Benjamin Zephaniah

[Supamum3]

RIP!

Life cut short too soon, he was only 65! I felt he would be one to live a very long life. He did endless great things. prayers for his family, must be such a shock for them. So sad 😞

https://twitter.com/BZephaniah/status/1732721476942311784?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet

I am White, but I was just looking down the Active threads to see if anyone had started a thread about his death, so I hope it is ok to comment on this one.
He was a fantastic writer and performer and we use his writing in school to inspire and encourage all our pupils.
He will be greatly missed.

I’m also white and hope it’s ok to say it’s awful to have lost this man. His talent and voice were so special.

I loved this man and his work .

I was surprised to hear what had happened as well. I had just read his autobiography in the Summer. I liked the way he recited his poetry. He seemed like an honest man, with integrity. May he rest in peace.

I'm white (not sure why we are posting this or what it has to do with the price of eggs) and whilst I may not have agreed with all of his views, I had a lot of respect for him as a person. He always struck me as honest, genuine, and principled.

He was a man as beautiful as his words. My favourite of his lines:

You cannot see your sister’s heart by looking at her breast

Far too soon.

Thoughts for his family and friends as his tumour was only diagnosed 8 weeks ago, and gone far too soon.

yes, so sad
I only heard him on the radio a week or so ago it seems
hopefully his family and loved ones will take some comfort from knowing how much he meant to so many

RIP 🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿

So sad about this, his books are the only ones my teen ds has read willingly and actually enjoyed.

Such very sad news. A great talent.

Sad news indeed - a legend

Seen him at quite a few poetry evenings. One of the best and hope he will be remembered properly. Goodnight Benji.

Love the man and his wonderful words. The world is poorer with the loss of this amazing person.

Desperately sad news. A lovely man and staunch animal advocate. His integrity was faultless. My heart goes out to his family 💔

We worked at the same place (him as an academic, me in professional services) and I sat in on one of his lectures about 10 years ago. After that lecture, he would always cheerfully say hello to me if I bumped into him on campus, like he remembered my face and we were equals in the HE hierarchy! Lovely chap, will be sorely missed by all those who knew him. My heartfelt condolences to his family.

Such sad news… RIP.

Beautiful photo of his fantastic, toothy grin on TV this morning. A wonderful talent cut short.

I allways hoped one day, i would come across him somewhere and just wax lyrical on poetry and things he experienced in life,
like at Hays famous book festival or somewhere,

He came across as Witty engaging person to know,

i rember listening to him on youtube once, what struck me about him, was how intelligent he was about things,
he was talking about the motivations behind of a particular terrorist organisation targeting ancient historical buildings or sculptures the significance of this ect,
he was very interesting to listen to and enlightening too.

R.I.P 🙏 Rest in Power

Rest his beautiful soul.

He just exuded joy! Even when he spoke of the hardship he experienced being black British he spoke of it with a smile, there seemed little bitterness or rancour.

I realise it's been a few days now, but the reason people are disclosing their "whiteness" is that this board is for Black Mumsnetters.