Who Am I?
Born and raised in Birmingham, England, Benjamin Zephaniah was creating (and sharing) poetry from a young age. In fact, he first performed his poetry in church aged only 10 – a testament to his love for the art.
While he gained a following in his 91% non-White area of Birmingham, he wanted to raise awareness and further spread his message of anti-racism, revolution, animal rights and other issues. He moved to London, where he published his first books and also regularly experienced racism. Zephaniah recorded his experiences in his writings and in his 1982 album Rasta. He was one of the pioneers of the eighties’ punk and rasta movement – protesting everything he saw wrong in his country.
What Am I Known For?
In his own words, Benjamin Zephaniah would rather be recognised for his struggle against racism, the Iraq war and animal rights, rather than his writing, saying that it is much more challenging than writing poems.
However, his poetry, often including humour, has been an integral part of changing the way Black history is taught in the UK. When he was growing up, the British school system neglected large parts of Black history and instead focused purely on slavery and the glory of the British empire – instead of including the rich history of Black communities and the effect they have had on Britain.
Throughout his long and successful career, Zephaniah showed integrity by standing up for his beliefs. This was particularly evident in his infamous refusal of accepting an OBE in 2003 due to his belief in it representing the often malicious and discriminatory British empire, despite the fame he would gain from it.
How About You?
Write a short poem reflecting how you feel about racism and inequality.
Listen to some Rasta music and note the lyrics. What messages do you hear?
Other Amazing People (you can find on the website)
Martin Luther King Jr. worked hard to find a way to unite people in the fight against equality and racism. His story is available on our site.
Other Useful Resources (available on the website)
There are many influential Black Britons that have made major contributions. You can learn more about them in our Diverse Voices resource Amazing Black Britons. Subscribers can find this helpful resource by logging in and going to the Search page. If you are not a subscriber, you can access this resource, and many more, by starting a free trial.
Image: Benjamin Zephaniah, Edwardx, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons