Benjamin Zephaniah, poet of social justice issues, dies at 65

He opened the door for future generations of poets of color to use their own voices.

Benjamin Zephaniah, author, teacher and poet whose work, imbued with strong social messages, helped inspire a generation of British poets to find their voice, died on Thursday. He was 65 years old.

The cause was a brain tumor, which he learned of eight weeks ago, his family said in a statement. It is not specified where he died.

During a career spanning four decades, Mr. Zephaniah was the author of at least 30 books for adults as well as adolescents and children. . He often wrote about racism and environmental issues; he was widely considered one of the first poets to tackle the climate crisis. His work was also taught in classrooms in England, making him a recognizable name there.

"His poems made an impact in for social justice," said Judith Palmer, director of the Poetry Society, a British arts organization. She described them as both sweet and humorous.

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