The Rose that Grew from Concrete...

(Shout out to E Beezy, who of all my friends will probably appreciate this post the most!)

A funny email that my mom sent me talked about the 10 truths that hispanic and black people know, but white people wont admit; the 10 truths black and white people know, but hispanic people wont admit; and the 10 truths hispanic and white people know, but black people wont admit.

In the last list, one of the truths was, of course, Tupac is dead. Now, I know many of us have had a hard time in accepting this (my mom included in that group), but since I am of the belief that he has moved on to a better place, this post is just to honor a man that meant more to a lot of people than just rap music. But more than that, it's to honor the men and boys he represented who we've allowed to fall by the wayside; the ones who seemed to cry out for help and for whatever reason, we didnt give it to them. So, as he wrote poetry, I simply offer the words of famed poet Nikki Giovanni and Tupac... in his own words.

All Eyez On U... Nikki Giovanni

as I tossed and turned unable to achieve sleep unable to control anxiety unable to comprehend why
2Pac is not with us
if those who lived by the sword died by the sword there would be no white men on earth
if those who lived by lies died by lied there would be nobody on wall street in executive suites in academic offices instructing the young
dont tell me he got what he deserved
he deserved a chariot and the accolades of a grateful people

he deserved his life

it is as clear as a mountain stream as defining as a lightning strike as terrifying as sun to vampires
2Pac told the truth
there were those who called it dirty gangsta rap inciting
there were those wh never wanted to be angry at the conditions but angry at the messenger who reported:
your kitchen has roaches your toilet is overflowing your basement has so much water the rats are in the living room
YOUR HOUSE IS IN DISORDER
and 2Pac told you about it

what a beautiful boy graceful carriage melodic voice sharp wit intellectual breadth
what a beautiful boy to lose
not me never me I do not believe east coast west coast
I saw them murder Emmett Till I saw them murder Malcolm X I saw them murder Martin Luther King
I witnessed them shooting Rap Brown I saw them beat LeRoi Jones
I saw them fill their jails I saw them burning churches not me never me
I do not believe this is some sort of mouth action this is some sort of political action and they picked well
they picked the brightest freshest fruit from the tallest tree
what a beautiful boy
but he will not go away as Malcolm did not go away as Emmett Till did not go away
your shooting him will not take him from us his spirit will fill our hearts
his courage will strengthen us for the challenge his truth will straighten our backbones

you know, Socrates has a mother she too watched her son drink hemlock
she too asked why but Socrates stood firm and would not lie to save himself
the lovely Afeni had to bury her son it is not right
it is not right that this young warrior is cut down it is not right for the old to bury the young
it is not right
this generation mourns 2Pac as my generation mourned Till
as we all mourn Malcolm this wonderful young warrior

Sonia Sanchez said when she learned of his passing she walked all day
walking he beautiful warrior home to our ancestors I just cried as all mothers cry for the beautiful boy
who said he and Mike Tyson would never be allowed to be free at the same time
who told the truth about them and who told the truth about us
who is our beautiful warrior

there are those who wanted to make him the problem
who wanted to believe if they silences 2Pac all would be quiet on the ghetto front
there are those who testified that the problem wasnt the conditions
but the people talking about them
they took away band so the boys started scratching
they took away gym so the boys started break dancing started rapping
cause they gave them the guns and the drugs but not the schools and libraries
what a beautiful boy to lose

and we mourn 2Pac Shakur and we reach out to his mother and we hug ourselves in sadness and shame
and we are compelled to ask:
R U Happy, Mz Tucker? 2Pac is gone
R U Happy?


In the Event of My Demise... Tupac Amaru Shakur

In the event of my Demise
when my heart can beat no more
I Hope I Die For A Principle
or A Belief that I had Lived 4
I will die Before My Time
Because I feel the shadow's Depth
so much I wanted 2 accomplish
before I reached my Death
I have come 2 grips with the possibility
and wiped the last tear from My eyes
I Loved All who were Positive
In the event of my Demise