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Quote by Benjamin Zephaniah

“The way animals are carted around reminds me of the slavery of my people... The slavery of animals has to be ended too.”

Quote by Benjamin Zephaniah

Author

Benjamin Zephaniah
Benjamin Zephaniah

Benjamin Zephaniah is a British writer known for his poetry and prose. Born on April 15, 1958, he is a prolific author whose works cover a variety of themes, including race, class, social justice, and youth life. Zephaniah's writing is praised for its direct and inspirational style, and his poetry and prose are often used in education and public speaking. more

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“The thinking man must oppose all cruel customs no matter how deeply rooted in tradition or surrounded by a halo. We need a boundless ethics which will include the animals also. My life is full of meaning to me. The life around me must be full of significance to it. If I want others to respect my life, then I must respect the other life I see however strange it may be to mine. Ethics in our western world has hitherto been largely limited to the relation of man to man... but that is a limited ethics.”

“It's not that humans and non-humans are identical... but the lack of understanding that led to the slave trade is the same lack of understanding many people have about animals today. When slaves were brought over from Africa, many people believed they were not humans, that they didn't have feelings. Many people believe that primates and other animals don't have feelings, too, but they do.”