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Linton Kwesi Johnson Quotes

Jamaican - Poet | August 24, 1952 -

At the end of the day, life's about realising one's human potential. I don't know if I've realised mine, but I've certainly gone a long way towards realising some goals and some dreams.

Linton Kwesi Johnson

Life Goals Dreams Day Potential End

I am often asked why I started to write poetry. The answer is that my motivation sprang from a visceral need to creatively articulate the experiences of the black youth of my generation, coming of age in a racist society.

Linton Kwesi Johnson

Age I Am Poetry Youth Society Black

I wrote two poems about the '81 uprisings: 'Di Great Insohreckshan' and 'Mekin Histri.' I wrote those two poems from the perspective of those who had taken part in the Brixton riots. The tone of the poem is celebratory because I wanted to capture the mood of exhilaration felt by black people at the time.

Linton Kwesi Johnson

Great Time Perspective People Black

Younger people are discovering my work, even though my reggae is not like theirs.

Linton Kwesi Johnson

Work People Reggae Like Even Though

I have never, ever sought validation from the arbiters of British poetic taste.

Linton Kwesi Johnson

Never Taste Validation British Ever

Once you have a disease like cancer, you look at life a bit differently. Some things that were important no longer seem as important as they were.

Linton Kwesi Johnson

Life You Look Important Cancer Seem

Back in those early days when I began my apprenticeship as a poet, I also tried to voice our anger, spirit of defiance and resistance in a Jamaican poetic idiom.

Linton Kwesi Johnson

Anger Voice Back Early Spirit Poet

The more I read my poems, the more I find out about them. I still read them with the same passion I felt when I wrote them as a young man.

Linton Kwesi Johnson

Passion Man Find Young Young Man

I don't go to see bands any more because I've got tinnitus, so I have to avoid loud music. You get used to it, but when it's quiet you hear a constant ringing.

Linton Kwesi Johnson

Music You Quiet Go More See

The modern stuff, I can take it or leave it. I like its danceability, but the DJs talk a lot of nonsense.

Linton Kwesi Johnson

I Can Talk Nonsense Leave Modern

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