Professor Sabir's Posse

Renee D.
1-2:50pm

What essay on procrasination is due?? I thought it was just a group assignment?.......
 

Melissa Mah
Dalena Tran
English 201A
1:00-2:50

In the next chapter of Holler If You Hear Me, by Michael Eric Dyson, Dyson examines Tupac’s childhood and his connection with being raised into a black panther community and how it has effected his life. Growing up Tupac did not have a fortunate lifestyle as other people in his community due to his mother absence in college to become a black panther. He was greatly influenced by violence and has many experiences with the police. Throughout history, many were not aware of the Black Panther’s and their purpose, however it was through Tupac’s music that the Black Panther became recognized
Tupac’s connection with the Black Panther began when Afeni, his mother, was one of the strongest member and leader. The cause for Afeni’s action began when she realized that looking into her son’s eyes caused her much pain and grief. It was hard for her to watch her child suffer as much as she had to. Due to their struggles with financial issues, Tupac began to rebel, which caused Afeni to realize that the condition they were in, was not what she had hoped for, for her child (Dyson 58). Once Afeni realized that their financial conditions has affected her family, she decided that is was time for a change; hence the Black Panther.
The Black Panther’s were a group of activists that fought for equality among African Americans. When Tupac was born they saw him as their new voice, someone who could speak to the people and actually have them listen.
“He spoke of how being a child of a black panther made different organizations watch their every move and hoe naïve it was for us to think that because the black panthers are not around…that they have stopped looking at the children of the black panthers” (Dyson 61).
His music caused more people to help the Black Panther’s fight for the freedom they deserved. Segregation was unfair and cruel to African Americans in that time period. Tupac started a peaceful movement.
The lyrical works of Tupac made an impact throughout the community of the Black Panthers. One particular participant, Mos Def believed that “Pac represents something that is heroic and tragic not just for black society but for American society” (Dyson 67). Although the formation of the righteous group became a part of history, Tupac continued to represent where he was most influenced for his work. Not only has he represented his community and society, but he was able to gain a voice for America. His word has continued and influenced many today.
 

Andrew Nguyen
English 201
8-8:50

"His Own Interpretation"

In Michael Eric Dyson’s amazing novel, “Holler if you Hear Me: Searching for Tupac Shakur,” he journeys through Tupac’s life and interviews with the people in his life to receive a more personal view of him. Dyson first learns about the woman who gave birth to Tupac, his mother Afeni Shakur, and how her life affected Tupac in general. Dyson details Afeni’s life from the moment she joined the Black Panther Party, through happiness that she gave birth to Tupac, his sister, and the unfortunate struggles through her Crack addiction. Even with her radical life, Afeni continues to enlighten her family of their culture and teaches them how to be ready for reality. From the moment he was born, to the night of his unfortunate departure, Tupac inherits his pride of his own culture from his family, especiall hisown mother, and benefits from it throughout his life.

As Tupac grows up, he becomes aware of his family’s history regarding the African American revolution, especially with the Black Panther Party. “The birthright of black nationalism hung over Tupac’s head as both promise and judgment. Some saw him as the benighted successor to Huey, Eldridge, Bobby, and other bright stars of black subversion.” (Pg. 48 Holler). With his family involved with such movements, it is almost fate that Tupac will be part of it as well, ranging from his music and his view of the world in general. His music expands upon police brutality, racism, and other issues in the community. The most significant figure that helped Tupac’s appreciation of his culture and pride was his mother, Afeni Shakur:

‘At first I rebelled against her because she was in a movement and we never spent time together because she was always speaking and going to colleges and everything,’ Tupac say. But after a period of intense movement activity, Tupac and his mother bonded. ‘And then after that was over, it was more time spent with me and [I was] just like, ‘You’re my mother,’ and she was like, ‘You’re my son.’’ (Pg. 50 Holler)

Afeni sacrifices many choices in life to give her children reality in life. When her family has to move out of their home, they did not move into shelters. Instead, they had moved in with their families. Afeni could have went to school, receive her degree, and get a job to have her family live well, but money was not everything to Afeni. Knowledge of the world and not being ignorant was rich enough for her and her children’s life. “…if money was nothing, if there was no money and everything depended on your moral standards…we’d be millionaires.” (Pg. 51 Holler). When Tupac was a baby, Afeni would sing soul music that represents Black pride. Tupac grows with that pride that helped shaped how he is. As Tupac continues on with his life he inspires many people in his community with his ideology of Black and White society.

His family in general enlightens Tupac of his culture, his heritage, and the movement they have gone through to better themselves. With this in mind, Tupac shapes his perspective of the world in a deeper meaning than what it is shown like, the media, the police, and other issues. His ability to inspire people spreads the knowledge that he has to other people. With his mother's help, Tupac is able to be prepared with whatever reality brings along, with or against him.
 

Holler If You Hear Me, Eric Dyson shears with us the struggles that Tupac grew up with from moving place to place to having a mother as a Black Panther and also having a drug addiction problem. Afini Shakur didn’t make wise decisions for her children for a while she choose drugs over her kids, neglecting to give them the love and support when they needed it most in their adolescent years. For a long time Tupac and his mother didn’t get along because of her decisions. “Afeni’s role in the movement was costly, limiting, in
Tupac’s mind, the time she spent with him”. “At first I rebelled against her because she was in a movement and we never spent time together because she was always speaking and going to colleges and everything” After a while Tupac and his mother got along pretty well. If I had the choice of making a difference in society and I knew in the long run if would better the world, I probably would have to chooses the movement, but also find a way to get my kids involved or find some kind of balance.

Afini says “I never lied to my kids… for better or for worse” I think that is very important, That’s what made Tupac a great rapper that he came to be, he rapped about real things that was going on, his music always have positive messages.
Once he made it big, he made songs about his mom such as “Dear Mama” and keep Yo head up. “And even as a crack fiend mama/ you were always a black queen mama.” Tupac arts made uplifted people made them feel good about themselves. Keep Yo Head Up always inspire me to see the positive side of things when everything is going wrong. It also reminds me that my situation could be worse, so keep my head up and move along thank God for the test because things are only going to get better for me!

Being a child of a Panther was hard; “Tupac was constantly approached at school by FBI agents seeking the whereabouts of his stepfather, Murulu Shakur” (Michael Dyson pg57). Sometimes Tupac didn’t like things that went on in the PBB, fathers having to leave their families, also how it destroyed the black families. Tupac looked at the BPP as a positive movement but also a negative movement. Tupac was birthed in the BPP movement; he began to challenge himself and others asking. “Why are you working for the white people?” After the BPP movement was washed out he wanted to start a new movement but better and stronger.
Although Tupac is dead his music will live on forever, because he was real he spoke the truth. His music is uplifting not about killing people and how much money material things he has, or how many girls he can get. He was beautiful person he will always be respected for his talents. It’s a shame God took him too soon, we never will be able to see all the positive things he could have gave to the community.
Because Tupac was a son of a panther he was always a target for the police. Tupac was accused of raping some young woman; it took more than 175 swat team members to arrest him. Now is that crazy or what all those officers to arrest an unarmed man! They handled him like he was a wild animal, all that was because he was a son of a panther. As far as his death goes it had nothing to do with biggie. I believe it was the police. You see his mother is a Panther they couldn’t get to her so they got to her son!

English 201 B
Tipton