Editing Benjamin Zephaniah (section)

==Views==
Zephaniah was connected with – and served as patron for – many organizations that aligned with his beliefs.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://benjaminzephaniah.com/biography/|title=Biography {{!}} CV Type Thing|website=Benjamin Zephaniah|access-date=16 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231126165730/https://benjaminzephaniah.com/biography/|archive-date=26 November 2023|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/benjamin-zephaniah/youth-employment-futureversity_b_1842085.html|title=Youth Unemployment: I Wanted to Use Poetry to Speak for Myself|first=Benjamin|last=Zephaniah|website=[[HuffPost]]|date=October 30, 2012|access-date=16 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231216233239/https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/benjamin-zephaniah/youth-employment-futureversity_b_1842085.html|archive-date=16 December 2023|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Animal rights and veganism===
Zephaniah became a [[vegetarian]] at the age of 11,<ref name="guard-28dec2022">{{cite news |last1=Zephaniah |first1=Benjamin |title='I'll stop saying I don't eat meat – and tell people I don't eat animals': the thing I'll do differently in 2023 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2022/dec/28/benjamin-zephaniah-tell-people-i-dont-eat-animals-thing-ill-do-differently |access-date=28 December 2022 |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=28 December 2022 |archive-date=28 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221228100434/https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2022/dec/28/benjamin-zephaniah-tell-people-i-dont-eat-animals-thing-ill-do-differently |url-status=live }}</ref> and then became a [[vegan]] at the age of 13,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ridgers|first=Karin|title=Benjamin Zephaniah: The Interview|url=https://www.veganfoodandliving.com/vegan-lifestyle/interviews/benjamin-zephaniah-interview/#:~:text=Turning%20vegan%20at%2013%20Benjamin,ram%20veganism%20down%20peoples%20throats%E2%80%9D.|access-date=29 April 2021|website=www.veganfoodandliving.com|date=4 July 2016|language=en-GB|archive-date=29 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210429185704/https://www.veganfoodandliving.com/vegan-lifestyle/interviews/benjamin-zephaniah-interview/#:~:text=Turning%20vegan%20at%2013%20Benjamin,ram%20veganism%20down%20peoples%20throats%E2%80%9D.|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=17 July 2010|title=Interview: Benjamin Zephaniah|first=John|last=Hind|url=http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2010/jul/18/benjamin-zephaniah-life-on-a-plate|access-date=29 April 2021|newspaper=The Guardian|language=en|archive-date=1 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210501052412/https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2010/jul/18/benjamin-zephaniah-life-on-a-plate|url-status=live}}</ref> when he read poems about "shimmering fish floating in an underwater paradise, and birds flying free in the clear blue sky".

He was an honorary patron of [[The Vegan Society]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vegansociety.com/html/about_us/patrons.php |title=Honorary Patrons |publisher=Vegansociety.com |access-date=10 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928042755/http://www.vegansociety.com/html/about_us/patrons.php |archive-date=28 September 2011 }}</ref> [[Viva! (organisation)|Viva!]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Benjamin Zephaniah |url=https://viva.org.uk/lifestyle/living-vegan/celebrities/writers/benjamin-zephaniah/ |website=Viva! The Vegan Charity |orig-date=Original date 6 November 2020 |date=2024-02-23}}</ref> and [[EVOLVE! Campaigns]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.evolvecampaigns.org.uk/ |title=Evolve Campaigns |publisher=EVOLVE! Campaigns |access-date=10 May 2011 |archive-date=15 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231215142843/http://evolvecampaigns.org.uk/evolve/default.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref> and was an [[animal rights]] advocate. In 2004, he wrote the foreword to [[Keith Mann]]'s book ''From Dusk 'til Dawn: An insider's view of the growth of the Animal Liberation Movement'', a book about the [[Animal Liberation Front]]. In August 2007, he announced that he would be launching the Animal Liberation Project, alongside [[People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.arkangelweb.org/international/uk/20070801benjaminzephaniah.php|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080417015512/http://www.arkangelweb.org/international/uk/20070801benjaminzephaniah.php|url-status=dead|title=UK {{!}} Benjamin Zephaniah set to launch 'Animal Liberation Project'|archivedate=17 April 2008|website=[[Arkangel (magazine)|Arkangel Magazine]]|date=1 August 2007}}</ref> In February 2001, his book ''The Little Book of Vegan Poems'' was published by [[AK Press]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Little Book Of Vegan Poems by Benjamin Zephaniah {{!}} Waterstones|url=https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-little-book-of-vegan-poems/benjamin-zephaniah/9781902593333|access-date=29 April 2021|website=www.waterstones.com|language=en|archive-date=29 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210429185702/https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-little-book-of-vegan-poems/benjamin-zephaniah/9781902593333|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Anti-racism activism===
Zephaniah spoke extensively about his personal experiences of anti-Black racism in Britain and incorporated his experiences in much of his written work.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Morris|first=Natalie|date=26 October 2020|title=Benjamin Zephaniah: 'The racist thugs of my youth are older and wear suits now'|url=https://metro.co.uk/2020/10/26/benjamin-zephaniah-the-racist-thugs-of-my-youth-are-grown-up-and-wear-suits-now-13471030/|access-date=29 April 2021|website=Metro|language=en|archive-date=15 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231215142841/https://metro.co.uk/2020/10/26/benjamin-zephaniah-the-racist-thugs-of-my-youth-are-grown-up-and-wear-suits-now-13471030/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2012, Zephaniah worked with anti-racism organisation [[Newham Monitoring Project]], with whom he made a video,<ref>{{cite web|title=Benjamin Zephaniah – Put the Number in Your Phone|url=http://www.nmp.org.uk/2012/03/benjamin-zephaniah-put-number-in-your.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120729060656/http://www.nmp.org.uk/2012/03/benjamin-zephaniah-put-number-in-your.html|archive-date=29 July 2012|access-date=14 March 2012|publisher=Newham Monitoring Project}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newhamrecorder.co.uk/news/21457155.know-civil-rights-2012-games/|title=Know your civil rights during 2012 Games|date=30 March 2012|first=Melissa|last=York|newspaper=[[Newham Recorder]]|access-date=14 December 2023|archive-date=14 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231214084649/https://www.newhamrecorder.co.uk/news/21457155.know-civil-rights-2012-games/|url-status=live}}</ref> and [[Tower Hamlets Summer University]] (Futureversity) about the impact of Olympic policing on black communities.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.hamhigh.co.uk/news/23974506.obituary-trailblazer-poet-benjamin-zephania-aged-65/|title=Obituary: 'Trailblazer' poet Benjamin Zephania dies aged 65|first=Nathalie |last=Raffray|newspaper=[[Ham&High]]|date=7 December 2023|access-date=17 December 2023}}</ref> In that same year, he also wrote about cases of racially abusive language employed by police officers and "the reality of police racism that many of us experience all the time".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/oct/26/police-dont-work-for-us|title=The police don't work for us|first=Benjamin |last=Zephaniah|newspaper=The Guardian|date=26 October 2012}}</ref>

In November 2003, Zephaniah was offered appointment in the [[2004 New Year Honours]] as an [[Officer of the Order of the British Empire]] (OBE), for which he said he had been recommended by [[Tony Blair]]. But he publicly [[declining a British honour|rejected the honour]]<ref>{{cite news|first=Merope|last=Mills|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2003/nov/27/iraq.monarchy|title=Rasta poet publicly rejects his OBE|newspaper=The Guardian|date=27 November 2003|access-date=7 June 2012|archive-date=27 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130827173437/http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2003/nov/27/iraq.monarchy|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.citizen.co.za/news/news-world/british-poet-benjamin-zephaniah-dies-aged-65-family/|title=British poet Benjamin Zephaniah dies aged 65: family|website=The Citizen|date=8 December 2023|access-date=9 December 2023|archive-date=9 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231209234816/https://www.citizen.co.za/news/news-world/british-poet-benjamin-zephaniah-dies-aged-65-family/|url-status=live}}</ref> and in a subsequent article for ''[[The Guardian]]'', elaborated on learning about being considered for the award and his reasons for rejecting it: "Me? I thought, OBE me? Up yours, I thought. I get angry when I hear that word 'empire'; it reminds me of slavery, it reminds of thousands of years of brutality, it reminds me of how my foremothers were raped and my forefathers brutalised... Benjamin Zephaniah OBE – no way [[Tony Blair|Mr Blair]], no way [[Queen Elizabeth II|Mrs Queen]]. I am profoundly [[Anti-imperialism|anti-empire]]."<ref name="ZephaniahNov272003">{{cite news|last=Zephaniah|first=Benjamin|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2003/nov/27/poetry.monarchy|title='Me? I thought, OBE me? Up yours, I thought'|newspaper=The Guardian|date=27 November 2003|access-date=11 December 2016|archive-date=10 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200510164039/https://www.theguardian.com/books/2003/nov/27/poetry.monarchy|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |first=Merope |last=Mills |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk_news/story/0,3604,1094118,00.html |title=Rasta poet publicly rejects his OBE |newspaper=The Guardian |date=27 November 2003 |access-date=11 December 2016 |archive-date=15 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231215142842/https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2003/nov/27/iraq.monarchy |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Other activism ===
Zephaniah spoke in favour of a [[British Republic]] and the [[Abolition of monarchy|dis-establishment of the Crown]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.republic.org.uk/tv/?p=10 |title=Statement of Principles |publisher=[[Republic (pressure group)|Republic]] |date=29 April 2011 |access-date=10 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090803170043/http://www.republic.org.uk/tv/?p=10 |archive-date=3 August 2009}}</ref> In 2015, he called for [[Welsh language|Welsh]] and [[Cornish language|Cornish]] to be taught in English schools, saying: "Hindi, Chinese and French are taught [in schools], so why not Welsh? And why not Cornish? They're part of our culture."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-33840692|title=Benjamin Zephaniah calls for English schools to teach Welsh|work=BBC News|date=10 August 2015|access-date=27 August 2018|archive-date=9 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231209234818/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-33840692|url-status=live}}</ref>

Zephaniah supported [[Amnesty International]] in 2005, speaking out against [[homophobia in Jamaica]], saying: "For many years Jamaica was associated with freedom fighters and liberators, so it hurts when I see that the home of my parents is now associated with the persecution of people because of their sexual orientation."<ref>{{cite web |title=Jamaica: Benjamin Zephaniah calls on Jamaicans everywhere to stand up against homophobia |url=https://www.amnesty.org.uk/news_details.asp?NewsID=16161 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120903222159/http://amnesty.org.uk/news_details.asp?NewsID=16161 |date=9 June 2005 |archive-date=3 September 2012 |access-date=12 October 2012| publisher=Amnesty International}}</ref>

In 2016, Zephaniah curated ''We Are All Human'', an exhibition at London's [[Southbank Centre]] presented by the [[Koestler Trust]], which exhibited art works by prisoners, detainees and ex-offenders.<ref name="ap2019">{{cite web|last1=Bankes|first1=Ariane|title=Why we need to free art by prisoners from behind bars|url=https://www.apollo-magazine.com/why-we-need-to-free-art-by-prisoners-from-behind-bars/|access-date=31 January 2019|website=Apollo Magazine|date=8 January 2018|archive-date=1 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190201013501/https://www.apollo-magazine.com/why-we-need-to-free-art-by-prisoners-from-behind-bars/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Zephaniah was a supporter of the [[Palestine Solidarity Campaign]] and joined demonstrations calling for an end to the [[Israeli–Palestinian conflict|Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands]], describing the activism as the "Anti Apartheid movement". He was also a supporter of the BDS ([[Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions]]) movement.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sagir|first=Ceren|date=12 May 2019|title=Thousands in London call for an end to Israeli occupation of Palestine|url=https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/w/thousands-in-london-call-for-an-end-to-israeli-occupation-of-palestine|access-date=14 July 2020|website=Morning Star|language=en|archive-date=14 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200714040421/https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/w/thousands-in-london-call-for-an-end-to-israeli-occupation-of-palestine|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Bratu|first=Alex|date=7 May 2019|title=Birmingham poet Benjamin Zephaniah backs national demonstration for Palestine|url=https://www.iambirmingham.co.uk/2019/05/07/birmingham-poet-benjamin-zephaniah-backs-national-demonstration-for-palestine/|access-date=14 July 2020|website=I Am Birmingham|archive-date=17 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200717040935/https://www.iambirmingham.co.uk/2019/05/07/birmingham-poet-benjamin-zephaniah-backs-national-demonstration-for-palestine/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Political views===
Zephaniah self-identified as an [[anarchist]];<ref>{{cite news |last=Zephaniah |first=Benjamin |date=June 2019 |title=Why I Am an Anarchist |url=http://dogsection.org/why-i-am-an-anarchist/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190621013239/http://dogsection.org/why-i-am-an-anarchist/ |archive-date=21 June 2019 |website=[[Dog Section Press]]}}</ref> observing in a 2022 interview: "...there are places that live without government and live peacefully and happily. A lack of power means people of course aren't fighting over it and the main objective of society is to look after each other."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.palatinate.org.uk/benjamin-zephaniah-i-can-make-people-think-and-change-their-minds/|title=Benjamin Zephaniah: 'I can make people think and change their minds'|website=[[Palatinate (newspaper)|Palatinate]]|first=Arjun|last=Seth|date=27 October 2022|access-date=17 December 2023}}</ref> He appeared in literature to support changing the [[British elections|British electoral system]] from [[First-past-the-post voting|first-past-the-post]] to [[Instant-runoff voting|alternative vote]] for electing [[members of parliament]] to the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] in the [[2011 United Kingdom Alternative Vote referendum|Alternative Vote referendum]] in 2011.<ref>{{cite news | url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-12950712 | title= Benjamin Zephaniah 'airbrushed from Yes to AV leaflets' | work= BBC News | date= 3 April 2011 | access-date= 20 June 2018 | archive-date= 24 November 2018 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181124222108/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-12950712 | url-status= live }}</ref> In a 2017 interview, commenting on the ongoing [[Brexit negotiations]], Zephaniah stated: "For left-wing reasons, I think we should leave the [[European Union|EU]] but the way that we're leaving is completely wrong."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.newstatesman.com/culture/books/2017/12/benjamin-zephaniah-qa-my-first-racist-attack-was-brick-back-head |title=Benjamin Zephaniah Q&A: 'My first racist attack was a brick in the back of the head' |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=4 December 2017 |website=[[New Statesman]] |access-date=9 December 2017 |archive-date=10 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200510164205/https://www.newstatesman.com/culture/books/2017/12/benjamin-zephaniah-qa-my-first-racist-attack-was-brick-back-head |url-status=live }}</ref>

In December 2019, along with 42 other leading cultural figures, he signed a letter endorsing the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] under [[Jeremy Corbyn]]'s leadership in the [[2019 United Kingdom general election|2019 general election]]. The letter stated: "Labour's election manifesto under Jeremy Corbyn's leadership offers a transformative plan that prioritises the needs of people and the planet over private profit and the vested interests of a few."<ref name="theguardian1">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/dec/03/vote-for-hope-and-a-decent-future|title=Letters {{!}} Vote for hope and a decent future|newspaper=The Guardian|date=3 December 2019|access-date=4 December 2019|archive-date=3 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191203234134/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/dec/03/vote-for-hope-and-a-decent-future|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="theguardian2">{{cite news|last=Proctor|first=Kate|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/dec/03/coogan-klein-lead-cultural-figures-backing-corbyn-labour|title=Coogan and Klein lead cultural figures backing Corbyn and Labour|newspaper=The Guardian|date=3 December 2019|access-date=4 December 2019|archive-date=11 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200911180550/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/dec/03/coogan-klein-lead-cultural-figures-backing-corbyn-labour|url-status=live}}</ref>