As a class on Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2011, we responded to the poem, "In the Depths of Solitude, Dedicated to Me" (5).
Post your response to one of the three poems we read from Rose: Sometimes I Cry (7), Under the Skies Above, After the Miscarriage (9), or Life through My Eyes (11).
Don't forget to respond to at least one classmate's post by name.
Post your response to one of the three poems we read from Rose: Sometimes I Cry (7), Under the Skies Above, After the Miscarriage (9), or Life through My Eyes (11).
Don't forget to respond to at least one classmate's post by name.
posted by Professor Wanda's Posse at 10:22 AM
26 Comments:
Stephanie Kiick
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A 11:00-11:50AM
14 September 2011
Free write for “A Rose That Grew From Concrete” With Michael Dyson Support
“In the Depths pf Solitude”: (09/13/2011)
The poem “In the Depths of Solitude Dedicated to Me” written by Tupac Shakur, embraces a struggle that most people address in their young-adult life. Shakur analyzes the honest feeling of maturity. The poem potently explains the lost feeling and contradictions that challenge most young-adults. Skakur states, “...Trying 2 find peace of mind and still preserve my soul/CONSTANTLY yearning to 2 be accepted...” (5).He bluntly addresses the confusion and ignorance of people finding who they really are in a chaotic world. A section of the poem “In the Depths of Solitude” that really portrayed the contradictions that represented Shakur was the last section. He states, “This Duo within me causes/the perfect opportunity 2 learn and live twice as fast/as those who accept simplicity,” (5).This section of the poem completely captures Shakur's awareness to me. Tupac Shakur embraces and sometimes despised the contradictions that define and built him. He is sure of who he is himself, but still trying to find himself in the world around him. The dual outlook Shakur gained was both an advantage and disadvantage to him. One part of him was constantly gaining knowledge and addressing issues, while the other part was “yearning 2 be accepted,” (5). Tupac Shakur scholar, Michael Eric Dyson, PhD, says: “To borrow W.E.B. DuBois's notion of dual consciousness, in Tupac two warring ideals were (w)rapped in one dark body,” (49).
“Life Through My Eyes” : (09/14/2011)
Anyone who has heard a little of Tupac Shakur's music or learned a little about Tupac Shakur himself obviously knows he went through tremendous amounts of pain. His pain broke him down sometimes but built him up most times. In the poem “Life Through My Eyes” he reflects on the types of surroundings he lived in, the pain it brought, and the positives it would being him.Anyone who has lived a very rough childhood and came out a better person because of it, still has moments of utter pain because of their past. The talent that separates Tupac from everyone else is his ability to announce his struggles in order to address societies issues. Take for instance this line: “[I live in] poverty, murder, violence/and never a moment 2 rest”(11). This gives us a glimpse into the huge amounts of negatives Shakur watched and experienced in his life. He refers to the fun times as “gold”(11). Shakur, no doubt, went through an indescribable amount of pain in his twenty-five years, but expresses the outcome as a positive. Shakur was aware of what a tough life was like; his purpose was then to use it positively and try to make others aware. He finishes the poem “Life Through My Eyes” with this: “my heart will not exist/unless my destiny comes through/and puts an end 2 all of this”(11). Tupac Shakur scholar, Michael Eric Dyson, PhD, says: “As it turns out, this story is vintage Tupac: glossing his personal story as a reflection of social injustice; showing an impeccable sense of vocational priority; drawing on the stylish machismo of pop culture to make a point; countering authority with dramatic gestures of defiance; linking the question of respect to morality; highlighting, perhaps even exaggerating, the degree of emotional injury to justify rebellion; and transfiguring a blasé occurrence into charged theater through superb thespian instincts. Even here Tupac sees the advantage of his mother's political experience”(52).
Jonathan Swan
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A 11-11:50am
14 Wednesday 2011
"In the Depths of Solitude, Dedicated 2 Me" freewrite
In Tupac Shakur's "In the Depths of Solitude, Dedicated 2 Me" he discusses his conflicting life, with one part of him searching for something and the other searching for something else. He "exist[s] in the depths of solitude" but this doesn't seem to be a detriment to him, since he is "pondering [his] true goal" (5). His conflicting sides are keeping him from finding his "peace of mind" since he is also trying to preserve [his] soul" (5). He seems to be trying to be accepted, and respected for simply being himself, and thus he never compromises. But, perhaps that's exactly what his dilemma is, people won't accept him as is, but he won't change so he is stuck between a rock and a hard place. Dyson supports this claim when he "[borrows] W.E.B. DuBois's notion of dual consciousness, [Tupac's] two warring ideals were (w)rapped in one dark body" (49).
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"Sometimes I Cry" freewrite
Another testament to Tupac Shakur's emotional distress, his poem "Sometimes I Cry" illustrates the pain that he feels, as well as additional pain that he felt because no one cared about his initial pain. In this poem, I see someone who is lost and confused, almost as if he didn't know how to trust his emotions with other people, since "when [he is] alone" he cries "because [he's] on his own" (5). Although from the poem alone, I cannot tell what the source of his pain is, a large portion of his pain is simply because "no one cares why" (5).
Marena Perez
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A 11 –11:50AM
14 September 2011
“In the Depths of Solitude, Dedicate to me” Freewrite
In Tupac Shakur’s poem he acknowledges his choice of isolation and reflects on his ambition to find inner peace but keep his passion. So quoted on the first two lines, “I exist in the depths of solitude/pondering my true goal/trying to find peace of mind/and still preserve my soul.” He reveals that he is in constant need of recognition and admiration. He divulges that he has a dual personality and there seems to be a constant battle within himself. He values this “duo” but finds no harmony with the two. Though the ferocity of both gives him life and knowledge it is still hard to grasp tranquility.
Tupac Shakur scholar Dr. Michael Eric Dyson supports Tupac’s duality. Chapter 2 has many verifications of the subject. The most poignant I find are on pages 49, 62, and 64. Page 49 was quoted previously during our lecture but 62 and 64 shall be highlighted.
Block Quote: Dyson quotes Al Sharpton p. 62
“’Tupac was very conflicted,’ Sharpton told me. He wanted to be honest to his radical past, but ‘at the same time, he wanted to be commercially successful.’”
Block Quote: p 64
“It cannot be said that Tupac bore the burden of his heritage with grace. He sported his pedigree in reckless pride. At the same time, he claimed his place in hip-hop in a fashion that seemed to reject the political utility of revolution.”
“Sometimes I cry” Freewrite
In Tupac Shakur’s poem “Sometimes I cry” he contemplates on his tears of loneliness. He explains that when he is alone he weeps for he has no one. His tears are vital but are not a refuge. They are only remnants of his despair as quoted, “The tears I cry are bitter and warm/they flow with life but take no form.” He weighs on the fact that not only is he in pain and if he had a confidant it would not be so distressing. However, bitterly he adds that there is no one to share his pain. Individuals are moving constantly with the world and have no time to even acknowledge his agony. No one stops to ask him why he is in pain.
Block Quote: Tupac Shakur scholar MED, PHD. Says p.40
“It was an abandonment that deeply affected Tupac, spurring him to create brilliant art and to cry out for attention with his own brand of chaotic, self-destructive behavior. “
Block Quote: Tupac Shakur scholar MED, PHD. Says p.75
“By his own admission, he was an outsider, especially since he couldn’t play basketball, he dressed like a hippie, he was a target of street gangs, he wrote poetry, and he secretly loathed himself.”
Tori Coleman
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A 11:00-11:50
13 September 2011
Free Write: “In the Depth of Solitude, Dedicated to me”
In the Depth of Solitude, Dedicated to me, by Tupac Shakur is a heartfelt poem that connects the ideas of solitude and loneliness. The poem speaks of striving to be accepted and to reach peace with one self and yet constantly struggling with two separate feelings. Tupac feels as if he is two different people trapped in one body. Tupac is a Gemini the twin. Meaning there are split people within himself. He tries to live just one and find peace but both lives are shining through. He wants to be in solitude but can’t seem to ever be alone even when he is by himself.
Tupac Shakur scholar, Michael Eric Dyson has many examples in his book “Holler if You Hear Me” that relates to Tupac’s thoughts of dual personalities. . “The two men who were candidates for fatherhood embodied the choices that Tupac would confront in deciding what image would shape his life and career. Billy Garland was a Black Panther whereas local hood “Legs” was a disciple of Notorious Harlem Gangster Nicky Barnes.” (Dyson 24) These two roles may be interpreted as the two parts or personality Tupac has in his mind. One side of him was a black activist fighting for the good and the other half was a street thug. Both lives and personalities lived within him. He was both people in one body. He could be in solitude and yet never feel alone because within himself he saw the world in both ways.
Free write: “Life through my eyes”
“Life through my eyes by Tupac Shakur is a poem that speaks of the disheartened reality that is Tupac’s life. Tupac speaks about his world as being hard. There are moments that occur spontaneously of happy moments. The moments of happiness and serenity are rare and cherished. However, when those great moments are over, reality hits again. Tupac however would not accept that his reality would stay a constant struggle. He swore that in order to be happy, his reality would be his moments of happiness all the time.
Tupac scholar, Michael Eric Dyson wrote evidence of this in book “Holler if you Hear Me.” In an interview with Big boy. Big boy says, “You know what I like about the dude. He loved everyone, but he always knew he was a strong black man. And he wasn’t afraid to say a lot of stuff that other people wouldn’t say. Others would say ‘I can’t say that’. Not Pac. If you want to get some ones attention you have to say HEY…” “Sometimes you’ve got to scream. You’ve got to snatch their attention. And that’s why his music lives on, that’s why people care- because he made such an impact. It wasn’t that Pac became a star after he passed. Pac was a star from my first hand shake with him; he was a star from the get go. He always commanded attention.” (Dyson 2) These two quotes show evidence that Tupac understood where he started off in life but if given more time he would have excelled to bigger and better places. Tupac was a man before his time and was willing to work hard to get to a place he believed he deserved in order to be happy and satisfied.
Jesse Pinkney
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1a 11:00AM-11:50AM
15 September 2011
Sometimes I Cry- Free write
Tupac writes about the pain of feeling lonely and not having anyone to turn too to discuss or hear his true feelings. In this poem he writes how he wishes he could confide in someone and how selfish the world is by not having the time or patience to stop and listen to others pain. Tupac writes “The world moves fast and it would rather pass u by than to stop and see what made you cry”. Here he clearly admits to the lack of compassion the world has for those who are in pain. Feeling sad and not having someone ask you what’s wrong or care is what Tupac is writing about.
Javier Flores
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A 11:00AM-11:50AM
15 September 2011
Sometims I Cry Free Write
Tupac writes about the feeling of being alone and feeling like he cant handle the world at times. He believes he cannot turn to any of his friends.Dyson writes in page 65 of holler if you hear me how being a second generation panther was a burden for Tupac.Tupac obviously had a lot of pressure from poverty, racism and revolutionary thinking which caused him to feel isolated.
Lena Chhit
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1a 11am-1150am
14 September 2011
Response to Free write “In the Depths of Solitude, dedicated to me”
In Marena Perez’s response to Tupac Shakur’s poem “In the Depths of solitude, dedicated to me” she explains how in the poem Tupac accepts his choice to be alone and his struggle stay true to himself. I agree with when she says “He divulges that he has a dual personality and there seems to be a constant battle within himself”. She includes a good reference to the text in Dyson on page 62.
Lena Chhit
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1a 11am-1150am
14 September 2011
Response to Classmate’s Free write, “Sometimes I Cry”
In response to Tupac Shakur’s poem “Sometimes I Cry”, Jonathan Swan writes that Tupac feels alone and is suffering from an internal pain. I definitely agree with him on this. He also mentions how it isn’t easy to pin point exactly what Tupac’s pain is, but that part of it is because “no one cares why”. Swan says that its “almost as if he didn't know how to trust his emotions with other people” which I think contributes to his own loneliness.
Lena Chhit
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1a 11am-1150am
14 September 2011
Response to Classmate’s Free write, “Sometimes I Cry”
In response to Tupac Shakur’s poem “Sometimes I Cry”, Jonathan Swan writes that Tupac feels alone and is suffering from an internal pain. I definitely agree with him on this. He also mentions how it isn’t easy to pin point exactly what Tupac’s pain is, but that part of it is because “no one cares why”. Swan says that its “almost as if he didn't know how to trust his emotions with other people” which I think contributes to his own loneliness.
Jessika Higsmith
Professor Wanda Safir
English 1A
15 September 2011
Sometimes I Cry
"Sometimes when I'm alone I cry because I'm on my own",I felt when he wrote this he was in pain and he wanted someone there for him. Maybe he was roaming the world not knowing who to turn to for guidance." If I had and ear 2 confide in I would cry amoung treasured friends but who do u know that stops that long to help another carry on". That part really spoke to me, whom do you relly have in this world really for you. Whos really in your corner? So when he said this,Let me know that he even felt being who he was, was still not enough.It was self that had to help carry on. The last part of the poem grabed my attention when he said," The world moves fast and it would rather pass u by than 2 stop and c what makes u cry, its painful and sad and sometimes I cay and no one cares about why".That part touched me because I to have be in a space in my life where I felt I was alone and I felt there was no one that care even thought there where people all around me but I really didn't no if they where really there for me. Just because someone can say that there're for you; actions speak louder the just words.
Jessika Highsmith
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A
15 september 2011
(continues) Sometimes I cry
(Michael Dyson)
Pages 37-38
Kyle Tay
Professor Sabir
English 1A
15 September 2011
"Sometimes I Cry" Freewrite response
In this Tupac piece he is definately feeling down and depressed. He is sad because he is alone and needs someone to comfort him to ease his sorrow. Tupac longs for someone that is understanding enough and willing to help him through his hard times, but feels that not even his closest friends are capable of this because of the simple fact that life moves too quickly. Tupac realizes, "But who do you know that stops that long to help another carry on." This is a sad but true reality that Tupac will have to come to terms with. Even in my own life I can relate; there have been a few instances in my life when i've been feeling down because of my problems but lacked an open shoulder to cry on. It is a devistating feeling to not have anyone there for you. I feel you Pac!
Kyle Tay
Professor Sabir
English 1A
15 September 2011
Response to Student Freewrite
This is in response to Stephanie's freewrite on "Life through my eyes". I pretty much formed the same thesis that you did from the poem. I agree that Tupac's sorrow was not only a form of dismay but also a source of motivation and ultimately contributed to his success. Most of his early experiences growing up in the ghetto were obviously not that great, but I feel that Tupac's philisophical mind and awareness to his surroundings worked in unison to form the social revolutionist that he became. Because he knew where he came from and was constantly being reminded of the social disorder in his community he was able to use it as the driving force behind his success.
Jesse Pinkney
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A 11:00AM-11:50AM
16 September 2011
Sometims I Cry Free Write- Response
Javier Flores wrote that Tupac writes about the feeling of being alone and feeling like he cant handle the world at times. He believes he cannot turn to any of his friends.Dyson writes in page 65 of holler if you hear me how being a second generation panther was a burden for Tupac.Tupac obviously had a lot of pressure from poverty, racism and revolutionary thinking which caused him to feel isolated.
To me Tupac seems to feel as though he can't show his true feelings because fear of what others may think of him, or fear of being perceived differently. I think he felt isolated because he wanted too. I think Tupac feared anyone getting to close to him, I would even go as far to say he had trust issues. Through out his life he constantly had to adapt to many different environments and people and the best way he handle these new environments were by being to himself. I think very few people really know Tupac and the ones that do have been in his life for a long time. I don't think Pac had allot of new people in his life due to the pain and emotions he had bundled inside.
Marcel Rollock
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A 11 –11:50AM
15 September 2011
“Sometimes I cry” Freewrite
This poem is a great example of how, not only Tupac but, many people in feel in today’s society. Tupac did not have many people around him that truly cared about him mentally, how he was feeling and how he was handling certain situations. “The world moves fast and it would rather pass u by than 2 stop and c what makes u cry” (7). These words are a perfect example western cultures current mind frame. Life moves so quickly and we live in such a, “me first” community that people do not have time to even stop and think about other people’s issues in life. Tupac reflects on friendship, “If I had an ear 2 confide in I would cry among my treasured friends” (7). These words lead me to believe Tupac had a lot to express but no one he trusted well enough to speak to. Tupac Shakur scholar, Michael Eric Dyson, PhD, says: “By his own admission, he was an outsider, especially since he couldn’t play basketball, he dressed like a hippie, he was a target of street gangs, he wrote poetry, and he secretly loathed himself” (75). This passage shows it was hard for Tupac to find a core set of friends. People he could trust and confide in.
Edwin Peabody
Professor Sabir
English 1A
September 17 2001
In Tupacs Shakurs poem, Life Through My Eyes, he reflects on his life being surrounded by poverty, violence and murder. He complains about how fun and games are very seldom when living in these conditions. He states that there is never a moment to rest. Tupac mentions that one who has never experienced these types of living conditions would be scared to death. In this poem Tupac is unhappy with his living conditions and he will never by fully happy until violence, murder, and poverty are put to an end.
Edwin Peabody
Professor Sabir
English 1A
September 17 2001
In Tupacs Shakurs poem, Life Through My Eyes, he reflects on his life being surrounded by poverty, violence and murder. He complains about how fun and games are very seldom when living in these conditions. He states that there is never a moment to rest. Tupac mentions that one who has never experienced these types of living conditions would be scared to death. In this poem Tupac is unhappy with his living conditions and he will never by fully happy until violence, murder, and poverty are put to an end.
In the book Holler If You Hear Me, Dyson describes how Tupac believed that the school system didn’t teach children the necessary knowledge of what they needed know living in America. He states, “ There should be a class on drugs. There should be a class on sex education, and real sex education class, not just pictures and diagrams and illogical terms…there should be a class on scams. There should be a class on religious cults. There should be a class on police brutality. There should be a class on apartheid. There should be class racism in America. There should be a class on why people are hungry”.
Edwin Peabody
Professor Sabir
English 1A
September 17 2011
Response to Jesse Pinkney
In the poem Sometimes I Cry, Tupac writes about how he feels pain and loneliness. Tupac states that he doesn’t have anyone to turn to when he feels low. Tupac feels alone and his heart is torn. He can barely carry on in the world. In the poem Tupac say that at your lowest moments in life, the world would rather pass you by than stop to see what made you cry. I totally agree with how Jesse views this poem. Jesse believes that the poem admits the lack of compassion the world has for those that are in pain. My feelings toward the poem are exactly the same as Jesse.
Sean Newton
Professor Sabir
English 1A 11-11:30
18 September 2011
Freewrite for Tupac Shakur's "Sometimes I cry"
In Tupac Shakur's "Sometimes I Cry", Tupac describes his inner sorrows of being on his own and how the world doesn't care about these inner sorrows. Tupac says that he cries because his heart is torn describing his life at home or maybe his relationship with his mother at one time or another. He says "The world moves fast and it would rather pass you by than to stop and see what makes you cry". This explains his feelings towards society and humanity. I take this as him saying that that humanity is uncaring and selfish. Poems and quotes like this either make me feel sad or nostalgic, these are one of those poems that makes me sad. I wonder if there will be more poems just like this one.
Sean Newton
Professor Sabir
English 1A 11-11:30
18 September 2011
Response to Marcel Rollock
Well said.
Quincy Taylor
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A 11am – 11:50am
18, September 2011
Life through my eyes
Through his eyes he saw/grew upon “Bloodshot eyes,” through other peoples eyes things like Tupac described would be disturbing. In his eyes everything was real. Seeing murders, living through poverty and violence. It’s how they lived. He’s also saying that for those who live in those things, fun and games are like gold to them, and him going g back to that poverty spot means to me is that he’s goin to give back to them. “Mock my words when I say my heart will not exist unless my destiny comes through and puts and end to all this.” He’s saying that he is going to make a change before he lives this earth. Tupac was a great man, through it all he made it through. Through all he made a promise that before he die, he would do his best to try and change all the poverty, murders, and violent act upon each other; but he couldn’t because it was to late.
Daniel Gargantilla
Professor Sabir
English 1A 11-11:50
18 September 2011
"Life Through My Eyes" Response
Tupac had a very rough upbringing. He was homeless, living in poverty, and his mom was addicted to drugs. Being that he grew up in such a lifestyle he saw many things that a young person or any person should not be exposed to. It seemed that everywhere he looked he saw poverty, murder, and violence. Even though he was exposed to so much at a young age, I loved the way he ended the poem with hope. He wasn't going to let all the pain and suffering hold him down. He was going to overcome, persevere, and he was going to make sure he made some kind of positive change in the world in order for his life to be complete.
Samuel Yihdego
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A 11- 11:50 am
19 September 2011
"In the Depths of Solitude, Dedicated 2 Me"
Tupac Shakur speaks about finding himself and living his life peacefully. But he has to do all of this alone, in his own solitude. There was nobody guiding him and he showed feeling of sorrow throughout this poem. Michael Erric Dyson opened this topic by bringing up Tupac's mother and how she just left him for drugs. The relationship with his mother had been changing from good to bad and worse; and then back to good."No emblematizes this truth more than Tupac Sahkur, with relationship to his mother, Afani Shakur was as devoted as it turbulent." Dyson 36. Tupac just felt isolated and didn't know the next step in his life.
Joe Kempel
Professor Sabir
English 1A
19 September 2011
Sometimes I Cry
No one has time to comfort or listen to those who are sad. Having someone to talk to could make a huge difference for both Tupac and the people experiencing the same sorrow. However, too many people have no interest in being there for someone else. Even people who are thought of as friends may not be there. When Tupac asks "who do you know" he is relating to the reader. A reason for Tupac's sadness is that people do not care when someone cries. It is like a cycle that keeps building.
Stephanie Kiick
Professore Wanda Sabir
English 1A 11:00-11:50AM
20 September 2011
Response to Edwin Peabody
I really like the point you make when you say, “Tupac mentions that one who has never experienced these types of living conditions would be scared to death”. I think this underlines a theme of Tupac, reality vs. acting. No one will ever completely understand another person. The life that Tupac lived was not very “pretty”; some people that had not seen what he saw as a child may have a more difficult time understanding his perspective on things. I also like the support from Dyson you chose to use! It shows Tupacs defense that the world and schooling should address social issues of that day.
Samuel Yihdego
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A 11- 11:50 am
25 September 2011
"Life Through My Eyes" Response
The line "poverty, murder, violence " (11) is traumatizing to any human being. For Tupac to motivate youth while expressing these thing has caused me to gain a unexplainable appreciation for him." he didn't like his life, but he love escaping through the characters he played" dyson 73. It shows that, even though it was hard for Tupac to deal with the life he was living, his choice was to return to his spot. at the end of the day, he would be in the same situation.
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