Tupac Shakur's mother holds onto son's legacy by helping youth
edonline
Posted on Wed, May. 25, 2005
Tupac Shakur's mother holds onto son's legacy by helping youth
ELIOTT C. McLAUGHLIN
Associated Press
ATLANTA - Afeni Shakur was in a cocaine haze in 1990 when someone told her
that her son's hip-hop career was taking off.
"I was in the heyday of using," she said. "Someone told me that Tupac was on
the Arsenio Hall Show, and I thought they were lying."
That's when Afeni realized cocaine was ruining her life. She had lost track
of her son - a tough feat considering all eyes were about to be on Tupac.
By 1991, she kicked the habit and rekindled her family bonds. She and Tupac
became close, and today - almost nine years after the musician was slain in
the streets of Las Vegas - a cleaned-up Afeni says she'll never lose her son
again.
Her life is now consumed with keeping his legacy alive. She's produced a
book, albums and a DVD, and she started a clothing line, sending proceeds
from each endeavor to the Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation, which helps provide
arts education to at-risk youth.
Next month, she'll see the fruits with the grand opening of the Tupac Amaru
Shakur Center for the Arts in Stone Mountain, a suburb of Atlanta, where
some of her family members live.
While conspiracies abound about the unsolved shooting of Tupac, it would be
understandable if Afeni vowed not to rest until his killer was brought to
justice - but she has a different take.
"What am I going to waste my time on that for? We decided to deal with the
living. This is justice for me," she said. "I need to do what God has put in
front of me to do, and it ain't trying to figure out who killed Tupac."
The idea for the arts center came from a page in her own biography. In the
mid-1980s, Shakur was homeless in New York City and "messing around with
cocaine," but the drugs had not yet stolen her mind.
She knew that without help, Tupac would become a product of the streets, so
she enrolled him in the 127th Street Ensemble, a Harlem theater group.
"I was running around with militants, trying to be badder than I was, trying
to stay up later than I should," the former Black Panther said. Enrolling
Tupac in the ensemble "was the best thing I could've done in my insanity."
They later moved to Maryland - where Tupac attended the Baltimore School for
the Arts - then to a small town outside Sausalito, Calif., where Tupac heard
on the street that his mom was using cocaine. He confronted her.
"He asked me if I could handle it, and I said yeah because I'd been dipping
and dabbing all my life," she said. "What pissed him off is that I lied to
him."
Though Tupac "smoked marijuana like a Rastafarian and cigarettes," he had no
patience for his mother's chemical abuse. He told the drug dealers to stop
selling her dope and told his mom she could "get clean or don't expect him
to be involved in anything about me," Afeni said.
In 1991 - about a year after she got the fateful news that her son was on
Arsenio - she got wise. As she became close to her son again, she realized
that despite his alleged gang affiliation and Rastafarian tendencies, he was
a relatively well-adjusted young man.
"Arts can save children, no matter what's going on in their homes," she
said. "I wasn't available to do the right things for my son. If not for the
arts, my child would've been lost."
Armed with a treasure trove of unreleased music and video footage - and of
course, her son's notoriety - Afeni in 1997 founded Amaru Entertainment,
revolving around all things Tupac.
The Tupac foundation, created the same year, has received charitable
donations for the arts center - slated to open June 11 - but through Amaru
Entertainment, Afeni has provided about 80 percent of the $4 million for the
first phase of the center, said Afeni's attorney, Dina LaPolt, who
co-produced the documentary, "Tupac: Resurrection."
Besides its fundraising arm, the foundation also has hosted youth arts
camps, focusing mostly on poetry and theater, in the Atlanta area. This is
the first year the campers will have a permanent site, a six-acre campus
that includes an art gallery, rehearsal area, offices, gift shop and a peace
garden.
Eventually, it also will include a museum, community meeting space and
classrooms. A bronze statue of the multiplatinum rapper will be unveiled in
one of the peace garden's fountains this September.
Celina Nixon, who coordinates the camps, used to attend them herself as a
teenager. The 22-year-old said she had a lot of things going against her in
high school - namely that she had a daughter at 15.
Because attending the camp taught her to overcome setbacks, she learned to
be mature and view the world through a new perspective - that of a teenage
mother - rather than seeing her plight as a millstone, she said.
"We had to write a letter to ourselves about where we wanted to be," Nixon
said, recalling her camp days. "I wanted to be able to make a difference in
young girls' lives and with the youth, period."
The camp is for 12- to 18-year-olds, so when Nixon graduated from high
school she was no longer allowed to attend, but Afeni offered her an
internship with the foundation.
Nixon basically taught herself management techniques, and her background in
drama and chorus lent itself to helping run the foundation. Afeni said she
hopes the camps will continue to churn out these kind of success stories.
"I learned that I can't save the world, but I can help a child at a time,"
she said, adding that none of this would be possible if Tupac hadn't blazed
the trail. "God created a miracle with his spirit. I'm all right with that."
Raqui
maryanne kehoe
Why the hell can't the police work this case. If this was a *white*
rapper, you damm well better imagine the cops would be on the case till
it was solved. Sorry, but there is _someone_ out there that knows what
happened to Tupac....and the police have their informants and ways of
getting people to talk----for reward money.
I recall reading an interview with Afeni who said she thinks P Diddy has
something to do with it and even thought whoever killed Tupac also
killed Biggie.
For Your Ice Only
news:POCdnbZuO-p...@giganews.com...
> http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/entertainment/11735225.htm
> Her life is now consumed with keeping his legacy alive.
Her life is now consumed with keeping her bank account alive.
> She's produced a
> book, albums and a DVD, and she started a clothing line, sending proceeds
> from each endeavor to the Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation, which helps
provide
> arts education to at-risk youth.
Huh? He was a gang-banger. A thug. And she's trying to lecture US about how
she's using his image to "help....at risk youth"?
> While conspiracies abound about the unsolved shooting of Tupac, it would
be
> understandable if Afeni vowed not to rest until his killer was brought to
> justice - but she has a different take.
Nah, she's just too busy grave-robbing Tupac to give a spit whether or not
his murder is solved.
> In 1991 - about a year after she got the fateful news that her son was on
> Arsenio - she got wise. As she became close to her son again, she realized
> that despite his alleged gang affiliation and Rastafarian tendencies, he
was
> a relatively well-adjusted young man.
Sure yeah, he was a "relatively well-adjusted young man" if you overlook the
gang banging, the violent lyrics to his rap music, the drug abuse and the
awful role model he served to impressionable black you. Yeah, except for all
that, he was the perfect role model.
> "If not for the
> arts, my child would've been lost."
I got news for you lady: you're child is lost. He died like a common
thug....on the streets. He went out like the roach that he was.
> Armed with a treasure trove of unreleased music and video footage - and of
> course, her son's notoriety - Afeni in 1997 founded Amaru Entertainment,
> revolving around all things Tupac.
Grave robber, pure and simple. It's disgusting.
> Besides its fundraising arm, the foundation also has hosted youth arts
> camps, focusing mostly on poetry and theater, in the Atlanta area. This is
> the first year the campers will have a permanent site, a six-acre campus
> that includes an art gallery, rehearsal area, offices, gift shop and a
peace
> garden.
LOL! A "gift shop"? What kind of inventory will they have in stock? Tupac
plushies? Gummy worms? T-shirts that read: My Son Got Shot Down In A Hail of
Bullets, and All I Got Was This Lousy T-Shirt....?
A "peace garden"? We already have those. They're called "cemetaries" and
people like Tupac sent hundreds of others to them each year.
> Celina Nixon, who coordinates the camps, used to attend them herself as a
> teenager. The 22-year-old said she had a lot of things going against her
in
> high school - namely that she had a daughter at 15.
B-A-B-Y M-A-M-A....I got love for all my baby mamas.....
> "I learned that I can't save the world, but I can help a child at a time,"
> she said, adding that none of this would be possible if Tupac hadn't
blazed
> the trail. "God created a miracle with his spirit. I'm all right with
that."
None of this would be possible if Tupac were alive, because then his mother
wouldn't have access to his estate so she could rob his grave. How about
going out and getting A REAL JOB?
-------------------------------------
Icebreaker
"Orlando, you can't be a pilgrim. The pilgrims had snowy white skin to match
their pure Christian souls. They didn't sacrifice coconuts to their monkey
gods."
I Know
"For Your Ice Only" <icebr...@walmartstinks.com> wrote:
Dear Ice Breaker:
You're perfect.
Don't ever change.
For Your Ice Only
news:nobody-6C7600....@nycmny-nntp-rdr-03-ge1.rdc-nyc.rr.com...
Not sure whether to take that as a compliment or an insult, but ....love me
or hate me, I will never change.
Mrs. Shakur isn't the only grave robber out there. Priscilla Presley has
been mooching off of Elvis' dead carcass for years. The Andrews estate has
been cranking out "V.C. Andrews" novels for nearly two decades, even though
the woman croaked back in 1986. The King Family has cajoled politicians in
Atlanta for influence, gotten favors from the APD, and basically rode high
on the hog at the expense of Martin. But at least Martin and Elvis never
incited others to violence. I liked Mrs. Shakur better when she was a crack
addict, living on the streets, not caring about her son, and not trying to
fleece his memory. His gains were ill-gotten to begin with, and now she's
robbing his grave to bleed him dry of every last cent imagineable. How can
the man have a new #1 album in 2005 when he's been dead 9 years?
-------------------------------------
Icebreaker
Fatima Blush: Oh, how reckless of me. I made you all wet.
James Bond: Yes, but my martini is still dry.
Raqui
> the
> gang banging, the violent lyrics to his rap music,
Lyrics to mothers across the globe:
When I was young me and my mama had beef
Seventeen years old kicked out on the streets
Though back at the time, I never thought I'd see her face
Ain't a woman alive that could take my mama's place
Suspended from school; and scared to go home, I was a fool
with the big boys, breakin all the rules
I shed tears with my baby sister
Over the years we was poorer than the other little kids
And even though we had different daddy's, the same drama
When things went wrong we'd blame mama
I reminice on the stress I caused, it was hell
Huggin on my mama from a jail cell
And who'd think in elementary?
Heeey! I see the penitentiary, one day
And runnin from the police, that's right
Mama catch me, put a whoopin to my backside
And even as a crack fiend, mama
You always was a black queen, mama
I finally understand
for a woman it ain't easy tryin to raise a man
You always was committed
A poor single mother on welfare, tell me how ya did it
There's no way I can pay you back
But the plan is to show you that I understand
You are appreciated
[Chorus: Reggie Green & "Sweet Franklin" w/ 2Pac]
Lady...
Don't cha know we love ya? Sweet lady
Dear mama
Place no one above ya, sweet lady
You are appreciated
Don't cha know we love ya?
[second and third chorus, "And dear mama" instead of "Dear mama"]
[Verse Two: 2Pac]
Now ain't nobody tell us it was fair
No love from my daddy cause the coward wasn't there
He passed away and I didn't cry, cause my anger
wouldn't let me feel for a stranger
They say I'm wrong and I'm heartless, but all along
I was lookin for a father he was gone
I hung around with the Thugs, and even though they sold drugs
They showed a young brother love
I moved out and started really hangin
I needed money of my own so I started slangin
I ain't guilty cause, even though I sell rocks
It feels good puttin money in your mailbox
I love payin rent when the rent's due
I hope ya got the diamond necklace that I sent to you
Cause when I was low you was there for me
And never left me alone because you cared for me
And I could see you comin home after work late
You're in the kitchen tryin to fix us a hot plate
Ya just workin with the scraps you was given
And mama made miracles every Thanksgivin
But now the road got rough, you're alone
You're tryin to raise two bad kids on your own
And there's no way I can pay you back
But my plan is to show you that I understand
You are appreciated
[Chorus]
[Verse Three: 2Pac]
Pour out some liquor and I reminsce, cause through the drama
I can always depend on my mama
And when it seems that I'm hopeless
You say the words that can get me back in focus
When I was sick as a little kid
To keep me happy there's no limit to the things you did
And all my childhood memories
Are full of all the sweet things you did for me
And even though I act craaazy
I gotta thank the Lord that you made me
There are no words that can express how I feel
You never kept a secret, always stayed real
And I appreciate, how you raised me
And all the extra love that you gave me
I wish I could take the pain away
If you can make it through the night there's a brighter day
Everything will be alright if ya hold on
It's a struggle everyday, gotta roll on
And there's no way I can pay you back
But my plan is to show you that I understand
You are appreciated
[Chorus]
Sweet lady
And dear mama
Dear mama
Lady [3X]
Another Tupac song...yeah...he has no regrets, he's a gangbanger with no
heart:
I shall not fear no man but God
Though I walk through the valley of death
I shed so many tears (if I should die before I wake)
Please God walk with me (grab a nigga and take me to Heaven)
Back in elementary, I thrived on misery
Left me alone I grew up amongst a dyin breed
Inside my mind couldn't find a place to rest
until I got that Thug Life tatted on my chest
Tell me can you feel me? I'm not livin in the past, you wanna last
Be tha first to blast, remember Kato
No longer with us he's deceased
Call on the sirens, seen him murdered in the streets
Now rest in peace
Is there heaven for a G? Remember me
So many homies in the cemetery, shed so many tears
Ahh, I suffered through the years, and shed so many tears..
Lord, I lost so many peers, and shed so many tears
Now that I'm strugglin in this business, by any means
Label me greedy gettin green, but seldom seen
And fuck the world cause I'm cursed, I'm havin visions
of leavin here in a hearse, God can you feel me?
Take me away from all the pressure, and all the pain
Show me some happiness again, I'm goin blind
I spend my time in this cell, ain't livin well
I know my destiny is Hell, where did I fail?
My life is in denial, and when I die,
baptized in eternal fire I'll shed so many tears
Lord, I suffered through the years, and shed so many tears..
Lord, I lost so many peers, and shed so many tears
Now I'm lost and I'm weary, so many tears
I'm suicidal, so don't stand near me
My every move is a calculated step, to bring me closer
to embrace an early death, now there's nothin left
There was no mercy on the streets, I couldn't rest
I'm barely standin, bout to go to pieces, screamin peace
And though my soul was deleted, I couldn't see it
I had my mind full of demons tryin to break free
They planted seeds and they hatched, sparkin the flame
inside my brain like a match, such a dirty game
No memories, just a misery
Paintin a picture of my enemies killin me, in my sleep
Will I survive til the mo'nin, to see the sun
Please Lord forgive me for my sins, cause here I come...
Lord, I suffered through the years (God) and shed so many tears..
God, I lost so many peers, and shed so many tears
Lord knows I.. tried, been a witness to homicide
Seen drivebys takin lives, little kids die
Wonder why as I walk by
Broken-hearted as I glance at the chalk line, gettin high
This ain't the life for me, I wanna change
But ain't no future right for me, I'm stuck in the game
I'm trapped inside a maze
See this Tanqueray influenced me to gettin crazy
Disillusioned lately, I've been really wantin babies
so I could see a part of me that wasn't always shady
Don't trust my lady, cause she's a product of this poison
I'm hearin noises, think she fuckin all my boys, can't take no more
I'm fallin to the floor; beggin for the Lord to let me in
to Heaven's door -- shed so many tears
(Dear God, please let me in)
Lord, I've lost so many years, and shed so many tears..
I lost so many peers, and shed so many tears
Lord, I suffered through the years, and shed so many tears..
God, I lost so many peers, and shed so many tears
For rape victims he wrote this:
I feel you {uhh .. (baby don't)
but you can't, you can't give up
{Hey.. 2Pac what?
[2Pac + H.E.A.T.]
Baby don't cry, I hope you got your head up {Outlawz
Even when the road is hard, never give up
Baby don't cry, I hope you got your head up
Even when the road is hard, never give up {Keep ya head up
[2Pac]
Now here's a story bout a woman with dreams
So picture perfect at thirteen, an ebony queen
Beneath the surface it was more than just a crooked smile
Nobody knew about her secret so it took a while
I could see a tear fall slow down her black cheek
Sheddin quiet tears in the back seat; so when she asked me,
"What would you do if it was you?"
Couldn't answer such a horrible pain to live through
I tried to trade places in the tragedy
I couldn't picture three crazed niggaz grabbin me
For just a moment I was trapped in the pain, Lord come and take me
Four niggaz violated, they chased and they raped me
Even though it wasn't me, I could feel the grief
Thinkin with your brains blown that would make the pain go
No! You got to find a way to survive
cause they win when your soul dies
[2Pac + H.E.A.T.]
Baby please don't cry, you got to keep your head up
Even when the road is hard, never give up
Baby don't cry, you got to keep your head up
Even when the road is hard, never give up
Baby don't cry, I hope you got your head up
Even when the road is hard, never give up {never give up
Baby don't cry, I hope you got your head up {never give up
Even when the road is hard, never give up
Baby don't cry
[Edi Amin]
Uhh
Forget him girl (forget him girl) he ain't gon' never change
I ain't no hater but that nigga lost in the game
After the bright lights and big thangs
he probably could love you, but he in love with the struggle
Everyday, his mind on gettin mo' (gettin mo')
and never your feelings, he's chasin millions fo' sho'
Uh oh (uh oh), now you bout to have his baby? (dayamn)
Another wild-ass nigga that's gon' drive you crazy
You got too much, mo', livin to do - I'm spittin this to you,
cause you deserve more than what he givin to you (that's right)
Beautiful, black, precious, and complicated
A new millennium dime piece, so fine she
got em all stuck standin still when she come through
Baby take a little mo' time, love'll find you
And show us the sky's blue somebody other than me
gon' give you everything you need, feel me?
{Don't cry-ahhhhh..
[2Pac + H.E.A.T.]
Baby don't cry, you got to keep your head up
Even when the road is hard, never give up {you'll be alright
Baby don't cry, you got to keep your head up
Even when the road is hard, never give up {you'll be alright
Baby don't cry, I hope you got your head up
Even when the road is hard, never give up {keep your head up
Baby don't cry, I hope you got your head up {never give up
Even when the road is hard, never give up {no no.. ohhhh
Baby don't cry
[Young Noble]
I'm tryin to do all that I can, from jump
Now you losin, you was choosin the wrong man
Dealt the wrong hand, you was young and beautiful
Lost and turned out, what you let that nigga do to you? (Damn)
I knew her since elementary, she blew a kiss to me
Wrote me a note in crayon, wantin to get with me
We was kids, now she got three kids
They see their father e'ryday, and they don't know who he is
Seen him last night, homey roll a E-class
Mad cheese in the stash, still a deadbeat dad
I bring her, Pampers and food, just to stop through
But those, ain't my seeds, nuttin really I could do (nah)
I feel pity for you, you ain't even his wife
Seventeen with three kids, locked down for life
Shoulda chose me, she bout to O.D. from the pressure
Hell nah I won't let her {BABY DON'T CRY
[2Pac + H.E.A.T.]
Baby don't cry, you got to keep your head up
Even when the road is hard, never give up {you'll be alright
Baby don't cry, you got to keep your head up
Even when the road is hard, never give up {baby don't cry
Baby don't cry, I hope you got your head up
Even when the road is hard, never give up {baby baby baby
Baby don't cry, I hope you got your head up {no..
Even when the road is hard, never give up {no-ohhhh
Baby don't cry, I gotta keep your head up
Even when the road is hard, never give up
Baby don't cry, you got to keep your head up
Even when the road is hard, never give up {ooooh baby
Baby don't cry, I hope you got your head up
Even when the road is hard, never give up
Baby don't cry, I hope you got your head up {keep your head up
{keep your head up, never give up
Even when the road is hard, never give up, baby don't cry
[Young Noble]
Uhh, uhh, yeah, don't give up {you'll be alright
Don't cry, don't cry, don't cry
[2Pac + H.E.A.T.]
Baby don't cry, I hope you got your head up
Even when the road is hard, never give up
Baby don't cry, I hope you got your head up
Even when the road is hard, never give up, baby don't cry
[Edi Amin]
For all the ladies {Soulshock, Karlin
Baby don't cry
Got to keep your head up {keep your head up
Makaveli the Don {head up aight?
Yep...he didn't care at all...he was an awful person.
For Your Ice Only
<revisionist white-wash snipped>
> Yep...he didn't care at all...he was an awful person.
Here's the real Tupac Shakur below:
Album: Thug Life
Song: Pour Out a Little Liquor
(Tupac)
Yah, Pour out a little liqour for ya homie ni**a
This one here go out ot my ni**a Mike Coolage
Light up fat one for this one
How you come up man?
Started young kickin dust and
livin' rough you watch you mouth around my mama
you couldn't cuss maaannn
I had a down a*s homie thou
We ran the streets on the scene at the age of fourteen
I packed a nine and my ni**a packed a forty-five
We drinkin' forties, real shorties livin' all the lies
You couldn't stop us
who cares ?
i got my glock
f**k the coppers
Hangin on the block
slangin' rocks and makin' propers
I couldn't f**k with the schhhoooollll life
I was a fool
I'll play that mutha f**ka for a toooollll man
Tonight will be the night that's what we figurin'
Hustlin in the rain felt no pain cuz we drinkin'
Playin' them hoes like munure
First let my ni**a f**k then i f**k
that's how we do it (Ha ha ha)
It's two ni**as comin up out da hood
livin lfe just as good as we could
Since a bi**h can't be trusted
Hoes snitch to the police
Now my ni**as busted
Cops whoopin' on my ni**a in jail
tryin' to get a muthaf**ka to tell
and couldn't nobody diss my ni**a
damn I miss my ni**a
Pour out a little liqour
This goes out to all you so called G's
pour out a little liquor for real muthaf**kin partners
Don't let the drink get like that y'all, Huh.
Pour out a little liqour
Pour out a little liqour
What's that you drinkin on ?
Drinkin' on Gin
smokin' on blunts and it's on
reminicin' about my ni**as
that's dead n' gone
Now they burried
sometimes my eyes still get blurry
cuz I'm losin all my homies and I worry
I got my back against a brick wall
Trapped in a circle
boxin' with them suckas
'till my knuckles turn purple
Mama told me, 'son they'll be days like this'
Don't wanna think so
I hit the drink n' stay blitz
We had plans of being big time G's
Rolling in marked cars movin' them keys
Now I roll down the window
blaze up some endo
And get towed down for my ni**as in the penn yo
Your son's gettin' big and strong
and i'd love'm like one of my own
Till you come homie
the years sure fly away the quickness
you doin' the time
And i'll keep handle your business
That's the way it's supposed to be
Homie
If it was me
you'd do the s**t for me
Homie
I can remember
scrapin' back to back
Throwin' dogs on them suckas
while runnin' up on this young hog
I hope these words paint a perfect picture
let ya know how much ya
ni**a miss ya
Pour out some little liqour
look at ya
drinkin got you and ya
don't even give respect to your partners
Pour out some little liqour ni**a
it ain't like that tip that s**t over
Pour out a little liqour
Pour out a little liqour...
....Oakland still in the mutha f**kin house my ni**a Richie Rich....
Pour out a little liqour
Icebreaker
-------------------------------------
"Tee-Hee, on the first wrong answer from Miss Solitaire, you will snip the
little finger of Mr. Bond's right hand. Starting with the second wrong
answer, you will proceed to the more... VITAL... areas."
Raqui
> Here's the real Tupac Shakur below:
O..the *real* Tupac huh? Yeah, I'm sure you know, because you remind me of
someone who thinks they know everything. Tupac sold many albums. Tupac had
many articles written about him. Tupac has many fans, and Tupac's words have
helped many people. It's a shame you can't see it, but most people with
blinders on can't.
For Your Ice Only
Exactly what part of these lyrics below uplift and empower the black youth
who were caught up listening to his misogynistic, violent, disgraceful
lyrics? Eh?
> Light up fat one for this one
Drug reference.
> We ran the streets on the scene at the age of fourteen
Ode to street life and gang bangin'. Is this a life people would
deliberately choose? If not, why wax poetic about it?
> I packed a nine and my ni**a packed a forty-five
Carrying assault weapons.
> We drinkin' forties, real shorties livin' all the lies
Yeah, lets further stereotype blacks as shiftless, worthless, lazy
drunkards. I'm not even sure what a 'real shortie' is. Maybe if Tupac had
spoken English instead of the language of the street I might be able to
understand him.
> i got my glock
Refernce to carrying a gun
> f**k the coppers
Disrespect for law enforcement.
> Hangin on the block
> slangin' rocks and makin' propers
Translation?
> I couldn't f**k with the schhhoooollll life
What's he saying? That he dropped out? If so, is that any sort of message
for black youth, with disproportionately high school drop-out rates, to
hear?
> I'll play that mutha f**ka for a toooollll man
> Tonight will be the night that's what we figurin'
> Hustlin in the rain felt no pain cuz we drinkin'
Got a hit out on someone? Again, pleeeease speak English.
> Since a bi**h can't be trusted
> Hoes snitch to the police
Is this any way to talk about women?
> Now my ni**as busted
> Cops whoopin' on my ni**a in jail
> tryin' to get a muthaf**ka to tell
> and couldn't nobody diss my ni**a
> damn I miss my ni**a
> Pour out a little liqour
<shaking head in disbelief> Harriet Tubman, Martin Luther King, etc...
risked their lives so that future generations of black people could act and
talk like THAT? What an absolute waste of time and effort.
Tupac died like he lived: a punk. I for one think the world is better off
without him.
Raqui
> Exactly what part of these lyrics below uplift and empower the black youth
> who were caught up listening to his misogynistic, violent, disgraceful
> lyrics? Eh?
I posted 3 songs that were uplifting, but because *you* didn't understand
them, they don't count right? (chuckle)
> Yeah, lets further stereotype blacks as shiftless, worthless, lazy
> drunkards. I'm not even sure what a 'real shortie' is. Maybe if Tupac had
> spoken English instead of the language of the street I might be able to
> understand him.
So I guess he's not talking to *you*. The people he spoke to understood him.
And boy did they buy his records, many of them:-)
>
>> i got my glock
>
> Refernce to carrying a gun
Many people have guns. Know much about the constitution and law?
>
>> f**k the coppers
>
> Disrespect for law enforcement.
In the ghetto, many cops get disrespect, some for good reason. I guess you
have no ties there huh?
>
>> Hangin on the block
>> slangin' rocks and makin' propers
>
> Translation?
You don't understand that? Where are you from? How old are you? You sound
like the son of Clarence Thomas.u
>
>> I couldn't f**k with the schhhoooollll life
>
> What's he saying?
You can't decipher that? How far did YOU get in school? He went to schools
YOU probably couldn't get into. Read up on him and learn something.
That he dropped out? If so, is that any sort of message
> for black youth, with disproportionately high school drop-out rates, to
> hear?
Bill Gates *dropped* out of Harvard. What's your point? He's the richest man
in the world. The Apprentice just got finished doing a show where they
pitted DROPOUTS against college graduates. Your logic is rather weak.
(laughing at you)
>> I'll play that mutha f**ka for a toooollll man
>> Tonight will be the night that's what we figurin'
>> Hustlin in the rain felt no pain cuz we drinkin'
>
> Got a hit out on someone? Again, pleeeease speak English.
Please spell correctly. *Please* doesn't have that many *e's* in it. Often
ebonics are spoken in rap songs. You need to get a clue. But he knew how to
talk *english* to the bankers as he deposited MILLIONS:-) How much did YOU
earn last year? (giggle)
>
>> Since a bi**h can't be trusted
>> Hoes snitch to the police
>
> Is this any way to talk about women?
In some cases yes. You've never heard of women referring to themselves and
their girlfriends as bitches or bee-otches? And most people learn in 1st or
second grade it's not nice or becoming to be a tattletale. You seem like you
were though. You didn't have many friends coming up did you? That's probably
why you're so bitter now. I feel sorry for you.
>
>> Now my ni**as busted
>> Cops whoopin' on my ni**a in jail
>> tryin' to get a muthaf**ka to tell
>> and couldn't nobody diss my ni**a
>> damn I miss my ni**a
>> Pour out a little liqour
>
> <shaking head in disbelief> Harriet Tubman, Martin Luther King, etc...
> risked their lives so that future generations of black people could act
> and
> talk like THAT? What an absolute waste of time and effort.
Debating with you is a waste of time. Bye kook.
> Tupac died like he lived: a punk. I for one think the world is better off
> without him.
And the world will be better off when attitudes like yours die.
nimue
Blinders, aye? What do you know about history or heroism? Nothing makes me
more sick than the students who YEAR AFTER FREAKING YEAR do their hero
projects on Tupac. I put a ban on Tupac and forced the kids to actually
research some African Americans and others who had done heroic things that
didn't involve gang violence (amazing, I know). Tupac is a freaking SCAM --
he allows kids to have their cake and eat it, too -- to have their violence
and decry it too. It's almost like Tupac is a product of some white
conspiracy bent on keeping black kids down -- give them a gangsta they can
worship. That way, black kids will worship the whole gangsta bullshit and
never become an actual threat to the status quo by getting educated, giving
up the pose, and learning the skills to suvive in the
white-power-structure-world (and the overt gangsta-violence skills will NOT
help you there AT ALL). Oh no -- the kids will just work on writing bad
poetry to express the "truth" of the "hood" and screw working hard in school
and getting real social or political power. I am NOT a conspiracy theorist,
but it seems that way to me sometimes. Tupac is a hero? Hell, no! Raoul
Wallenberg was a hero, Vivien Thomas was a hero, Ralph Bunche, Chiune
Sugihara, Ida B. Wells, Milovan Djilas, Dr. Eliza Grier, Alice Paul, Dr.
Charles Richard Drew -- I don't know -- feel free to add to this list of
heroes of all races. Sure, they aren't "sexy" like Tupac, but wouldn't it
be great if our kids idolized -- heck, knew about -- people who had the
moral courage and conviction of a Raoul Wallenberg? If they had HIM as a
role model intead of Tupac? The white middle-class kids who idolize Tupac
are NOT going to face the same world as the black kids who do and I am not
afraid to admit that. I think looking at Tupac as a hero is toxic and
ignorant.
--
nimue
"Have fun storming the castle!"
nimue
>> Sure yeah, he was a "relatively well-adjusted young man" if you
>> overlook the
>> gang banging, the violent lyrics to his rap music,
>
> Lyrics to mothers across the globe:
>
>
>
> Yep...he didn't care at all...he was an awful person.
Oh, bite me. Find someone whose ACTIONS show him or her to be worthy of
respect. Can you name any African American heroes who weren't violent,
gang-banging idiots? I can -- plenty. However, most kids cannot so they
continue to idiolize that fool instead of learning about ordinary people who
did extraordinary things that didn't involve crime and drugs.
nimue
>> Exactly what part of these lyrics below uplift and empower the black
>> youth who were caught up listening to his misogynistic, violent,
>> disgraceful lyrics? Eh?
>
> I posted 3 songs that were uplifting, but because *you* didn't
> understand them, they don't count right? (chuckle)
So what? He wrote some uplifting songs but that never put food on anyone's
plate but his own. Listen, honey, THE ARTIST IS NOT THE ART. He was
involved in a violent world and celebrated it and died young because of it.
You can enjoy his songs but do not think that that makes him a hero.
>
>> Yeah, lets further stereotype blacks as shiftless, worthless, lazy
>> drunkards. I'm not even sure what a 'real shortie' is. Maybe if
>> Tupac had spoken English instead of the language of the street I
>> might be able to understand him.
>
> So I guess he's not talking to *you*. The people he spoke to
> understood him. And boy did they buy his records, many of them:-)
So what? He was a very, very handsome man and a good musician. That's it.
>
>>
>>> i got my glock
>>
>> Refernce to carrying a gun
>
> Many people have guns. Know much about the constitution and law?
I love guns. I can't wait to go to Arizona again and go shooting -- fun! I
think Tupac is a pathetic person to have as a hero.
>
>>
>>> f**k the coppers
>>
>> Disrespect for law enforcement.
>
> In the ghetto, many cops get disrespect, some for good reason. I
> guess you have no ties there huh?
According to my students, I teach in "the hood." I didn't always. I do
now. I can tell you that acting gangsta will get my kids NO WHERE. I see
the kids who make it -- they aren't gangsta.
>
>
>>
>>> Hangin on the block
>>> slangin' rocks and makin' propers
>>
>> Translation?
>
> You don't understand that? Where are you from? How old are you? You
> sound like the son of Clarence Thomas.u
>>
>>> I couldn't f**k with the schhhoooollll life
>>
>> What's he saying?
>
> You can't decipher that? How far did YOU get in school? He went to
> schools YOU probably couldn't get into. Read up on him and learn
> something.
Eh, my education is better than his. I don't have his talent and never
will.
>
> That he dropped out? If so, is that any sort of message
>> for black youth, with disproportionately high school drop-out rates,
>> to hear?
>
> Bill Gates *dropped* out of Harvard. What's your point? He's the
> richest man in the world. The Apprentice just got finished doing a
> show where they pitted DROPOUTS against college graduates. Your logic
> is rather weak. (laughing at you)
Ok. Let me make this VERY CLEAR. The kids that I teach do not have the
enormous opportunities that a dropped-out, white, upper-middle-class Bill
Gates had. If they drop out, they are SCREWED. I am tired of them
worshipping (and not all do -- not the successful ones) someone who dropped
out and DIED. I want better than that for my kids, thank you very much.
>
>
>>> I'll play that mutha f**ka for a toooollll man
>>> Tonight will be the night that's what we figurin'
>>> Hustlin in the rain felt no pain cuz we drinkin'
>>
>> Got a hit out on someone? Again, pleeeease speak English.
>
> Please spell correctly. *Please* doesn't have that many *e's* in it.
Yeah. Ice is aware of that. Don't be an idiot. Find a real mistake to
correct.
> Often ebonics are spoken in rap songs. You need to get a clue. But he
> knew how to talk *english* to the bankers as he deposited MILLIONS:-)
> How much did YOU earn last year? (giggle)
Giggle your motherfucking self. What did YOU earn last year? How much
money, power, or education did your worship or Tupac get YOU? Remember
this -- he is DEAD. Kids who want to live the lifestyle his image and music
celebrated will DIE or go to PRISON and will not have the skills or
education they need to succeed in the world. Admiring him uncritically to
the point of emulation will just make these kids re-create his conflicted
life without the financial success (few people have the combination of
looks, talent, and luck that he did) but the violence and problems are easy
to come by.
>>
>>> Since a bi**h can't be trusted
>>> Hoes snitch to the police
>>
>> Is this any way to talk about women?
>
> In some cases yes.
Really? So -- is it okay for white people to use the n-word? I say it's
not -- ever. I don't like to hear it at all from anyone, but that is
another story.
>You've never heard of women referring to
> themselves and their girlfriends as bitches or bee-otches? And most
> people learn in 1st or second grade it's not nice or becoming to be a
> tattletale. You seem like you were though. You didn't have many
> friends coming up did you? That's probably why you're so bitter now.
> I feel sorry for you.
So -- Tupac is still wrong to talk about women that way.
>>
>>> Now my ni**as busted
>>> Cops whoopin' on my ni**a in jail
>>> tryin' to get a muthaf**ka to tell
>>> and couldn't nobody diss my ni**a
>>> damn I miss my ni**a
>>> Pour out a little liqour
>>
>> <shaking head in disbelief> Harriet Tubman, Martin Luther King,
>> etc... risked their lives so that future generations of black people
>> could act and
>> talk like THAT? What an absolute waste of time and effort.
>
> Debating with you is a waste of time. Bye kook.
Try learning something! Try! Don't fall for the bullshit that a world that
WANTS to keep you down is trying to sell you! DON'T DO IT! DON'T BUY IT.
>
>
>> Tupac died like he lived: a punk. I for one think the world is
>> better off without him.
>
> And the world will be better off when attitudes like yours die.
Sorry -- but there is nothing wrong with disliking someone who extolled
violence and misogyny -- especially if his legacy is doing nothing to help
my kids.