In 1987, a college at the University of Cambridge considered offering a prestigious position to the poet Benjamin Zephaniah. This potential appointment was notable as Zephaniah did not possess a degree, having left school at the age of 13 while struggling with dyslexia and, at the time, being unable to read or write.
The fellowship was reportedly designed to engage individuals from the community who did not hold a degree, providing them with an opportunity to connect with the university. Zephaniah had been privately offered the role, but a formal offer had not yet been made when the information was leaked to the press.
Newspapers such as The Sun and the Daily Mail reported on the prospect of Zephaniah, a black man, becoming a fellow at Cambridge. The Sun questioned his qualities and implied he was unsuitable due to his background, including being black, a Rastafarian, and having "tasted approved schools and Borstals."