Today we're in the Writing Center again. I still haven't gotten the key for the technology cabinet in B-203, but the permission slip--sounds juvenile doesn't it,is in my pocket.
Go on-line first and read the lyrics to Changes, then open another window and respond to Changes in a 3-paragraph essay. Include a citation in each paragraph. Please include Dyson references also, plus poetry that also resonates for you if applicable.
What's amazing about this song, as one sees in all great literature is its timeless qualities. Did you notice how relevant Tupac's lyrics are regrading the presidency, the prison industrial complex, the proliferation of guns and drugs in urban communities? One sees the director of the clip play with the two-ness we see evidence in the artist's life. At one point in the video, Tupac says: "I'm only responsible for what I do, no for what all black men do."
His closing line references this: "Somethings never change," yet the hope is, that they do...otherwise what does that mean for the rest of us? What did that mean for Tupac?
See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUoUDuAPCZA
If you don't have time to post your thoughts here in a 3-paragraph essay, post it later, as long as it's up sometime today.
Homework:
Read the handout I gave up and do the exercises up to page 15. We'll talk about it Monday. Keep reading Dyson. We are finished with the book Monday. I asked you to develop 5-10 essay questions yesterday for today. Post them at that assignment.
Also, bring in Elements of Style. We'll meet in the Writing Center Monday, October 15 also in this Lab. I'll have the freewrite up already, so just sit down at a computer and begin writing.
Go on-line first and read the lyrics to Changes, then open another window and respond to Changes in a 3-paragraph essay. Include a citation in each paragraph. Please include Dyson references also, plus poetry that also resonates for you if applicable.
What's amazing about this song, as one sees in all great literature is its timeless qualities. Did you notice how relevant Tupac's lyrics are regrading the presidency, the prison industrial complex, the proliferation of guns and drugs in urban communities? One sees the director of the clip play with the two-ness we see evidence in the artist's life. At one point in the video, Tupac says: "I'm only responsible for what I do, no for what all black men do."
His closing line references this: "Somethings never change," yet the hope is, that they do...otherwise what does that mean for the rest of us? What did that mean for Tupac?
See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUoUDuAPCZA
If you don't have time to post your thoughts here in a 3-paragraph essay, post it later, as long as it's up sometime today.
Homework:
Read the handout I gave up and do the exercises up to page 15. We'll talk about it Monday. Keep reading Dyson. We are finished with the book Monday. I asked you to develop 5-10 essay questions yesterday for today. Post them at that assignment.
Also, bring in Elements of Style. We'll meet in the Writing Center Monday, October 15 also in this Lab. I'll have the freewrite up already, so just sit down at a computer and begin writing.
posted by Professor Wanda's Posse at 11:22 AM
17 Comments:
Latrice Collins- Lampkins
The song changes touches on Tupacs revolutionary upbringing and the fact that many things haven’t changed in the world. He quotes in the song “its time to fight back that’s what Huey said 2 shots in the dark now he's dead”. Although there was an uprising within the black movement of days past the struggle continues.
“I see no changes nothing but racist faces” I see no changes wake up in the morning and I ask myself is life worth living should I blast myself? His disparity of the injustices that were being put upon him and his people became so heavy that he wondered was it worth living. His words in the poem Life through my eyes says” my heart will not exist unless my destiny comes through and puts an end to this”.
We gotta make a change its time for people to start making some changes. Let’s change the way we eat, lets change the way we live and let’s change the way we treat each other. Tupac was saying I can’t do it alone; I can’t be the mouthpiece for everyone. In his video he said “I live my life trying to be responsible for what I do I don’t know how to be responsible for what every black man did. I will say that I’m a thug, that’s because I came from the gutter and I’m still here”. Now he is gone. That’s just the way it is things will never be the same
Maurice Freeman eng 1a
Freewrite
CHANGES
In this song “changes” written by Tupac Shakur, and also being an African-American male we see the in-depth analysis of what it is to wake up, look in the mirror and to already know the day to day struggle of what it is to being an “black” male in today’s (at the time of the song) society. That’s why the song starts of with “ I wake up in the mourning and I ask myself, is life worth living or should I blast myself.” When I say struggle don’t get me wrong, speaking from a personal standpoint I love waking up and knowing my son woke up, he’s healthy, safe and sound, and now he is enrolled in school I’m wondering if he is on his way there also. Regardless of that I can really and truly say I love it, but just waking up and knowing that there are darts coming your way because of the color of your skin that’s a struggle against the grain if you will.
Taking a step and also a look back on things, “Pac” gets to getting personal and for me “lightweight” in my business. When you have dreams of being somebody important because that’s all you know as a child is your going to be special and in the same breath you turn around and your mother is to busy “enjoying” herself and she is all you got, the choices that you face already struggling you can imagine what goes through a young man’s mind. Not only do we have to deal with just waking up in the mourning we also have people who hate you just for waking up. So what he’s saying is we getting hatred from a lot of different avenues and it’s hard, but as I said before I love it.
In conclusion I said before this is the type of song that you could wake up to and “get ya mind right” When I say that. There are songs that I wake up to every mourning that get me going in one way or another. Hearing this song once again and continues to show me why I looked up to and why I hung on to the words of the songs that he wrote that I appreciated.
I felt that "Changes" was one of Tupac's realist songs that didn't incorporate the wrong message instead it spoke truth.In the song there is a line that is powerful and can be related to the day to day world,"I see no changes wake up in the morning and I ask myself is life worth living should I blast myself",just in that line says a lot. It shows waking up to world and seeing no change in the world or the ghetto.The same crooked cops,politicians arranging the world to their ways,the rich getting richer and poor getting poorer,black on black violence, and the ignorance that washes away all intelligence that is deserved to those who don't know.With all this controversy and commotion going on some humans can't or are tired of coping with life so they contimplate suicide because of the lack of change.
In Dyson's book some people who interviewed Tupac qouted his statements,"When am I'm going to Germany? I can't afford to pay my rent in America.How am I going to Germany?" this shows how Tupac's bright view was realized by the negativity and how some things he felt will never change.Though Tupac strived for changes he felt he was a one man army and maybe it would never occur for the lack of role models in the black community.Tupac was the voice for the ghetto even though he felt he was a "thug" it wasn't to "terrorize people,rob people, or rape" like Tupac stated in his interviews it was a justifiable survivor of a ruff jungle.
Tupac's views of "changes" were concentrated on the black community, and the black way of life.Such changes as in ways like in "changes", "eating, and way we live,and let's change the way we treat each other" these were just some changes he felt that needed to be made as African-Americans.These changes were directed to black but surely Tupac would also like "Whites" to change the way blacks are treated and viewed.Some things he knew would never change like poverty,black on black violence,drugs, and racism but one thing that did change was the possibility of a black president.Everything else Tupac was right about,and I'm sure Dyson can come to agree with some of Tupac's views even if some are harsh,but they are truths that plague urban communities.
Zareth Benavides
English 1A
October 11.2007
Free write:
Responding to the Song and Video by 2pac Shakur “Changes”
“I wanna be the way I have been practicing my whole life, is to be responsible for what I do, I don’t know how to be responsible for what every black male did, I don’t know, Yes! I’m gonna say that I’m a Thug, because I came from the gutter and I’m still here!”
In the video Tupac makes the above statement, with much emphasis on the fact that he can and does call himself a thug. He’s from the ghetto, from the scum of the earth, at least that’s what I imagine he feels like. And I believe that he still is there because in every generation you can find a 2Pac, a young soul looking for change, and change for the better.
Listening to “Changes” opened my eyes in a way, to realizing that Tupac in truth never died, he still lives, not only in his music, and his writings, but in every person who understands what he means when he tells us in a poem “ “I will give you liberty, but first give me ure spirit,/ This I must confiscate because the evil fear it’…the promise that they claim 2 be completely true is hypocrisy at its finest/ A trick to silence you…trickery does not succeed with those with honest hearts.” [A Rose. Page 139 Tupac Shakur] And Tupac had not just an honest heart, but also a great intention. He realized early on that this society would always be the same. Unless we all make a change for ourselves of ourselves, we’ll always fall back unto our evil, racist, hypocritical, and ill-mannered selves. “I see no changes all I see is racist faces/ misplaced hate makes /disgrace to races/ We under I wonder what it takes to make this/ one better place, let's erase the wasted/ Take the evil out the people they'll be acting right/ 'cause both black and white is smokin' crack tonight/ and only time we chill is when we kill each other/ it takes skill to be real, time to heal each other.” (Changes, Tupac Shakur, Greatest hits) We can ever relate this song to the Jena Six trials we have been discussing in class.
You would think that times, trials and moments in history would make this a better place to live. I mean Immigrants from all over want to be here because we publish a free, equal, liberated life style, when in truth a judge can take our lives away with a signature. Dyson states “It is clear that Tupac believes that schools should address the pressing social issues of the day, and more specifically, they should help the youth confront the ills that directly affect them.” [Dyson: “Hollar if you Hear Me” : No Malcome X in My history text: page 77}Changes. Plain and simple, if we were taught in school that a gun kills, drugs are evil, sex is a natural thing that can be safe, abortion is painful, love exists, that the word is full of racism, or that people everywhere are going hungry, then we would be pretty well rounded. We would really appreciate what we have.
I’d like to say that changes happen everyday, but they are so small, so minute that they are hardly noticed. Even if we wake up in the morning, wanting got to something different, it is hidden behind what we are told to do. I might want to get up in the morning and feed the hungry, but, because society tells me that if I keep feeding then they’ll keep coming back, I don’t. I want to wake up and tell myself secretly that I don’t miss him, but life won’t let me change the past. Changes don’t start big, they are small, and they begin with you!
ps. it lost its format upon posting it
Cristina Pacio
English1A
Professor Sabir
10/11/2007
“Changes” by Tupac contemplates the on-going stress of the black race in America. The song explains how the situation of blacks in our society remains the same, and why it is difficult to change. He uses repetition and slang in the song to illustrate this. He constantly repeats the term “I see no changes”. This is to stress that no matter what has been tried and done there are no changes. Through the repetition and use of slang term Tupac delivers that there is a problem in America and the black community; the black society does not meet with the whites unless it’s in a racial matter and/or violence. Tupac wants to plant this idea in the listeners’ mind that nothing has happened yet.
This has been the case for many years. “No changes all I see is racist faces misplaced hate makes disgrace to races…” Tupac is informing others that they should stand up for their rights, and be proud of themselves. The penitentiaries are filled with blacks because they are forced to commit these crimes to survive. “But tell the cops they can’t touch this I don't trust this when they try to rush I bust this. That’s the sound of my tool you say it ain’t cool…” With this Tupac is trying to say instead of using violence to progress the black situation, one should use freedom of speech.
In “Holler If You Hear Me” by Michael Eric Dyson, Steinberg recalls. “Because as brilliant as he was, Tupac would challenge everybody and anything. That was his nature.”(pg.91, Holler…) Alive or not, the song “Changes” reflects the quote by Steinberg which leads me to believe that Tupac is challenging his listeners (us Americans) to realize the wrong-doings of our nation and our injustice system. He’s sending a message to each and everyone one of us-that we have the ability to change for the better and correct/improve lives in this country. Not just the issues with African Americans, but for every race.
Chantha Hack
English 1A
M-Th 11-12pm
October 11th, 2007
The song, “Changes” by Tupac talks about America ’s political system and its operations, which he feels, is responsible for his way of living along with many others like him . The political system that build many prisons to fill as many poor or minority males as much as possible. An example from the song is, “ It ain't a secret don't conceal the fact, the penitentiary's packed, and it's filled with blacks, but some things will never change” which points out that there’s a reason for so many penitentiaries.
Tupac had examples in the song of how the political system is today, how poverty, conflict, and suffering affect many people because of it. Another quote from the song is,
“I'm tired of bein' poor and even worse I'm black my stomach hurts so I'm lookin' for a purse to snatch , Cops give a damn about a negro pull the trigger kill a nigga he's a hero, Give crack to the kids who the hell cares one less ugly mouth on the welfare, First ship 'em dope & let 'em deal the brothers give 'em guns step back watch 'em kill each other”, which defines how many of us, who are to that extend, will have to perform those actions.
Tupac quoted from Dyson’s book about how American education is built, reflecting on how we need to change the way we live, in chapter 3, page 79, “We’re being taught to deal with this fairyland, which we’re not even living in anymore. And it’s sad, ‘cause I’m telling you, and it should not be me telling you. It should be common knowledge” which can relate to the song, “Changes” when it’s quoted, “ And although it seems heaven sent We ain't ready, to see a black President, It's time for us as a people to start makin' some changes. Let's change the way we eat, let's change the way we live and let's change the way we treat each other. You see the old way wasn't working so it's on us to do what we gotta do, to survive”.
In addition, to Tupac, that no matter how we try to live our lives, we cannot change what’s already been made up. But that doesn’t mean that we stop fighting for it. I believe that Tupac believe that too.
Luchita Graham
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A
October 11, 2007
Listening to and reading the lyrics to “Changes” by Tupac , it is plain for me to see that Tupac was hurt by the life that he was thrust into. Tupac’s lyrics are very straight forward and he held nothing back. Tupac expressed and exposed himself through his music and poetry in ways that most people wouldn’t dare to do.
“When he was twelve, Tupac found a nurturing community in the West 127th Street Ensemble Company in Harlem. He didn’t like his life, but he loved escaping through the characters he played“ (Holler If You Hear me pg 73). Pac’s whole Thug Life persona was just another character he loved to play. Tupac didn’t choose the thug life, the thug life chose him as it does for most young men these days. Tupac’s music and poetry was a constant call for “HELP!” which no one bothered to answer.
“I see no changes wake up in the morning and I ask myself is life worth living should I blast myself?” (lyrics from Changes). Anyone could plainly see that the thug life was far to much for him. In my opinion anyone really wanting to be a thug or live a thugs life wouldn’t be asking themselves the question “Is life worth living?” because that would be their life’s purpose to be a thug . This was not the life Tupac wanted to live I think he felt like it was his duty. Tupac was just a scared young man doing a very good job at hiding his true self to his fellow thugs and most of this world.
“CONSTANTLY yearning 2 be accepted and from all receive respect, Never compromising but sometimes risky and that is my only regret”. These few simple lines from Tupac’s poem “In the Depths of Solitude Dedicated 2 Me” say a whole lot about the man who personified the Thug Life to the fullest of his ability. He just wanted to be accepted by his peers. Although he knew that some of his actions and words he spoke would risk his freedom and eventually risk his life one day.
1.Did tupac cd's sale more when he was dead opposed to wen he was alive?
2.If some women justify the word "bitch" as being used in some circumstances as a word that defines itself as "strong woman", then can men use it in the same manner?
3.Many have viewed the pictures of tupacs autotopsy on the internet.Why is his death still questioned?
Was tupac perceived as a revolutionary before he died,or after?
tupac was definitely a believer in God. But Why did his religious beliefs fluctuate through the songs he made?
Howard
Harrison
1. Even though 2pac has been dead for many years, people still to this day speculate whether he is dead or alive due to the number of albums released after his death. Is 2pac still alive somehow? How are albums being released if the artist is no longer living?
2. The East vs. West coast controversy that supposedly ended 2pacd life can be questioned. Due to 2pacs revolutionary upbringing and the messages he was sending the through his music he became a target for the government. Is it possible that East vs. West coast beef be a cover up for the real murderers? If not why?
3. Before 2pac went to jail for sexual assault he was a person full of life. After he was released from jail his demeanor changed into a more “I don’t give a fuck attitude”. What does this say about the prison system? Do the prisons really rehabilitate its inmates?
4. Is 2pac the greatest rap artist to ever live? Why or why not?
5. Why is 2pacs death compared to biblical rhetoric?
Michael Tran
nov 14 2007
1. when 2pac died did more people started to listen to his music?
2. what is 2pac music the symbol of?
3. where does 2pac inspiration comes from?
4. why does 2pac mom matter so much to him
5. why does 2pac says that god mean alot to him but he speaks about guns and violence.
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