Movin Fawod to Freedom
By Linton Kwesi Johnson
Yout Rebelsa bran new breed of blackshave now emerged,leadin on the rough scene,breakin away,takin the day,saying to capital nevahmovin fahwod evah.they can only benew in agebut not in rage,not needinthe soft andshallow councilinof the soot-brainedsage in chain;wreckin thin-shelled wordsmovin always fahwood.young bloodyout rebels:new shapesshapinnew patternscreatin new linkslinkinblood risin surelycarvin a new path,movin fahwod to freedom
First printed in Socialist Worker
Linton Kwesi Johnson is arguably the most influential Black British poet. He is a London-based acclaimed writer, political activist and musician. Born in Chapeltown, Jamaica. He moved to Britain in 1963 with his mother and read sociology at Goldsmiths College, University of London.
Widely acknowledged as the Father of “Dub” Poetry, a term he coined to describe the way a number of reggae DJs blended music and verse, Johnson was a member of the Black Panther movement and holds fellowships at two British universities.
A selection of his poetry, entitled Mi Revalueshanary Fren, was published in 2002 as a Penguin Classic edition with an introduction by Fred D’Aguiar. In 2005, he was awarded a Musgrave medal by the Insitiute of Jamaica, for eminence in the field of poetry.
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