In this chapter, the speaker shares their personal experiences of racism, their involvement in petty crime, and their journey of self-reflection. They also discuss their political consciousness and the limitations of fighting the system while incarcerated. The chapter highlights their transition from a life of crime to becoming a manager in a gang, and ultimately deciding to leave that lifestyle behind and join a different group in London.
The poet, writer and activist Benjamin Zephaniah sadly passed away this week, aged 65. In this archive discussion from 2019, journalist Samira Ahmed speaks with Zephaniah about his life's work and the journey that took him from his youth in Birmingham to becoming one of the UK's most distinct and relevant voices harnessing the power of poetry and the spoken word.
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