Benjamin Zephaniah, who passed away at 65, was a skilled poet who used his words to champion various causes and affect social change. He found solace in communication from a young age and despite dropping out of school at 13, he made a name for himself in dub poetry within two years. He moved to London at 22, where he devoted himself to his passion and pursued his love for creativity. Zephaniah had a complicated childhood and was troubled by his father’s abuse towards his mother.
He started writing poetry to counter the negative image it had in his era. The spoken word was a powerful tool that he famously used to communicate his points and reach a larger audience. He believed poetry could bring words to life and help people talk about the issues that mattered to them. His mother always saw him as the son she knew when he was on stage, rather than the person he was off it. Zephaniah never let his love for poetry die and continuously used his platform to address different social issues.
The poet was also a fierce advocate of racial equality and frequently spoke out against racism and the stigmatization of black people. He suffered his first racist attack as a child and grew up with an irrational fear of his abusive father. With time, he found strength in creativity and firmly believed that people are not defined by their skin color. However, he was deeply troubled by the death of his cousin in police custody in 2002, which brought his family closer together and helped them understand why he spoke about certain issues.
Although Zephaniah had a complicated relationship with his father, he remained close to his mother, who served as a nurse and was a role model in his eyes. She tried to see the good in people, which he emulated and tried to cultivate in his own life. Even though he and his partner had difficulty conceiving children, he relished the letters he received from children expressing their admiration for his work. Benjamin Zephaniah will leave behind a legacy of powerful words that expressed his passions and brought a new meaning to poetry in contemporary times
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