Summary

The poem “Listen Mr Oxford don” by John Agard is written as a monologue by a Caribbean immigrant, who addresses an English professor from Oxford University (an “Oxford don”). 

The speaker in the poem starts out by presenting himself as a poor immigrant from Clapham Common, which is an area in London with many immigrants. He adds that, in contrast to the well-educated Oxford don, he did not graduate. Instead, he became an immigrant.

In the following stanzas, the speaker explains how he is seen as a dangerous man because he is an immigrant – and because his use of Caribbean English is seen as a threat to “the Queen’s English, meaning proper English. The speaker suggests that he has been accused of ‘assaulting’ the English language and demonstrates how Caribbean English includes many traits that are considered grammatically incorrect. 

The speaker feels like he is blamed for not speaking standard English, and that he is pursued like a criminal for this. He also feels like he is being judged by the Oxford don – and by extension all educated English people – for being an immigrant who does not give up his culture. He is, therefore, also perceived as a threat, as his presence in the UK might also influence British culture.

In the final stanzas, the speaker warns the English professor that he will use language to defend himself from discrimination. He defiantly insists on the right to speak English the way he wants.