In celebration of African Heritage Month, for Profiles in Excellence, we honor Tupac Amaru Shakur. June 16th, 1971, died September 13, 1996. Was born almost literally in the midst of the Black Revolution. That’s because his mother, Afeni Shakur, was a member of the Black Panther Party, and not just a member, but a woman on trial with others on trumped up charges.
In March 1971 while pregnant with Tupac, she was in jail and wrote a poignant, moving letter to the baby, or babies, within her. She wrote a heartfelt apology, saying, “Forgive us, our mistakes, because mostly they were mistakes which were made out of blind ignorance, sometimes arrogance. Judge us with empathy for sometimes we’re young and foolish,” she wrote. Tupac’s birth three months later would be the birth of a star. He was rapper, poet, writer, actor, and devoted student of life. In his work and life, he reflected not only enormous talent and brilliance, but the pain and alienation of growing up Black and poor in the richest nation on Earth. He was shot and killed on September 13, 1996, after a short but fruitful life in the arts. For Hard Knock Radio and Prison Radio, this is Mumia Abu-Jamal.
These commentaries are recorded by Noel Hanrahan of Prison Radio.
