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ow For A Word From Your C
Well, ladies and gentlemen, it’s
time once again for Homecoming! For
joy and all that... but what have we learnt
since last year?
If you ask me, as Lewis Caroll
once said, “The time has come to think of
many things.”
Maybe we should think about
how after stumbling through the gauntlet
of registration lines, waiting countless
hours in Financial Aid Hell and sitting
through classes that appear horrifyingly
long to the uninitiated, we can still get
together and fellowship with those around
us.
Maybe you believe that this is
not important, but if you sit down a second
- just a second - you can see neighbors in
need of an emotional hug.
What’s that? A hug? Excuuuuse
me, por favor ... I don’t think so!
What I mean, sportsfans, is that
everyone needs a little lift in their spirit as
much as possi ble - or within the guidelines
of Georgia law. That may be the reason
why countless young people join gangs,
take drugs or join the Bob Dole fan club.
Maybe all they need is a reason to believe
that that kid in 325 Roach St. is not out for
their blood, but their understanding.
Maybe, just maybe, Homecoming
is a chance for those who made it through
the late fees and deficits and cancelled
classes and C.P. Time to come back and say
to us, “Yes, you can! Now stop crying
about those term papers and rise above
where we were five years ago!”
If only it was that easy . We as a
school of the chosen generation cannot rise
unless each member decides that where he
or she wallows in the pool of mental
decadence is not the place he or she wants
to die.
Others before us did it, maybe not
well, and they ended up in the other end of
the pool. 1 believe it is time that those in
the school community realize that
administration, discrimination or
segregation cannot keep them down. No
person alive can destroy an unconquerable
soul.
Therefore, as you go to your
coronations and balls and step shows, just
remember what Uncle Conscience said in
your head yesterday:
“Only you can prevent mental
destruction . .. only you.”
It has been said that a legend
becomes a legend after they die. All
things considered, we now know of a new
legend, one who was maybe even a living
legend because legendary was his works
and his effect on the African-American
community.
The legend of whom I speak is
Tupac Shakur. One of the precious few
who can bob the heads of our w hole nation
consistently. Arguably one of the best and
most real rappers ever and definitely in
our generation. 2Pac had an effect on
everyone who has heard him and by nature,
has forced a spot in your heart whether bad
or good.
Some loved Tupac when he got
around and some hated him because of his
California love. Some were happy when
he told you to keep your head up but mad
because he told you why they call you ....
You were sad when he told us Brenda’s
got a baby, you too felt it when he shared
his pain. You caught so many tears he
shed and you even appreciated his mother.
Now when he hit ‘em up, you don’t like
him.
Controversy was 2Pac’s middle
name. Accept the uniqueness in his style,
in his music. That’s why he was a pioneer,
that’s why he was one of the best. It is
nothing short of ignorance to lose sight
of his determination, his talent, his
conquering of adversity, because of a
“W” he threw up or a “Bad Boy dis” he
chanted.
2p tc’s lifestyle was far from
Panther
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one I would want my kid to duplicate, but
the intangibles he used to achieve his
success is the part that’s admirable.
Many mourn at the loss of ablack
talent, many feel he brought his own death
and many blame him for the division of
rap music in regards of coasts. The mixture
of emotions of 2Pac’s death is somewhat
trivial compared to its impact on the Black
society. His impact on on our community
should be based on what it took to get
where he was from where he started. He
had a lot of good qualities in him that even
us college students can benefit from.
I cannot accept the labeling of
2Pac’s music as “gangsta rap”. It’s only
“gangsta rap” because he used bad
language, he treated women accordingly
(meaning according to how they treat
themselves) and he negated people in his
way. 2Pac was hardly a gangsta...he was
a thug. Gangstas fight over possession,
thugs fight to get to the top.
It is unfortunate that anyone
would contain pessimistic thoughts about
2pac’s death. Not only should we get from
2Pac’s death a slogan of “Stop the
Violence”, we should also get pride in a
black man who became successful with
his own will. We should get confidence
from 2Pac’s triumphs and realize that we
can make it. Nothing but optimism should
spring forth. 2Pac was a role model in a
sense because he showed through his life
what to do as well as what not to do.
In his life and his music, 2Pac
represented us all. So what if he was born
in Brooklyn, raised in Maryland but claims
west coast. From an outsider looking in,
he is still a member of the African-
American community. I’m pretty sure
other nationalities don’t divide their
perception of Black people by east and
west...so why should we. If he claims to
get his musical game from Oakland, and
kicked it with people in Los Angeles, then
so be it. Is that a good reason to discredit
his success as a Black man? Respect him
for the fact that he can go anywhere in
America and pack the house (You don’t
sell 3 million copies in 3 days on one
coast!).
Rap music is a part of our culture
as young people. As negative as it may
seem, there is a lot of good to be taken
from this art form. Tupac Shakur was a
perfect example of this. His death should
be fuel for our fiery strive as people and
this musical pioneer should not die in
vain. Understand his realness, his self
empowerment, his brilliance, his
blackness. After all...
“A coward dies a thousand
deaths...a soldier dies but once!”