The Son of a Panther

“The Son of a Panther” discussed the post-revolutionary childhood of Tupac Shakur, an American rapper. Prior to reading the article, I knew very little of Tupac and only about the friendship/rival of his opponent Biggie Smalls (the Notorious B.I.G.). Born to a Black Panther and a culture that represented strong Black Nationalism, his mother encouraged and taught him about the struggles and ideals of the Black American. Though he appreciated what the organization and its people stood for, he often had conflicting values of trying to pursue more of a “thug life,” while remaining strong to his values of the organization. Striving to use education as a tool “of self-defense and as a safeguard against bigotry,” Tupac believed in less violence but rather more knowledge. As he became more famous, his views became more conflicting as well as his actions. Though he spoke on one value (respect for women), he often acted in another or opposite (i.e. being convicted for raping a woman). Personally, I don’t feel that he was a troublemaker, but nor a revolutionary person (just from this article that is). I believe that at times he was a hypocrite and did not remain true to his self. Regardless of his views and negative actions, I do think that he became a role model for many young African men because he represented his culture (the Black Panthers) in a way that other rappers couldn’t. He was able to connect with people who grew up poor and in the “thug life.” However, due to his conflicting values, his incarceration, and his death (murder), Tupac has often been remembered for his negative actions.