A rose that grew from concrete: Tupac Amaru Shakur

Tupac Amaru Shakur. I just found out that it was his birthday today through someone else's blog. I hate to be just like her and write something on him but it's in my spirit to do so. I just took out sometime reading one of my favorite poems by Tupac in his book "A rose that grew from concrete". The poem reads,

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 for

I will die before my time

Because I feel the shadow's death

I have come to grips with the possibility

and wiped the last tear from my eyes

I loved all who were positive

In the event of my demise!

This poem means so much to because I can feel Tupac's passion in each word that he chose. I also feel that this poem was a warning to the world that he wouldn't be here much longer. He knew that his way of life was going to cause him to not live long. However, he stresses that he lived by all his morals and was able to achieve many of his goals before his death. What really sticks out to me about Tupac is that his morals at times crossed each other out, in my opinion. Tupac was intelligent. He was different from the rest in a sense that he was an intellectual and at the end of the day, he knew way more than the people he associated himself with. I think that he had so much anger built up inside of him that he had to find other ways to channel it. It was so weird to watch videos of Tupac and notice how he was so smart that he could be the President or the leader of his own revolution and yet the interview was held in a prison where Tupac was being held. It saddened me to see how such a dynamic person who knew all the right things, continued to do wrong . He said once or twice that it was a stage that people go through- the whole "gangster lifestyle"- and so I think that he thought that he would have more time to get out of this stage and do better for himself. I kind of related his situation to the present day rapper T.I. T.I raps about both a "thug life" but also writes songs that inspire his listeners. He also trys to help youth see that they should go down the road less traveled and make a difference in the world. However, he ends up in jail for violence. I've realized that it takes a while for people to change themselves- longer than it does to try to change someone else. I only pray that the time shortens. Also, we all know that Tupac moved to Baltimore in his teen years. Meaning he was my age while in Baltimore. Like I, he saw the things that I see today. It's ashame that within decades not much has changed. Tupac called Baltimore an "ignorance city". I mean it hurts to hear him say such things about my city but how can I prove him wrong? He's right-it is. Anywho he also stated that the high school he attended- Baltimore School for the Arts changed his life in ways of which he was introduced to different styles of music, drama and literature that he would have never learned or payed attention to at anyother school. At BSA he was shaped and cultured. So this proves that you can learn anywhere, weather it be in the finest city or the worst. It is all about your dedication to education and the betterment of yourself and these are the type of things that Tupac spoke about-being your own person and knowing exactly what you want out of life. I wish Tupac would have made better decisions and completely followed the words that he inspired me to live by.

Happy Birthday Tupac Amaru Shakur and Rest In Peace.