In the aftermath of the Stephen Lawrence case verdict, London-based poet Dean Atta saw something that made him very angry. It was not so much an image than an idea that sparked him to pen the words “I Am Nobody’s Nig***” on his Facebook and Twitter.  The power of social media made it clear how Atta’s response resonated with so many, and a few hours later he had poem that quite literally went viral. Atta’s personal take on disassociating meaning from the word “nigger,” having it perpetuated within the Black communities it was meant to disempower in its origins gives new breath to poetry and social change. This is very much an idea that everyone knows, but few actively challenge. Here we see a new take on it, publicly.

//Rappers when you use the word “nigger”
Remember that’s one of the last words Stephen Lawrence heard
So don’t tell me it’s a reclaimed word.//

Watch the performance of “I Am Nobody’s Nig**” on Huffington Post UK .