“Try to pigeon hole Benjamin Zephaniah at your peril. Poet, writer, lyricist, musician, actor, republican, activist, campaigner, freedom fighter. It’s impossible. His achievements are too plentiful to mention.” – Opening for an interview with Shelley Carter for Birmingham Living magazine. Benjamin Zephaniah was born on 15th April 1958 in Handsworth, Birmingham. This episode looks at his life, his activism and all he stood for. It explores his refusal to accept an MBE and the implications that had. Clips taken from: ITN Archives Articles featured: Tribune Article "Us An Dem: The Radical Benjamin Zephaniah" 'Me? I thought, OBE me? Up yours, I thought' Updates on the MRes legal challenge Follow us on socials