"I'm a fighter": The Dalit lawyer taking on the caste system

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Manjula Pradeep was born in Western India to a Dalit family, a community considered to be on the lowest rung of the caste ladder. Growing up she experienced discrimination and indignity because of her background, but she excelled at school, and managed to defy expectations to become a lawyer and high-profile activist. Now she's helping Dalit rape survivors get access to justice. Manjula spoke to Divya Arya. Joy Harjo survived prejudice and abuse, failed marriages and single motherhood to become one of America's most acclaimed poets. In 2019, she was appointed the US Poet Laureate, becoming the first Native American in history to be awarded the post. Her poetry is deeply rooted in indigenous histories and myths but part of her inspiration comes from jazz, including the Miles Davis tracks her father played in the car when she was a child. Joy's latest poetry collection is called An American Sunrise and this year, she was appointed to a third term as Poet Laureate. Joy spoke to Outlook's Emily Webb in May 2020. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Emily Webb Picture: Manjula Pradeep Credit: BBC/Divya Arya