These are the times we live in: Imtiaz Dharker’s Take on Discrimination and Identity

Introduction

Imtiaz Dharker, a British-Pakistani poet renowned for her incisive observations of contemporary society, offers a powerful critique of discrimination and Islamophobia in her poem “These are the times we live in”. Published in her 2006 collection “The Terrorist at My Table,” this work emerged in the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks and the subsequent wars, a period marked by a surge in xenophobia and Islamophobia in the Western world.

Through vivid imagery and thought-provoking language, Dharker explores themes of identity, prejudice, and the dehumanizing effects of bureaucratic scrutiny. This analysis will delve into how Dharker’s poem serves as a poignant reflection on the experiences of marginalized individuals in an era of heightened suspicion and fear.

Brief Summary

“These are the times we live in” by Imtiaz Dharker presents a tense encounter at an airport border control. The poem opens with the lines:

“You hand over your passport.

He looks at your face

and starts reading you backwards from the last page.”

This immediate immersion into the scene sets the tone for the entire poem. The speaker, facing a border agent, endures a humiliating experience of scrutiny and suspicion. As the agent examines the speaker’s passport with evident distrust, the speaker reflects on the absurdity and pain of being reduced to an object of suspicion based on their appearance and name. Through this scenario, Dharker explores the broader themes of discrimination, identity erosion, and the burden of living in a world where one’s belonging is constantly questioned.

The Cruelty and Irrationality of Discrimination

Imtiaz Dharker masterfully portrays the illogical nature of prejudice through the border agent’s actions and the speaker’s internal monologue. The poem states:

“You can see his mind working:

Keep an eye on that name.

It contains a Z, and it just moved house.

The birthmark shifted recently to another arm or leg.”

These lines reveal the arbitrary and often childish nature of stereotypes. The agent’s fixation on details like the presence of a “Z” in the speaker’s name or a recent change of address demonstrates how discrimination reduces complex individuals to a set of superficial characteristics, stripping away their humanity in the process. The absurdity reaches its peak with the imagined shifting birthmark, highlighting how prejudice can lead to seeing what isn’t there.

Poetry Reading by Imtiaz Dharker

The Burden of Prejudice

The poem poignantly captures the emotional toll of facing constant suspicion and judgment. The speaker’s resigned acceptance of this treatment is evident in the lines:

“You could be offended,

It makes as much sense

As anything else, given the times we live in.”

This weary acceptance underscores the exhausting effect of persistent discrimination. Dharker’s use of surreal imagery, such as the speaker’s face splitting apart, vividly illustrates the fragmentation of identity that occurs under the weight of prejudice:

“Half your face splits away,

drifts onto the page of a newspaper

that’s dated today.”

This powerful metaphor suggests that the speaker’s identity is being torn apart and reduced to a headline, further emphasizing the dehumanizing effects of stereotyping.

The Erosion of Personal Identity

Dharker explores how institutional scrutiny and prejudice can destabilize one’s sense of self. The speaker’s feeling of diminishment is captured in the lines:

“You shrink to the size of the book in his hand.”

This vivid image powerfully conveys the dehumanizing effect of being reduced to mere documentation. The theme is further emphasized by the surreal transformations the speaker imagines:

“While you were flying,

up in the air they changed

your chin and redid your hair.

They scrubbed out your mouth and rubbed out your eyes.”

These lines suggest a complete loss of control over one’s own identity in the face of external judgment, illustrating how prejudice can make one feel alien even to oneself.

The Power Dynamics of Surveillance

The poem effectively illustrates the power imbalance inherent in border control situations. The agent’s authority to question and scrutinize the speaker’s identity is evident throughout the poem, particularly in lines like:

“In front of you,

he flicks to the photograph,

and looks at you suspiciously.”

This dynamic serves as a microcosm for broader societal inequalities and the challenges faced by those deemed “other” in their own communities. The border control setting becomes a metaphor for the larger experience of navigating a world where one’s right to belong is constantly questioned.

The Absurdity of Identity in a Prejudiced World

At its core, “These are the times we live in (I)” is a meditation on the absurdity of identity in a world of intense surveillance and discriminatory practices. Dharker uses surreal imagery and situations to highlight how our sense of self can become distorted and fragmented under scrutiny. The poem’s conclusion, where the speaker’s face literally falls apart, creates a powerful image of identity disintegrating under the weight of prejudice:

“The pieces are there

But they missed out your heart.

Half your face splits away,

drifts onto the page of a newspaper

that’s dated today.”

This final image invites readers to consider how our identities are shaped and distorted by the systems of control and prejudice that surround us in the modern world.

Literary Techniques in “These are the times we live in (I)”

Dharker employs several powerful literary techniques to convey her message:

1. Second-person narration: By using “you” throughout the poem, Dharker invites readers to directly experience the speaker’s humiliation and resignation, making the experience more immediate and personal.
2. Surrealism: The imagined transformations and fragmentation of identity create a dreamlike atmosphere that mirrors the disorienting experience of discrimination.
3. Repetition: The phrase “the times we live in” serves as a refrain, emphasizing the pervasive nature of prejudice in contemporary society.
4. Irony and dark humor: Lines like “That’s when you really have to laugh” highlight the absurdity of the situation while underscoring its painful reality.
5. Metaphor and imagery: The poem is rich with metaphorical language, such as the shrinking of the speaker to the size of a passport, which vividly illustrates the dehumanizing effects of prejudice.

Critical Reception and Impact

“These are the times we live in (I)” has been widely praised for its insightful commentary on discrimination and identity in the post-9/11 world. Critics have lauded Dharker’s ability to capture the often dehumanizing nature of bureaucratic processes and societal prejudices through vivid, evocative language. The poem’s relevance extends beyond its immediate historical context, resonating with readers who have experienced profiling or discrimination in various settings. It continues to spark important discussions about xenophobia, Islamophobia, and the impact of prejudice on individual and collective identities.

Conclusion

Imtiaz Dharker’s “These are the times we live in” offers a powerful and nuanced exploration of identity, discrimination, and the burden of living under constant suspicion. Through its vivid imagery and incisive observations, the poem captures the often absurd and deeply painful experience of facing prejudice in everyday life. The recurring phrase “the times we live in” serves as a sobering reminder of the persistent challenges faced by marginalized communities in our contemporary world.

Imtiaz Dharker’s work invites readers to reflect on their own experiences and biases, challenging us to consider the human cost of stereotyping and discrimination. The poem’s final image of a face splitting apart and drifting onto a newspaper page is particularly poignant, suggesting how prejudice can reduce complex individuals to mere headlines or stereotypes.

In a time when we continue to grapple with issues of identity, belonging, and equality in our diverse societies, Imtiaz Dharker’s poem remains a relevant and thought-provoking guide. It encourages us to question the systems that define and divide us, and to recognize the humanity in each individual, regardless of their name, appearance, or origin. In doing so, “These are the times we live in (I)” not only critiques “the times we live in” but also challenges us to work towards a more inclusive and understanding future.