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Black poet returns British `empire` award
London, Nov 28: Nearly 40 years after John Lennon vainly imagined world peace and rather rudely returned a British royal `empire` award to Queen Elizabeth, an acclaimed anti-war black British poet has done the same.
London, Nov 28: Nearly 40 years after John Lennon vainly imagined world peace and rather rudely returned a British royal "empire" award to Queen Elizabeth, an acclaimed anti-war black British poet has done the same.
And humiliatingly advertised the fact. On Thursday, Benjamin Zephaniah, celebrated dreadlocked Rastafarian rhymester, went public with his refusal of an award called Order of the British Empire (OBE). The British often laughingly refer to the awards as gongs.
But Zephaniah described them as a legacy of colonialism. He said he gets "angry when he hears the word empire, it reminds me of slavery". He said he "loathed" the "institution of British monarchy" because "it still refuses to apologise for sanctioning slavery". And the enslavement of countries around the world, including Jamaica and India.
Other anti-award, anti-imperialists include actress Helen Mirren, director Ken Loach, historian and India-expert Patrick French.
Bureau Report
And humiliatingly advertised the fact. On Thursday, Benjamin Zephaniah, celebrated dreadlocked Rastafarian rhymester, went public with his refusal of an award called Order of the British Empire (OBE). The British often laughingly refer to the awards as gongs.
But Zephaniah described them as a legacy of colonialism. He said he gets "angry when he hears the word empire, it reminds me of slavery". He said he "loathed" the "institution of British monarchy" because "it still refuses to apologise for sanctioning slavery". And the enslavement of countries around the world, including Jamaica and India.
Other anti-award, anti-imperialists include actress Helen Mirren, director Ken Loach, historian and India-expert Patrick French.
Bureau Report