Tupac Shakur, son of Black Panthers
Tupac Shakur is one of the most beloved and acclaimed rappers of all time. His music was not just typical gangster rap, but also featured revolutionary messaging and deep insight into issues that plagued the Black community. The reason for this was because those who influenced him were revolutionaries themselves: Tupac’s mother and stepfather were both involved with the Black Panther Party. Both inspired him to be creative and revolutionary, which led to the Tupac Shakur that we all knew and loved.
It was obvious how much Tupac’s mother influenced his life. After all, he even went as far to write the song Dear Mama about her, which went on to become one of his biggest hits. It was inspired by his mother’s struggles as a single mother who, in spite of adversity, went on to raise him into the legendary man he became. His mother, Afini Shakur, served as a leader in the Black Panther Party, which she joined when she was only a teenager back in 1968.
She was convinced to join after hearing Black Panther Bobby Seale speak in person, who insisted that the revolution could be led by regular, everyday Black people like herself. From there she quickly rose to become a leader in the movement, including mentoring newer members. One such member was Jamal Joseph, who said she would teach people “how to lead themselves.”
Afini taught Tupac about what it meant to be a revolutionary, and worked hard to steer him in the right direction by allowing him to follow his curiosity. She made sure Tupac was involved with the arts, something that allowed his creative talents to flourish and grow into the grammy winning rap career he would go on to have.
Afini Shakur died in 2016 at 69 years old from cardiac arrest. As a member of the Black Panther Party, she was seen as a threat to the US because of their revolutionary words and actions. They wanted to use socialism to take Black people out of the hands of the “racist, fascist US government.” However, she was a philanthropist who continued to give back even in her later years, teaching various forms of art to children at her arts center.
Another revolutionary that went on to influence Tupac was his stepfather, Dr. Mutulu Shakur, who has been a member of the New Afrikan Independence Movement since he was 16 years old. Mutulu also influenced Tupac to rap about revolutionary topics but is also credited with inspiring some of Tupac’s positivity as well. Mutulu gave back to the community by using acupuncture and drug detoxification to treat ailing drug addicts, becoming nationally and internationally known for his achievements in helping patients to turn their lives around.
However, his work as a revolutionary landed him on the radar of COINTELPRO, a counter surveillance operation by the FBI intent on targeting Black leaders across the nation. Mutulu was involved with the Black Panther Party and RAM (Revolutionary Action Movement), which wanted to start an independent Black state in the Southern US. This, along with charges related to the 1981 Brinks robbery, the escape from prison of Assata Shakur and a RICO conspiracy, led to him ending up on the FBI’s most wanted list, which forced Mutulu underground before being arrested.
Mutulu is still in prison now, even though he first had the opportunity for parole in 2016. After over 30 years in prison, he was denied parole for minor, nonviolent infractions. Mutulu is eligible for parole every two years but so far continues to be denied parole, even though he is currently suffering from bone marrow cancer. His wishes for a compassionate release in light of these circumstances have yet to be respected.
Sources:
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/afeni-shakur-davis-activist-organizer-leader-remembered-n567296
https://www.cnn.com/2016/05/03/entertainment/tupac-mother-afeni-shakur-davis-dead/index.html
https://mutulushakur.com/about/