If We Valued Black Art, Kendrick Lamar’s Pulitzer Would Have Been for Literature

Dotun Adebayo writes about the importance of celebrating black creativity

Dotun Adebayo MBE, chair of the Bernie Grant Arts Centre, has written an opinion column for the Guardian Online in which he discusses the importance of recognising young black peoples’ creativity:

‘In Tottenham, where I am from, literary recognition would transform every other young black boy writing rhymes. It would stick two fingers up at the notion that the only way young black boys can get respect is on the streets. Contrary to popular belief, young black boys spend more time writing poetry than they do stabbing and shooting each other. For real. They have transformed the English language with an unparalleled lyrical dexterity. But we refuse to acknowledge that…’

Click here to read the complete column on the Guardian’s website.