Tonight, I'll play “Dear Mama” in celebration of a brave Queen that worked tirelessly to raise the standard by which we're judged by others, as well as by which we judge ourselves. Shakur was a strong believer that we are the change we’ve been looking for and its paramount that we know our aptitude.
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When tragedy strikes in the inner cities and beyond, it starts conversations of "Where are we headed? How we have become so disconnected and who will be the next leader to guide us, show us how to conduct ourselves?" There are examples like Afeni who embody resolve, peace and a general understanding that we have to come together for the future and stop the self-destruction. Shakur was a proud philanthropist and even acted as her own criminal defense attorney after being accused of taking part in numerous bombings as a member of the Panthers. She made sure he was groomed for the world early on, but, most importantly, she taught him how to be a stand-up black man.Īll men have a rite of passage, and a learning curve will naturally follow, but wearing this black everyday has its own pressure and responsibility.Īfeni Shakur was a member of the Black Panther Party, where she instilled the group's qualities and awareness in her neighborhood, an area infested with drugs and the wicked parallels that seem to perpetuate the stereotype of the black community. That didn't stop her work, however. Tupac’s mother was a pillar of strength and foresight for her son, just as my mother was for me. She worked two and three jobs to make ends meet and did it all for us, as many strong mothers do. Mothers day is coming up and one my fondest memories is playing “Dear Mama” for my own mother and watching the tears roll down her face as Tupac told a story similar to mine: Father wasn't around, she became my mother and my father.