Benjamin Zephaniah

1958- Present

Brief Biography Poet, novelist, playwright and musician Born in England in 1958 Lived in Jamaica for 12 years

Became influenced by Bob Marley and Marcus Garvey

Moved back to England in 1973 He has recently been awarded honorary

doctorates by three different universities in London.

Influence Heavily influenced by Rastafarianism

An Afro-centric spiritual movement that started in Ethiopia due to poor social and economic conditions God was known as “Jah”

Marcus Garvey, a Jamaican was considered the prophet of this movement Encouraged people to embrace their African

heritage and move back to Africa. Spread through the lyrics of reggae music

Allusions in “What Stephen Lawrence Has Taught Us”

Institutional Racism

Found in most of our institutions: judicial and political systems, social clubs, associations, hospitals, universities, labor unions, businesses, corporations, the Church, health care centers and housing.

Spatial Racism (Gentrification)

Creating segregated suburbs or gentrified areas of cities, leaving the poor (mainly African Americans, Hispanics and some newly arrived immigrants) isolated in deteriorating areas of cities and older suburbs.

Internalized Racism

When people of color see themselves and their communities primarily through the eyes of the dominant culture and apply negative stereotypes