutinized To examine or inspect closely and The detective scrutinized the evidence
(verb) critically. for any clues that could lead to the
perpetrator.

pervasive Spread throughout every part of The pervasive smell of smoke filled the
(adjective) something; widespread. entire building after the fire.

vigilance The action or state of keeping careful The soldiers maintained constant
(noun) watch for possible danger or difficulties. vigilance at the border, ready to respond
to any threat.

alienation The state of being isolated from a group The constant discrimination and
(noun) or activity to which one should belong prejudice led to a sense of alienation
or in which one should be involved. among the minority group.

poignant Evoking a keen sense of sadness or The poignant farewell speech brought
(adjective) regret. tears to the eyes of the audience.

Multiple Choice Questions

Question #1 Question #2 Question #3
What is the speaker's What specific detail in the What is the main point the
profession in the poem poem suggests that the poem "Always a Suspect"
"Always a Suspect"? speaker feels judged by the makes about the speaker's
white woman walking beside experience under apartheid?
him?