Poetry Unbound Benjamin Zephaniah — To Michael Menson
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Feb 17, 2025 Benjamin Zephaniah’s powerful poem poignantly highlights the quest for justice for a murdered Black musician. The discussion explores how poetry intersects with law, emphasizing the significance of legal language in addressing societal issues. Themes of hope, truth, and the emotional complexities surrounding justice are central to the conversation. Listeners are drawn into the narrative of racial injustices, as the poetic call for clear-eyed, collaborative action resonates deeply in today's world.
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Benjamin Zephaniah's Background
- Benjamin Zephaniah, a renowned British poet, also worked as a musician and campaigner.
- He played Jeremiah Jesus in Peaky Blinders and was a poet in residence for human rights barrister Michael Mansfield.
Cases Zephaniah Worked On
- Zephaniah wrote about the Stephen Lawrence murder investigation and the Michael Menson case.
- Both cases involved inadequate police responses to crimes against Black people.
Poem's Manifesto for Law
- The poem's repetition of "There must be" creates a manifesto for law.
- It uses legal language, like "judgment," to call for examination, ruling, and condemnation where needed.