Telephone Conversation- Wole Soyinka

Telephone Conversation- Wole Soyinka

[alert-success] Telephone Conversation [/alert-success]

[alert-primary] Short Summary [/alert-primary]

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Introduction :  

    Wole Soyinka's poem "Telephone Conversation" powerfully examines racial discrimination through what appears to be a simple phone call. The story is told through a conversation between a black man looking to rent an apartment and a white landlady, highlighting the ridiculousness and severity of racism.

Short Summary:

    The poem "Telephone Conversation" begins with a black man who is interested in renting an apartment that seems affordable and conveniently located. However, he feels compelled to mention his race to avoid an awkward situation during a potential visit. The landlady's reaction to this is one of shock and bias, as she asks, "HOW DARK?" and "ARE YOU LIGHT OR VERY DARK?" These questions reveal her deep-seated racial prejudices.
    Soyinka uses irony and satire to critique societal biases. The speaker responds to this question with sarcasm, and answers that his skin tone is "West African sepia" and jokes that his palms and soles are white. This highlights the ridiculousness of defining someone solely by their skin color.

    Then Soyinka added, “at least it’s in my passport.” There was a pause as the landlady tried to think of all the colors that he could mean. But soon, her true feelings came out, and she spoke sharply into the phone.
    “WHAT IS THAT?” she asked, confessing, “I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS” “It’s a brunette color,” the poet replied. “THAT'S DARK, ISN'T IT?" she said. Soyinka  answered:

Facially, I am brunette, but, madam, you should see

The rest of me. Palm of my hand, soles of my feet

Are a peroxide blond.

    The poet jokes that by all the sitting has made his butt is dark as a raven. He asks, “don’t you want to see for yourself?”. Soyinka vividly explains the discrimination that he has faced in a statistical tone.

    "Telephone Conversation" is written in free verse, which creates a conversational feel. This choice emphasizes the everyday nature of the dialogue, making the landlady's racism even more jarring. Vivid descriptions, like "lipstick coated, long gold-rolled / Cigarette-holder pipped," paint a clear picture of the landlady's superficiality and prejudice.
Themes:
The main theme of "Telephone Conversation" is the subtle yet pervasive nature of racial discrimination. Even with laws in place to combat it, racism still appears on a personal level. The poem also explores themes of identity and the struggle for dignity in the face of prejudice. The speaker's frustration and anger are clear as he navigates a world that judges him based on his skin color.
Conclusion:
"Telephone Conversation" is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that sheds light on the everyday realities of racism. 

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