Skip to content

featuring historical research, writing, and media at st. mary's university

  • World History

    World History

    Menu
    • World History
    • Pre-Classical History (to 600 BCE)
    • Classical History (600 BCE-600 CE)
    • Post-Classical History (600 CE-1492 CE)
    • Early Modern History (1492-1789)
    • Modern History (1789-1914)
    • Global History (1900-present)

    From the Ancient World

    The Battle of Zama: Rome's Vengeance

    Posted by Davis Nickle12/01/2020

    From the Modern World

    The Holy See Takes On The Fight Against Climate Change

    Posted by Victor Rodriguez11/30/2020

    Regional Histories

    Menu
    • African and African American Studies
    • Latin American Studies
  • US History

    Early America

    Menu
    • US-Three Worlds Meet (to 1620)
    • US-Colonization and Settlement (1585-1763)
    • US-Revolution and the New Nation (1754-1820s)
    • US-Expansion and Reform (1801-1861)
    • US-Civil War & Reconstruction (1850-1877)

    Hispanophobia: La Discriminación contra las Personas que Hablan Español

    Posted by Cristian Maldonado12/22/2020

    Calculating the Death of Learning

    Posted by Sabrina Doyon11/08/2019

    Murder or “Justifiable Homicide”?: The Death of the Revolutionary Fred Hampton

    Posted by Natalie Thamm04/07/2019

    How the Soviet Union Compelled the United States to Build the World's Fastest Jet: The Lockheed A-12 OXCART

    Posted by Nathaniel Bielawski05/07/2020

    “I don't understand what you are saying, speak English.”: Tener un acento extranjero afecta la percepción.

    Posted by Lyzette Flores11/08/2020

    The Inevitable Fall of Bernie Madoff’s $65 Billion Scheme

    Posted by Nicholas Burch12/02/2020

    BEYONCÉ: The Early Days of the Worldwide Legend

    Posted by Sydney Hardeman10/01/2019

    America's Greatest Escape: Alcatraz

    Posted by Shea Slusser11/12/2019

    The Enola Gay Dropping A Big ol' A-Bomb: The Start of the Nuclear Age

    Posted by Destiny Lucero05/06/2020

    Raping and Killing: "Casualties of War" in Vietnam

    Posted by Doan Mai12/14/2019

    The Exorcism of Roland Doe

    Posted by Mitchell Yocham12/05/2019

    The Opiate Epidemic: The FDA's Struggle to Control Opiate Abuse

    Posted by Abigale Carney11/15/2019

    Brian Kemp, The Puppeteer of His Own Election

    Posted by Alexa Montelongo12/01/2020

    From Being a Christian and Ex-Military to being a Serial Killer: Israel Keyes

    Posted by Adrianna Hernandez10/31/2020

    ¡Si, Se Puede! – Collective Organizing, Unions, and Non Violent Protests

    Posted by Eric Grant11/19/2020

    Edward Snowden: The Inside Scoop On The World's Most Infamous Whistleblower

    Posted by Ryan Estes04/04/2019

    Martín de Alarcón: The Forgotten Founder of San Antonio

    Posted by Danielle A. Garza05/13/2019

    Perseverance in Preservation: The Hundred-year Historical Development of Woodlawn Lake Park

    Posted by Mario Sosa05/13/2019

    Netflix - The Beginning of the Future of Entertainment

    Posted by Amanda Shoemaker04/26/2020

    E-Cigarettes: An Incredible Invention or Complete Catastrophy? Adam Hergenreder Shares His Catastrophic Experience

    Posted by Elizabeth Guardiola11/13/2019

    Quiet Man On the Run: The Story of Frank Abagnale, World-Renound Con-Artist

    Posted by Lilia Seijas11/01/2019

    The Notorious RBG

    Posted by Alicia Guzman04/07/2019

    Johnnie Cochran's Battle Of The 27 Year Long Court Case

    Posted by Victoria Davis11/07/2019

    The Trials that Started the American Revolution: John Adams

    Posted by Andrea Degollado04/26/2020

    The Non-Stick Chemical That Stuck DuPont with a Stiff Bill In The Courtroom

    Posted by Aleea Costilla10/30/2020

    A Hero’s Burden: COVID-19, Mental Health, and the life of Dr. Lorna Breen

    Posted by Jarred Deptawa11/09/2020

    Lucy Hobbs Taylor: The Woman Who Pulled Teeth

    Posted by Giselle Garcia02/28/2020

    Tus idiomas te definen, mentalmente hablando

    Posted by Ángel Velarde10/11/2020

    Remembering Ranchos De Las Cabras: The Forgotten Outpost of Mission Espada

    Posted by Shine Trabucco05/07/2019

    The Impossible Record: The Legend Behind Babe Ruth's 1927 Season

    Posted by Jake Mares10/31/2019

    Contemporary America

    Menu
    • US-Industrial United States (1870-1900)
    • US-Emergence of Modern America (1890-1930)
    • US-Great Depression & WWII (1929-1945)
    • US-Postwar United States (1945-early 1970s)
    • US-Contemporary United States (1968-present)
  • Themes

    SPICE Categories

    Specialty Categories

    Special Themes

    Menu
    • Social History
    • Political History
    • Environmental History
    • Cultural History
    • Economic History
    Menu
    • Art History
    • Business
    • Crime
    • Gender Studies
    • Human Rights
    • Public Health and Medicine
    • International Relations
    • Linguistics
    Menu
    • Military History
    • Music
    • People
    • Psychology
    • Religion
    • Science & Technology
    • Sports
    Menu
    • Catholic Heritage
    • The Year 1968
    • COVID-19
    • Social Justice
    • Spanish Language
  • Showcase

    Showcase Editions

    • Vol 1 – 2016
      • Vol 1 No 1 Aug-Sep 2016
      • Vol 1 No 2 Oct-Nov 2016
    • Vol 2 – 2017
      • Vol 2 No 1 Jan-Feb 2017
      • Vol 2 No 2 Mar-Apr 2017
      • Vol 2 No 3 Aug-Sep 2017
      • Vol 2 No 4 Oct-Nov 2017
    • Vol 3 – 2018
      • Vol 3 No 1 Jan-Feb 2018
      • Vol 3 No 2 Mar-Apr 2018
      • Vol 3 No 3 Aug-Sep 2018
      • Vol 3 No 4 Oct-Nov 2018
    • Vol 4 – 2019
      • Vol 4 No 1 Jan-Feb 2019
      • Vol 4 No 2 Mar-Apr 2019
      • Vol 4 No 3 Aug-Sep 2019
      • Vol 4 No 4 Oct-Nov 2019
    • Vol 5 – 2020
      • Vol 5 No 1 Jan-Feb 2020
      • Vol 5 No 2 Mar-Apr 2020
      • Vol 5 No 3 Aug-Sep 2020
    Menu
    • Vol 1 – 2016
      • Vol 1 No 1 Aug-Sep 2016
      • Vol 1 No 2 Oct-Nov 2016
    • Vol 2 – 2017
      • Vol 2 No 1 Jan-Feb 2017
      • Vol 2 No 2 Mar-Apr 2017
      • Vol 2 No 3 Aug-Sep 2017
      • Vol 2 No 4 Oct-Nov 2017
    • Vol 3 – 2018
      • Vol 3 No 1 Jan-Feb 2018
      • Vol 3 No 2 Mar-Apr 2018
      • Vol 3 No 3 Aug-Sep 2018
      • Vol 3 No 4 Oct-Nov 2018
    • Vol 4 – 2019
      • Vol 4 No 1 Jan-Feb 2019
      • Vol 4 No 2 Mar-Apr 2019
      • Vol 4 No 3 Aug-Sep 2019
      • Vol 4 No 4 Oct-Nov 2019
    • Vol 5 – 2020
      • Vol 5 No 1 Jan-Feb 2020
      • Vol 5 No 2 Mar-Apr 2020
      • Vol 5 No 3 Aug-Sep 2020
  • About

    Course Readings

    Article Indexes

    About Us

    Menu
    • Course Readings – SC 3300 – Nash
    • Course Readings – SMC 1301 – Wieck
    • Course Readings – PO 4334 – Dr Celine
    Menu
    • Course Readings – HS 2321 – Whitener
    • Course Readings – HS 2322 – Whitener
    • Course Readings – SMC 1301 – Whitener
    Menu
    • Our Article/Author Index
    • Award Winning Articles
    Menu
    • Our StMU History Media Project
    • Our Faculty Consultants
    • Our Writers
    • Contact Us
  • African and African American Studies, Cultural History, Descriptive Article, Music, People, United States History, US-Contemporary United States (1968-present)
  • March 14, 2018

Tupac Shakur: Educating Ignorance

tupac B&W
Destiny Flores

Destiny Flores

Close your eyes and flashback to Harlem, New York in the 1970’s; you hear the unique dialect of thugs, pimps, and prostitutes alongside the upbeat rhythm of culture-rich music. You hear the tension of drug deals, the cries of hungry homeless children out in the cold, and the crackling of the fires of buildings being burnt down and soon to be abandoned. You hear police sirens fill the streets, and the cracking of police batons on the ribs of individuals who plead their innocence. But more importantly, you hear the silent screams of the oppressed on their last straw. Right smack in the middle of this revolutionary explosion, in 1971, was born Lesane Parish Crooks—the future Tupac Amaru Shakur.1

Tupac and his mother, an ex-Black Panther member | Courtesy of The Source

Tupac was born into a family that was deeply rooted in the Black Panther Party. The Black Panthers was a group of African Americans who wore iconic black outfits with black berets and emphasized “black pride.” They fiercely fought for human and civil rights, but more importantly, against police brutality. Although a social movement, they stood out from other movements of that time because, unlike other groups, they used violence to rebel. It was founded by Huey P. Newton and existed through the 1960’s-1970’s.2 His mother, Afeni Shakur, was guilty of 156 counts of crime due to her involvement with the Panther movement, and was in prison while pregnant with Tupac. Although lacking a high school degree, Afeni was incredibly smart. She was known for her public speaking, and when eight months pregnant, she acted as her own lawyer and won the case, getting her released from prison on account of a lack of evidence.3 From early in his life, Tupac lacked a father figure, and it is because of this that he was especially close to his mother and had much respect for her as a single, struggling parent. His godparents, two renowned Black Panther members, Assata Shakur and Elmer “Geronimo” Pratt, had important roles to play in the Panthers organization, so one could only imagine how developed Tupac’s sense of social awareness was from a very young age.

Growing up, Tupac automatically had a love for education. He always had the self-motivation to go to school and the instinct to pursue poetry and drama. Considering his lyrical reputation, it’s no surprise that Tupac was skillfully literate, and he soon began using this talent to say what he felt needed to be said. At fourteen years old, Shakur was enrolled in Baltimore’s School for the Arts, and it was here that he started rapping, his first real rap being about gun control.4 It didn’t take long at all for him to notice flaws in the education system and want to improve it. He later commented on how, after awhile, school became so repetitive that he stopped learning things that are actually important. For example, almost every year from Kindergarten to twelfth grade, children are required to take Math, English, and History courses of some sort, each one not being very different from the last. He felt kids lacked the opportunity to learn “important things,” such as how to complete their taxes, manage finances, and more; things, for example, that revolved around having street smarts and daily practicality. He had no hesitation taking on a leadership role, and took advantage of immediately getting involved. In high school, he started campaigns educating kids about safe sex, in a neighborhood where the rate of AIDS among teenagers was very high. He and some of his friends even wanted to restart the Black Panthers. But instead of the use of violence, his goal was to use his words to get his points across. Tupac particularly emphasized the importance of education, especially among the youth, and the importance of children being raised with the necessary mindset required for bettering the future, not only for themselves but for generations to follow. He also made it known that he  absolutely hated racism, deplored the mistreatment of women, and saw both as result of ignorance.5 Tupac had never lived a luxurious life, but unfortunately, he and his family were faced with sudden financial difficulties. His mother had developed a cocaine addiction, due to her involvement with one of her ex-Panther friends. As her addiction worsened, she became unable to hold a job. This caused Tupac’s family to lose the privilege of being able to stay in one place for long. They had to keep moving, from Harlem to Baltimore, then to California, until they were eventually homeless. In 1988, at seventeen years old, Tupac was eventually forced to drop out of school and start selling drugs to pay the bills and support his family.6

Album cover of 2Pacalypse Now | Courtesy of YouTube

Thankfully, a couple years later, in 1990, Tupac joined the HipHop group Digital Underground, and became a background dancer for them. He was also getting roles in movies, such as Ernest Dickerson’s film Juice.7 Tupac was juggling acting as well as rapping, with both really putting his name in the entertainment realm. His rap career really took off in 1991 when his first solo debut album, 2Pacalypse Now, was released.8 In this album, he raps about life in the streets for African Americans, especially in regards to police brutality, poverty, and the war on drugs. It was a real contrast to the stereotypes that rap just contained vulgarity and glamorized delinquent behavior.  His frank tone and attitude immediately drew a lot of attention towards these hypersensitive topics, which were otherwise overlooked. Tupac Shakur was giving a new name to Gangsta Rap.9

2Pacalyse Now was arguably the most revolutionary compilation of Tupac’s career, because it sparked such a wide variety of emotions. In this album, not only did he identify problems of the ghetto, but he gave reasoning as to why they persisted, as well as even giving viable solutions, with his most emphasized solution being education. In his song, “Rebel of the Underground,” Shakur states,

“The most dangerous weapon: an educated black man.”10

Also in his 2Pacalypse Now album, in his song “Violent,” he talks about his blunt attitude, and his persistence to expose issues of the ghetto was being confused for violence. In this song, he states,

“They claim I’m violent just because I refuse to be silent…I will rebel against any oppressor and this is known as self defense…Unlock my brain, break the chains of your misery…My words are weapons and I’m steppin to the silent… Wakin up the masses, but you claim I’m violent.”11

Another profound piece on this album was his song “Words of Wisdom,” in which he directly speaks to those who are socially oppressed; more specifically, the African Americans of the lower class. He directly calls out problems regarding drugs, economic inequality among the classes, and how the education of kids in the ghetto is neglected. In this song, he states,

“It’s wrong to keep someone from learning something. I’m fed up, we gotta start teaching children that they can be all that they wanna be. There’s much more to life than just poverty…Conquer the enemy armed with education. Armed with the knowledge of the place we’ve been, no one will ever oppress this race again.”12

By the age of twenty years old, Tupac Shakur was not only changing a whole genre of music as we knew it, but approaching nationwide issues as no one had approached them before. He was changing the way people thought, how they looked at themselves, their place in society, and the importance of things such as education. He was doing all this through his words. Tupac once stated, “I’m not saying I’m going to rule the world or I’m going to change the world, but I guarantee that I will spark the brain that will change the world.”13 Although he died just five years after the release of his first album, his legacy still lives on today in the minds of those who wish to better the lives of the indigent youth. What do you say? Do you have the spark to change the world? 

 

 

  1. Michael Dyson, Holler if You Hear Me (New York: Basic Civitas Books, 2001.), 6. ↵
  2. Encyclopedia of Activism and Social Justice, 2007, s.v. “Black Panther Party,” by Gary L. Anderson and Kathryn G. Herr. ↵
  3.  Encyclopedia of African American History, 2010, s.v. “Shakur, Tupac,” by Aaron D. Sachs. ↵
  4.  Encyclopedia of African American History, 2010, s.v. “Shakur, Tupac,” by Aaron D. Sachs. ↵
  5. Historic Films Stock Footage Archive, “Tupac Shakur 1988 High School Interview,” YouTube Video, 36:01, June 12, 2017, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_XT9-C5Qu8&t=82s. ↵
  6.  Encyclopedia of African American History 1896 to the Present, 2009, s.v. “Shakur, Tupac,” by Akil Houston. ↵
  7.  Encyclopedia of African American History 1896 to the Present, 2009, s.v. “Shakur, Tupac,” by Akil Houston. ↵
  8. St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture, 2013, s.v. “Shakur, Tupac (1971-1996),” by Pierre-Damien Mvuyekure. ↵
  9. Simon Glickman, Tupac Amaru Shakur (Detroit: Gale, 2003), 26-27. ↵
  10. Anton Larson, “2Pac-Rebel of the Underground (lyrics on screen), YouTube Video, 3:11, May 11, 2012, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKF_FZUjts4. ↵
  11. artfulgooner, “Tupac Violent Lyric Video,” YouTube Video, 6:27, May 6, 2013, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKW3ps02L_o ↵
  12. 2Pac4ever, “2Pac-Words of Wisdom with lyrics,” YouTube Video, 4:54, January 7, 2016, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsOVlPKyUME ↵
  13. EducateInspireChangeTV, “I Will Spark The Brain That Will Change The World-Tupac,” YouTube Video, 1:42, September 15, 2014, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uijBebYpoto. ↵

Tags from the story

  • Hip-Hop Music, Rap Music, Tupac Shakur

Share this post

Share on facebook
Share on google
Share on twitter
Share on linkedin
Share on pinterest
Share on print
Share on email
Destiny Flores

Destiny Flores

Author Portfolio Page

This Post Has 96 Comments

  1. Justine Ruiz
    Justine Ruiz 14 Sep 2020 Reply

    I never knew how involved Tupac’s family were with the Black Panthers. This explains a lot about his song lyrics and his way of speech. He knew how to express everything happening so perfectly. The death of Tupac is one of the saddest days in history because not many artists were social activists like him

  2. Avatar
    Diego Oviedo 12 Sep 2020 Reply

    Hearing Tupac’s music one could hear that he believed in the black power. It was interesting to read that he was not only involved with his community but how he was trying to help in other places. Tupac used his music to spread awareness and knowledge to the people about what was going on around the communities but also how we should see and perceive our lives. Tupac was and will always have a huge impact not only in the music industry but also the world.

  3. Avatar
    Vanessa Barron Ortiz 4 Apr 2020 Reply

    In the mist of discovering the the upbringing of tupacs lifestyle I understood why he never stopped working towards his dream.He was an activist to political issues; through his music he was able to educate the ignorant small minded individuals as well as unite those who endured a similar background. His legacy and lyrics live on as well as the extensive impact he formed in music today.

  4. Avatar
    Ana Cravioto Herrero 2 Feb 2020 Reply

    Great article. It is clear that Tupac was such a hard worker and incredibly smart. It is sad that many people are born with bad circumstances surrounding them, but I am glad that Tupac tries to make the best of it. He was very wise and definitely made in impact in many people’s lives. His lyrics were very raw, and many of the things he rapped about are still very relevant issues we face today. He will always be remembered.

  5. Avatar
    Nicholas Robitille 19 Oct 2019 Reply

    Tupac was not just an awardwinning rapper, but also a major black power believer. I was surprised to see just how involved Tupac was with not just his community, but later many communities. Tupac was a revolutionary, spreading information through the outlet of rap and expressing outrage at the terrible conditions of the hood. We will never forget Tupac and the impact he had on both Gangsta culture and impoverished problem awareness. God bless Tupac.

  6. Avatar
    Saira Locke 13 Oct 2019 Reply

    I loved the way this article was said! Tupac was one of the most impactful rappers in the history of all music. He just didn’t focus on basic rapping material, he talked about the worlds issues when he rapped. He left a big handprint on what music is today and it is so mad to see him go soon. RIP

Comments navigation

Previous commentPrevious

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

StMU History Media

A Student Organization of St. Mary's University of San Antonio Texas

Sponsors

  • College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, St. Mary's University
  • Department of History, St. Mary's University
  • Department of Political Science, St. Mary's University
  • Center for Catholic Studies, St. Mary's University

Support Services

  • The Learning Assistance Center, St. Mary's University
  • Louis J. Blume Library Services, St. Mary's University
  • STRIVE Career Center, St. Mary's University
  • Academic Technology Services, St. Mary's University

About

  • About Us
  • Our Authors
  • Our Archive
  • Contacts

© All rights reserved

Twitter
Facebook
Pinterest