Cyber Assignment
Write a 3-paragraph essay from one chapter in "Bodies and Beliefs"
Outline for the Assignment (read the post below this one for more details). The essay needs to include three (3) citations, one per paragraph: a free paraphrase, a block quote, and a shorter citation, all from Dyson. Writers can decide what type of citation to use and where you want to place it in the paragraph. Don't forget the signal phrase before the citation. "He says" is an example of a signal phrase.
You also need a works cited page. Each paragraph needs to be between 5-10 sentences long.
Introduction
1. Talk about the chapter, your impressions. List Dyson's major claims or arguments. He generally starts each paragraph with an argument, followed by examples and if it is a sophisticated claim, he might use the following paragraph to continue developing and proving his prior argument.
The way you find the evidence for an argument is to say: So and so is true . . . because. The answer to because is the evidence or proof.
But back to the Intro.
2. List themes, that is, topics that are repeated.
3. Cite evidence from Dyson that agrees with what you are saying here.
4. State the thesis.
Body
1. 1 paragraph-discussion of the points stated in the thesis. This is where you answer the because question. This is where you give examples and reasons why what you say is true is true.
2. Include a citation. This is a good place for a block quote (a long citation that is justified on the left (indent 10 spaces from the 1-inch margin) without quotation marks.) See http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/03/
Conclusion
1. Bring up lesser, yet equally important themes. Remember the entire book is about Tupac. How does this final section, which addresses Tupac's morality, the body-politic as it were, wrap up Dyson's discussion?
How does this part of the book support or extend previous sections: "Childhood Chains, Adolescent Aspirations" and "Portraits of an Artist?" What does Dyson mean about the black body as canvas, as sacrificial offering, as blight, as stigma and Tupac's artistic response to this blessing and curse?
Do his ecclesiastic inclinations show here, especially in the "Epilogue"?
2. Citation
Write a 3-paragraph essay from one chapter in "Bodies and Beliefs"
Outline for the Assignment (read the post below this one for more details). The essay needs to include three (3) citations, one per paragraph: a free paraphrase, a block quote, and a shorter citation, all from Dyson. Writers can decide what type of citation to use and where you want to place it in the paragraph. Don't forget the signal phrase before the citation. "He says" is an example of a signal phrase.
You also need a works cited page. Each paragraph needs to be between 5-10 sentences long.
Introduction
1. Talk about the chapter, your impressions. List Dyson's major claims or arguments. He generally starts each paragraph with an argument, followed by examples and if it is a sophisticated claim, he might use the following paragraph to continue developing and proving his prior argument.
The way you find the evidence for an argument is to say: So and so is true . . . because. The answer to because is the evidence or proof.
But back to the Intro.
2. List themes, that is, topics that are repeated.
3. Cite evidence from Dyson that agrees with what you are saying here.
4. State the thesis.
Body
1. 1 paragraph-discussion of the points stated in the thesis. This is where you answer the because question. This is where you give examples and reasons why what you say is true is true.
2. Include a citation. This is a good place for a block quote (a long citation that is justified on the left (indent 10 spaces from the 1-inch margin) without quotation marks.) See http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/03/
Conclusion
1. Bring up lesser, yet equally important themes. Remember the entire book is about Tupac. How does this final section, which addresses Tupac's morality, the body-politic as it were, wrap up Dyson's discussion?
How does this part of the book support or extend previous sections: "Childhood Chains, Adolescent Aspirations" and "Portraits of an Artist?" What does Dyson mean about the black body as canvas, as sacrificial offering, as blight, as stigma and Tupac's artistic response to this blessing and curse?
Do his ecclesiastic inclinations show here, especially in the "Epilogue"?
2. Citation
posted by Professor Wanda's Posse at 7:29 PM
13 Comments:
Stephanie Kiick
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A 11:00-11:50AM
24 September 2011
Response to Chapter 6: “Do We Hate Our Women?”
Chapter six, “Do We Hate Our Women?”, of Michael Dyson's, “Holler If You Hear Me,” was particularly the most well-rounded and acknowledging chapter to me. Before this course I only knew a little about Tupac Shakur, and the majority of my knowledge was from his critiques. It was no doubt to me that he was obviously very bright in many areas, but the stories about his treatment of women and the situations with the criminal system left his true views an unanswered question to me. This chapter answers a lot of them. I appreciate the way that Dyson did not write a book praising Tupac Shakur and ignoring all of his wrongs. Dyson answers many points that Shakur's critiques valued. The main points made by Michael Dyson were the contradicting treatment of women by Tupac Shakur and the mentality supporting his treatments. Dyson also defines Shakur as a “sacrificial lamb to woo black men into respectful behavior” (176). Dyson's main arguments in Chapter six, “Do We Hate Our Women,” is defining Tupac's appreciative and spiteful journey with women, defining journey as the growth to the dispute between Tupac's loving and misogynistic words and actions. The second sentence of the chapter reads, “The teenager conjures an image from his recent past, lamenting the mistreatment of young women by his male counterparts” (Dyson 175). Later in the chapter Dyson also states, “Tupac was certainly caught in the bitch-ho nexus in hip-hop” (187). Two completely contradicting views from one man.
As a young man Tupac Shakur was given a deeply strong motivation to help the women suffering in misogyny. He gained this motivation from many aspects of his life: the treatment of his mother by men, the obvious struggles pressed on his mother, and being turned down because he was not a “bad boy”(175/176). Shakur wanted women to respect themselves which would be followed by the respect from men. In an interview of Shakur, he states that his plan is to get women to turn away from the name-calling and stereotypes of mostly women living in the ghetto. He says,
Because the girls won't allow them to be their boyfriend if they're going to speak to them like that. And they're going to want me. So in order to not get them to go with me, they're going to have to change. So that's how they change. So I'll be a scapegoat. No problem, as long as it changes (176).
Shakur shows his main purpose was to get women to respect themselves and know that they deserve respect from their peers. Dyson describes his views as,
The fragments of Tupac's conflicting thoughts about gender coalesce in his revealing story: performing chivalrous deeds, identifying with female suffering, chastising men for harmful actions, chafing at irrational female preferences, envying the erotic fortunes of the 'bad boy'. (176)
Dyson goes through Shakur's journey from admiring women completely, to revealing a femiphobia in his music yet still performing kind behavior, to getting “into your freaky “I want to F the world' stage” (188). Tupac reaches a rough patch in his life where all of misogynistic actions landed him into a situation he would always remember: the supposed rape of Ms. Jackson by himself and three fellow friends. Many critiques questioned his innocence because of his spiteful lyrics, but how could a man that at seventeen loved what women stood for so much, perform such an act. Shakur's fame and surroundings eventually led him to the misogynistic views he so greatly despised. Reginald Hudlin argues that, “Tupac's exceptional appeal was driven be a female culture that prizes the naughty rebel” (199).
Stephanie Kiick
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A 11:00-11:50AM
24 September 2011
Continue: Chapter 6 Response
My early questions of Tupac's authenticity when it came to the treatment of women was answered through Michael Dyson's “Holler If You Hear Me.” Tupac truly loved women his entire life. His harsh surrounding and fame blurred that in the later years of his life. Chapter six also bring up equally challenging and important issues on the treatment of women in today's society: the use of the word “bitch” and the understated pain it has brought the gender, the destruction of self-esteem throughout society and its effects on crucial relationships, and the stereotypes and difficulties from hip-hop women face daily, especially on black culture. To me this chapter is my favorite of the closing chapters. It really shines light on Tupac's purpose, mistakes, and the overall effects his childhood had on his later years of life. Everyone says actions speak louder than words, and to me the journey of Tupac's treatment of women really expresses who he was and ended out to be. Tupac Shakur embraced and hid the gift and curse of being an intelligent, confused, open, rap artist, black male. It was clearly not in Tupac Shakur's nature to hide things that he thought were wrong. From Shakur's adolescence to adulthood, he embraced the contradictions his mother and his rough childhood had given him; however, in adulthood the same things that had raised him were blurred and confused, this to me is where his contradictions got the best of him. Dyson brings closure to the chapter stating, “Tupac was torn his entire short life about what he wanted and expected from women. If his heart was bruised at seventeen because the bad-boy archetype trumped his nice-guy image, he vigorously compensated for its defeat the few years he had remaining” (200).
Works Cited:
Dyson, Michael. Holler If You Hear Me. Plexus Publishing Ltd: Basic Civitas Books, 2001. Print.
Lena Chhit
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1a 11am-1150am
25 September 2011
Chapter 7 Section “Bodies and Beliefs”
In chapter 7, “But do the Lord care?”, Dyson talks about Tupac and his belief in God. Tupac was very spiritual and it showed in his music. Dyson talks about Tupac’s struggle with his thug image and his obsession with death. Tupac was obsessed with God and death. He constantly speaks of both in his music.
Tupac’s relationship with God was a deep and complex relationship. He looked to God whenever he had questions about life and about things he just could not understand. Dyson talks about how Tupac even ask God for help in one of his songs saying “God can you feel me?/Take me away from all the pressure and all the pain”(Dyson 202). It seems that Tupac feels as if certain situations in life can cause a person to sin, but questions if God is understanding enough to forgive when he says, “Will God forgive me for all the dirt a nigga did to feed his kids?”
When it cam to religion Tupac wanted people to “examine hypocrisy and the truth”(Dyson 204). In this section Dyson writes:
“According to Steinberg, Tupac was especially interested in making people think about conceptions of sin: “He really wanted you to question [sin] so that you’d understand that there is a spiritual element to life. That if you don’t get the sense of God in your breath and your being on this planet, you’ve lost it, [and that] you have to really come to the truth there is a spiritual force in this universe…to help correct what the Bible should teach.”(Dyson 204).
Tupac also struggled with trying to do what was right versus keeping his thug persona. He even spoke to his close friend about how he wanted to get rid of everything that was keeping him from doing so. Unfortunately it was easier said than done. Jada Pinkett Smith says, “then he went to jail and turned into a totally different person/he thought he could work around God…and work around the devil” (Dyson 216).
Tupac was self destructive and obsessed with death as much as he was with God. In most of his songs he raps about his own demise. He even wrote a poem called “In the Event of My Demise.” Tupac, according to Leila Steinberg, “knew he was never going to hit thirty” (Dyson 225).
His strong spiritual belief in God, his questioning religion, and prediction of his own death were subjects that constantly replayed itself in his mind and his lyrics. As Dyson puts it, “He may be considered what I’ve called a hip-hop Jeremiah, an urban prophet crying out loud about the hurt that he constantly saw and sowed” (Dyson 230).
Works Cited
Dyson, Michael. Holler If You Hear Me. Plexus Publishing Ltd: Basic Civitas Books, 2001. Print.
Edwin Peabody
Professor Sabir
English 1A
25 September 2011
In chapter 6, Do We Hate Our Women Dyson addresses Tupacs mistreatment of women. Most black males past relationships with women have caused them to develop a Femiphobia. Tupac was a strong supporter of treating women with respect, however through his encounters with women and his struggling experiences with his mother, he developed a different perspective of how to treat women. Throughout today’s hip-hop, women have been called bitches and hoes as a way to distinguish male supremacy. The clash between male supremacy and feminist resistance has strained gender relations between men and women. Women have however attempted to rehabilitate the word bitch and ho into a positive label, similar to the efforts of some blacks to do the same with nigger. Dyson says, “Femiphobia has become a crucial aspect of the culture of signification in rap that influences the lyrics of hip hop artist, measure authentic rap-and hence, male-identity, specifies a pervasive machismo, and forges masculine bonds within the culture.” Tupacs unquestionably revealed in the Femiphobia passions of hip hop even as he sought to balance his belief with kind behavior toward women”(182).
Tupacs troubled relationship with his mother decisively shaped his vision of women. Affeni struggle with homelessness, poverty and her addiction to crack had a huge negative impact on tupac. Tupac remembers seeing his mother suffer from abuse from her boy friend, which also affected Tupacs state of mind about women. Maxine waters states; “ I think that once young people are exposed to certain kinds of things at a very early age, practically as it relates to women and their ‘mamas’ they are capable of killing.” Tupac also gained a lot of his ideas of women from his experiences with women he met on the road. Many of the women that Tupac met were called groupies distinctly because all they wanted to do was have sex with a super star. Tupac defined those kinds of women as bitches and hoes.
Dyson also addresses the misuse of the word nigger, and the changes in rap culture. The word nigger is used daily in today society. Dyson states,
They robbed nigger of its insulting meaning by deliberately “misusing” it finding affection where only hatred was intended. But there has always been a big divide in black America about how successful such a move as been. Blacks can roughly be divided into two camps of linguistic usage of “nigger”: those who have reservations about its use and those who argue for its revision through aggressive black usage. Blacks reservationist say that no matter how well intended, the word “nigger” even when uttered by blacks, can never shed its lethal meaning”.
Dyson also compares today’s hip hp with hip-hop of the past. He mentions how hip-hop use to have meaning but now all it talks about is violence and sex. Although, the book is mostly about Tupac, Dyson does a great job addressing many other issues in today’s society.
Work Cited
Dyson, Michael Eric. Holler If You Hear Me. New York:
Basic Civitas Books, 2006. Print.
Melody Webster
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A
25 September 2011
In chapter eight, “I Got Your Name Tatted on My Arm”, Dyson discusses the powerful presence of Tupac’s body, and the living metaphor he became. I had never thought about the way in which Tupac presented himself, and how that reflected his lack of self-worth; as well as the messages he was presenting in his raps that reflected on many aspects of what is wrong in the thickets of poverty. Dyson explains, “Tupac had stopped being a star and became a grammar: His moves, gestures, and performances were a startlingly faithful articulation of their conflicted, confused inner lives” (Dyson, 233). Moreover, Dyson points out how Tupac’s presence and looks were used to his advantage, and gave a lasting impression to those who met him; “…Tupac had his pick of the ladies, a prerogative he ardently indulged” (Dyson, 235). The main points that Dyson makes in Chapter eight is that Tupac’s physical presence is a “sacrificial limb” to get the point across of the poverty stricken lives of those in “the hood,” by narrating it through his “chaotic, desperate, self-destructive public life” (Dyson, 234); also, the self-destructive behavior that affects many more than just Tupac in the gangster rap scene, and how the lack of self-worth spurred these actions.
Tupac was an extremely notorious public presence, who made many public statements through self-destructive behavior. He made drastic choices on how to present himself to the public, which reflected many problems that effected the black youth of the time. These choices caused him to be put under the spotlight in the media and the courtroom.
As a famously controversial icon, Tupac’s body was never completely his own. It bled into the hungry ink of a media bent on deifying, destroying, or dissecting his reputation, sometimes in the same breath. His limbs stretched across the Cineplex as he attacked his craft with imploding intensity. His sturdy black back provided carriage for a slew of relatives and fictive kin who rode his notoriety to banquet tables and casino halls. The state even pinched a piece of his hide, parceling him among jails and prisons on either coast. And thousands…of young black males believed his body was their body. (Dyson, 233).
Melody Webster
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A
25 September 2011
Continued response to Chapter eight:
One of the main claims that Dyson makes about Tupac’s way of life is the addiction and substance abuse that “hard-core hip-hop rappers” promote, as well as endure. “The usual cry that it got the creative juices going is not the most important claim in these circles. Weed is viewed as the necessary adjunct to ghetto fabulousness”(Dyson, 239). Tupac was a heavy user of weed and alcohol and this, according to Dyson gave the young black youth who “smoke blunts to blunt the consciousness of the social pain they endure,” a dangerous and “irresistibly sexy” role model. Moreover, the idea of getting high is pressed beyond the basics to those in the hood, who use it not only for pleasure but to make a political statement about “taking off the inhibitions and prohibitions that regulate the distribution of ghetto goods, services, and pleasures.” (239).
Tying in with his addiction, Tupac’s lack of self-worth is another way in which his physical presence made a large effect. Self-worth is otherwise known as self-respect and knowing one’s values, Tupac did not recognize his own value because he was caught up in his own world, struggling with his personal demons. Tupac’s friend Jada Pinkett Smith reflects on how “he never bragged about his good looks, never seemed to believe that he was all that special and therefore deserved someone special…” (Dyson, 242). Yet, because his physical presence was about leading a thug life, he carried out many sexual exploits to remain true to his image. However, Tupac’s looks and charm also gave a positive, lasting impression to most who met him; as Tupac’s former lawyer, Shawn Chapman, reminisces “ ‘ Tupac would have to make an appearance in the Criminal Courts Building, waiting in the hall with elderly white jurors…they had no idea who he was…but within minutes he’d have everybody just eating out his hands, just being so funny and polite. These old white jurors were loving him…he really had that effect” (Dyson, 235).
Tupac’s body was turned into a metaphor for the black youth, not only the writing on his body, but also the way in which he presented his public life. Dyson discusses how Tupac essentially sacrificed his body to get his message out there, and turned his life and body into a walking representation of where he came from, and what he wanted to change.
Tupac embodied the idioms of black male anger: middle fingers thrust defiantly in the air as he hangs out the window of a fleeing automobile, spitting hostilely into the camera of a journalist, walking like a duck to mock injustice in the courtroom, and punching and kicking an enemy the night he was fatally wounded. Finally, Tupac’s bullet-riddled body is an unavoidable symbol of the rage and murder that destroy precious black bodies (Dyson, 233).
Moreover, Dyson discusses Tupac’s addiction problems, and how his lack of self-worth led him to these “self-defeating” behaviors and upholding the thug image of smoking weed and drinking “Alize.” Overall, Tupac’s body and the extreme presence it brought to any situation is what complete the legacy that is Tupac.
Works Cited:
Dyson, Michael. Holler if You Hear Me. Plexus Publishing Ltd: Basic Civitas Books, 2001. Print.
Sean Newton
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A 11-11:50
25 September 2011
Chapter 7 "But do the Lord Care?" Response.
The chapter "But do the Lord Care" informs us of Tupac's spiritual life and his beliefs on what it is to be a spiritual person. Tupac was "Obsessed with god" (202) and had a "Very strong relationship with God" (207), in fact most of his lyrical creations were filled with God and other religious undertones. Many of the topics that are repeated are God, Orthodoxy religion, spirituality, Hip-hop's relationship with god, and many racial issues having to do with spirituality and religion. Tupac was the spiritual Jesus of his generation, in the way that most of his views were unpopular and radical that would later be regarded as "Prophetic" (209).
Tupac was a Jesus of his generation in the sense that he was critical of religious practices of many orthodox religions such as Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. According to Steinberg, "Tupac yearned as a youth to create a society where spiritual enlightenment could be fostered and respected" (205). Tupac's vision of a world where there would be a spiritual revolution his belief that "every single one of us could really make a difference" really interests me. Could we really come to the point in the future where all of us would let go of spiritual standards and embrace a spiritual revolution like the world Tupac envisioned? I'd like to think so.
There are many themes in Dyson’s “Holler if you hear me”. Though many of the main themes such as poverty and racial injustice are major themes, there are many small but important themes in this book. These themes include but are not limited: self-destructiveness, hopelessness, death of black youth, and spirituality. This final section of the book wraps up Dyson’s initial argument quite nicely. In the beginning and middle of the book we learned more about what shaped Tupac, and now at the end we learn more about Tupac on a personal level leading up to his “Spinning out of control” (224) death.
Works Cited:
Dyson, Michael. Holler If You Hear Me. Plexus Publishing Ltd: Basic Civitas Books, 2001. Print.
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A 11am – 11:50am
25, September 2011
I Got your Name Tatted on My Arm Chapter 8
This chapter was referring to about the tattoos Tupac displayed on his body. The beautiful art work about everything or the most things he believed in the most, and some of the people he was closest to; the people he was in movies with. The reactions that people told Dyson about Tupac Shakur. People like VivIca A. Fox, Jada Pinkett smith, Kim Fields, his mentor Big Skye. His charm that he put on people without ever noising what he was doing or thinking that he’s the best looking thing out there. What was getting a tattoo meant? All of these people have similar ways of loving Tupac but also different. They said that before he died he was just becoming a man. Though the previous chapters of the book was saying how he matured at a young age. That was very interesting to me because the person who said that must have grown up with Tupac for mains of years. And another thing that puzzled me was that, how can a person matured so quickly at a very young age but as they get older their progression gets slower. As you get older you get wiser. The longer you live you gain more knowledge.
In this chapter they where talking about how Tupac’s eyes said a lot about who he was and he means business. He was a charming, handsome devil. Shawn Chapman said, his lawyer. She spent a lot of time with Pac she got to know him off stage and at home, with everyday people. She said the one time he went to court where no one knew him, all white jurors, but once he opened his mouth thy would be effected by his charm. The thing about that is that he didn’t thing much of him being charming at all. His body was another factor on why these people where attracted to him. He had a beautiful body covered in ink he was risking his body by putting ink on it smoking and fighting. Tupac had a great taste for all types of music. Before his photo shoot as he was walking in the where playing Mozart and they asked him what would he like to hear and he said keep that on, which surprised Cassandra Butcher and Charlie Holland. They wanted him to do a suit photo shoot but he had his shirt off and give them some of the most beautiful poises they have ever seen with nothing but his sagging jeans and tattoos on his body. Butcher asked Pac what does the 50 Niggaz emblems, and he said “this means when you come up against me, it’s like coming up against fifty niggas, because I’ve got the soul of all my brothers in me.” He believe that oh so very much. Pride of a real N.I.G.G.A.
Jada Pinkett Smith was saying that Tupac was an addict. His mind was never clean. He either had alcohol or weed in his system. Now the first time Pac went to prison that’s when his mind started to become clear and him becoming a man; so much that he decided to call Pinketts mother and ask her mother if he can have her hand in marriage. She said no because you’re an addict and he begged and pledged with her but still a no. He knew that he had a long way to go to get clean so that’s where he learned that even though your a very smart man you can still be a little slow at some things that life throw at you. Skye was Tupac’s comrade, closer then anyone. He had 2Pac tatted of his left arm because he made thugs acceptable and he made rags cool. His body on this earth still lives on. I believe in everyone because of the music that’s produced today. Its our culture, Pac was one of the many people that cared about poor black people. Long lives hip-hop.
Work Cited
Dyson, Michael. Holler If You Hear Me. Plexus Publishing Ltd: Basic Civitas Books, 2001. Print
Quincy Taylor
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A 11am – 11:50am
25, September 2011
I Got your Name Tatted on My Arm Chapter 8
This chapter was referring to about the tattoos Tupac displayed on his body. The beautiful art work about everything or the most things he believed in the most, and some of the people he was closest to; the people he was in movies with. The reactions that people told Dyson about Tupac Shakur. People like VivIca A. Fox, Jada Pinkett smith, Kim Fields, his mentor Big Skye. His charm that he put on people without ever noising what he was doing or thinking that he’s the best looking thing out there. What was getting a tattoo meant? All of these people have similar ways of loving Tupac but also different. They said that before he died he was just becoming a man. Though the previous chapters of the book was saying how he matured at a young age. That was very interesting to me because the person who said that must have grown up with Tupac for mains of years. And another thing that puzzled me was that, how can a person matured so quickly at a very young age but as they get older their progression gets slower. As you get older you get wiser. The longer you live you gain more knowledge.
In this chapter they where talking about how Tupac’s eyes said a lot about who he was and he means business. He was a charming, handsome devil. Shawn Chapman said, his lawyer. She spent a lot of time with Pac she got to know him off stage and at home, with everyday people. She said the one time he went to court where no one knew him, all white jurors, but once he opened his mouth thy would be effected by his charm. The thing about that is that he didn’t thing much of him being charming at all. His body was another factor on why these people where attracted to him. He had a beautiful body covered in ink he was risking his body by putting ink on it smoking and fighting. Tupac had a great taste for all types of music. Before his photo shoot as he was walking in the where playing Mozart and they asked him what would he like to hear and he said keep that on, which surprised Cassandra Butcher and Charlie Holland. They wanted him to do a suit photo shoot but he had his shirt off and give them some of the most beautiful poises they have ever seen with nothing but his sagging jeans and tattoos on his body. Butcher asked Pac what does the 50 Niggaz emblems, and he said “this means when you come up against me, it’s like coming up against fifty niggas, because I’ve got the soul of all my brothers in me.” He believe that oh so very much. Pride of a real N.I.G.G.A.
Jada Pinkett Smith was saying that Tupac was an addict. His mind was never clean. He either had alcohol or weed in his system. Now the first time Pac went to prison that’s when his mind started to become clear and him becoming a man; so much that he decided to call Pinketts mother and ask her mother if he can have her hand in marriage. She said no because you’re an addict and he begged and pledged with her but still a no. He knew that he had a long way to go to get clean so that’s where he learned that even though your a very smart man you can still be a little slow at some things that life throw at you. Skye was Tupac’s comrade, closer then anyone. He had 2Pac tatted of his left arm because he made thugs acceptable and he made rags cool. His body on this earth still lives on. I believe in everyone because of the music that’s produced today. Its our culture, Pac was one of the many people that cared about poor black people. Long lives hip-hop.
Work Cited
Dyson, Michael. Holler If You Hear Me. Plexus Publishing Ltd: Basic Civitas Books, 2001. Print
Marcel Rollock
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A 11-11.50AM
26 September 2011
Response to Chapter 7: “But Do the Lord Care?”
Chapter 7- “But Do the Lord Care?” focuses on Tupac’s concepts of religion and his relationship with God. Dyson also discusses religion in the black community, black selfhood or thug culture and Tupac’s obsession with death. The chapter had a major effect on me and left me thinking about a number of issues, not only in regards to the black community but in human society as a hole. Religion plays an extensive role in all cultures around the world; it is linked to how a society operates and who is in control. Dyson states, “Tupac was obsessed with God. His lyrics drip with a sense of divine” (202). I plan to examine Dyson’s take on Tupac’s relationship with God, the thug culture that Tupac was so involved in and his infatuation with his own death.
It became very apparent to me whilst reading this chapter of Holler If You Hear Me that God played a huge role in Tupac’s life. But unlike others who follow and never challenge their chosen religion, Tupac often disputed religion and what it stood for. Dyson writes, “To be sure, Tupac’s religious ideas were complex and unorthodox, perhaps even contradictory, though that would not make him unique among believers” (203-204). I believe the way Tupac was raised made him question almost everything and religion was no exception. Although he question religion its self Tupac was extremely spiritual and through his beliefs, wanted to make a difference in the world. It was very interesting to learn that despite his reputation as a thug Tupac wanted to relay his message of spirituality through his songs and art:
It is apparent that Tupac aimed to enhance awareness of the divine, of spiritual religious practices. Steinberg says that Tupac aimed to use his spiritual beliefs to tear down ethnic and national barriers. The world’s “other” would be instrumental in such a project. “Pac really thought that [these] ‘others’ would usher in a new consciousness where to be… black or ‘other’ would be okay. And that was his dream, to embrace diversity.” Steinberg says that Tupac yearned as a youth to create a society where spiritual enlightenment could be fostered and respected, “whatever the teachings were, whether they were Hindu or Muslim or Jewish… He really wanted to be a vehicle for that dialogue.”
Black selfhood and hip-hops influence on African American youths is another theme brought up by Michael Eric Dyson in the text. Dyson asks questions like, “who are we”? And “who do the youth look up to”? In today’s black community, rappers and entertainers are being mistaken for messiahs, the same rappers and entertainers that celebrate violence and encourage destructive behavior in their art. Dyson states, “There is in this arena of hip-hop a shameless glorification of figures otherwise stigmatized in society, including the player, the pimp, the mack, and the hustler” (210). I believe teenagers often aspire to the lifestyles of such figures but these ambitions do nothing to deter them from drugs, crime and violence. It is obvious the absence of positive role models is a huge contributor to the lack of development of black youths in America. Role models provide examples for children to follow, showing them that their dreams and goals can be fulfilled. Without this in the early stages of your life a lack of self-esteem and positive values seems imminent.
Marcel Rollock
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A 11-11.50AM
26 September 2011
Continue Chapter 7 response
Late in the Chapter Dyson discusses Tupac’s obsession with his own death. African American neighborhoods have been overwhelmed with “black on black homicide.” It became apparent to me that because Tupac had witnessed deaths to a number of friends he did not fear dying himself. “The fearlessness, even recklessness, with which Tupac confronted death had a great deal to do with the death he witnessed and made records of, the mourning he did in its wake, and the God with whom he struggled to make sense of it all” (226). It seemed like Tupac thought he was indestructible. He started feuds with a number of rappers such as Notorious B.I.G and Dr. Dre. By living this brash lifestyle, Tupac was destined to have an early demise.
Chapter 7- “But Do the Lord Care?” also touched on lesser, yet just as significant themes like Tupac’s compassion towards people close to him as well as others. Tupac was extremely giving and just like many others in his position, was taken advantage of at time by friends and family wanting to be given cars and weed amongst other things. Overall this chapter of the book really engaged me because Tupac’s views of religion and his relationship with God were things I was not at all familiar with but they obviously had a major impact on his life are career. In a number of Tupac’s songs such as, “Picture Me Rolling,” and “Hail Mary,” he delves into and often questions God, religions and the role both play in his life and in black communities.
Works Cited:
Dyson, Michael. Holler If You Hear Me. Plexus Publishing Ltd: Basic Civitas Books, 2001. Print.
Javier Flores
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A 11am – 11:50am
26, September 2011
Hip-Hop’s action and projection of women is always a hateful and loving story. Eric Dyson attempts to persuade readers that Tupac was both a player and a chivalrous male. To this day no song explains that debate as well as Tupac’s Wonder Why They Call U Bitch, which argues that there are women in life that deserve to be called names. Dyson sets out to expand on Pac’s views in Chapter 6- Do We Hate Our Women?. The author states “On Keep Ya Head Up, he gives a ‘shout-out to my sisters on welfare” and on I Get Around, he and his friends brag about their sexual conquests and celebrate their promiscuity. Dyson states “Tupac was torn his entire life about what he wanted and expected from women.” (Dyson, 200) I personally see this as Tupac’s dual personality at play. Many who do not know much about the artist might consider him to be a hypocrite. Such an interpretation, however, is mistaken. Just like the human mind is complicated, human sexuality is as well.
An instance that helped prove Dyson’s case about Tupac involves Tupac as a young teenager. An interview Tupac states “I was liking this girl … it wouldn’t work because I was too nice.” According to Dyson this led to “a broken face that Tupac sought to restore.” (Dyson, 176) Tupac was raised to be a gentlemen but Pac quickly learned that nice guys finish last. Instances like these could have later on formed Tupacs ideas of woman and their status in society.
Towards the end of chapter 6 Dyson incorporates Tupacs Sexual abuse charges. Tupac was accused of forcing Ayanna Jackson to have sex. Tupac assured everyone he did not have anything to do with whatever went on in his room. Dyson uses this situation to explore how different variable during the night of the rape could have changed his actions:
“Jada Pinkett Smith says that she chided Tupac for being in the room under such dire circumstances, especially since he always made sure she was safe. If that would of happened to me, Smith says, he would have killed somebody. She says she told the rapper that regardless of what happened, he should have protected Ayanna Jackson at all costs.” (Dyson, 196)
Tupac's close friends show the two sides of Tupac that he tried to show people in his book. Depending on the situation Tupac will either be that thug type who calls women bitches or the caring older brother/gentlemen.
Works Cited:
Dyson, Michael. Holler If You Hear Me. Plexus Publishing Ltd: Basic Civitas Books, 2001. Print.
Kyle Tay
Professor Sabir
English 1A
26 September 2011
Chapter Seven Response Essay
Tupac had a very unique outlook on God and spirituality. Coming from a social existence where death is a regular misfortune within his community, he often reflected on his past sins and questioned if there was a place in heaven for a thug such as himself. His self-analysis of his chaotic and sometimes violent lifestyle lead to the formulation of complex and unorthodox religious ideas as a way to achieve enlightenment. Tupac pained to live in a society where all forms of religion and spirituality are accepted. Dyson observes, “Tupac yearned as a youth to create a society where spiritual enlightenment could be fostered and respected. Perhaps his harsh circumstances fueled in him the desire to destroy all barriers to human community… [and] to open the doors for all of us to be able to have spiritual conversations and to ponder the meaning of life.” This strongly exemplifies his acceptance of others and his unbreakable tolerance of alternative views, something that can be consistently observed about Tupac’s various characteristics. Resonating from his desire to be a part of a spiritually enlightened society, Tupac’s unorthodox religious beliefs had heavy influence on his views of death.
Tupac seeks to religiously justify his thug lifestyle as a way to reassure his self that he is still within God’s grace. One of Tupac’s thug life associates, Big Syke, speculates that “I’m not a bible person, but from what I’m told, Moses was a killer. [There are] killers in the Bible that God used for him, after they were cleaned up” (Dyson 212). Big Syke and Tupac shared the similar belief that in special circumstances homicide is an erasable sin, and did not condemn one for life. Syke argues, “To this day I wonder, ‘Do I still have to answer for some things that I did in my past?’ But if I do, I’m cool with God, because God knows I changed. I’m ready to leave any day” (Dyson 212). This also illustrates the thug life ideology of how one comes to terms with his or her own death. Tupac feels a sense of contentment with death because he knows he remains within God’s grace even after committing less than acceptable deeds. As long as he knows he is a changed person, and does not intentionally seek to harm others, he is confirmed that there is a place for a G’ in heaven.
Because he is so open minded, Tupac’s unorthodox thug ideology on religion and spiritualism is consistent with his acknowledgment of other pressing social issues and his love for the black community. Dyson quotes an associate of Tupac, “Tupac was very much a man of the people… He always felt that he had a responsibility to take care of the people around him who felt they needed him.” This is very true in the sense that Tupac felt an obligation to take care of his people. On various instances he took the time out of his busy schedule to visit recovering children in hospitals. Even after fame and success, Tupac never failed to have an open heart and take the time to make a loving gesture to one of his kin.
Works Cited:
Dyson, Michael. Holler If You Hear Me. Plexus Publishing Ltd: Basic Civitas Books, 2001. Print.
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