Today students first reflected on the poem: Black Woman from Rose (45). Post your freewrite here.
Secondly, students continued their discussions of Holler, today looking at "Dear Mama." Students were asked to notice how Dyson integrates his sources both directly and indirectly in paraphrases (42-50).
Students also continued looking at how Dyson shows agreement, disagreement and neutrality (They Say 55-67).
For homework, students were asked to do more research on people Dyson references like James Baldwin, Geronimo ji jaga (Pratt), Assata Shakur. . . . Students who are a part of a group split the list so that one person didn't have to look up all references; however, this is not to say, students cannot, if so desired.
Most students this morning in the early class were up on their reading which is excellent!
Secondly, students continued their discussions of Holler, today looking at "Dear Mama." Students were asked to notice how Dyson integrates his sources both directly and indirectly in paraphrases (42-50).
Students also continued looking at how Dyson shows agreement, disagreement and neutrality (They Say 55-67).
For homework, students were asked to do more research on people Dyson references like James Baldwin, Geronimo ji jaga (Pratt), Assata Shakur. . . . Students who are a part of a group split the list so that one person didn't have to look up all references; however, this is not to say, students cannot, if so desired.
Most students this morning in the early class were up on their reading which is excellent!
posted by Professor Wanda's Posse at 9:28 AM
57 Comments:
Wai Man (Remy) Tang
Professor Sabir
English 1A 8-8:50 AM
26 September 2012
FreeWrite for Black Woman
This poem seems to me to reflect the start of a marvelous relationship that will be full of bickering as strong personalities clash, but still be a loving one. It gives me the feeling of mutual respect and support. They will last longer together than apart. Tupac understands that he might try to change her and encourages her to not give in to him. When Tupac said “negative side,” I wonder what his conception of that side of himself is.
Shakur, Tupac. The Rose that grew from Concrete. New York: Pocket Books, 1999.
Jonas Sota
Professor Sabir
English 1A 11-11:50
September 26 2012
Dear Mama- Free Write
I think it’s interesting that Tupac didn’t fear tainting a macho image by expressing his appreciation and love for his mother. He expresses an understanding that his mother did the best with what she was given; she had to raise two kids without the help of a present father for the children, and she struggled to provide the means to sustain her and her children’s lives. It’s as if Tupac is forgiving his mother, or saying “it’s alright”.
It’s interesting how it takes time for someone to gain the necessary context & understanding of the world before they can appreciate their parents. Tupac says;
When I was young me and my mama had beef
Seventeen years old kicked out on the streets
Though back at the time, I never thought I'd see her face
Ain't a woman alive that could take my mama's place
When growing up there are moments of furry directed towards one’s parents, but those moments subside as we come to an understanding of the situation from a grander perspective.
Shawn Johnson
Professor Sabir
English 1A 11:00AM-11:50AM
26 August 2012
“Dear Mama” Free Write
“Dear Mama”, a song by Tupac Shakur is in my opinion an ode to his mother Afeni. He does a very good job in being vivd and explaining his feeling, in which he is thankful for everything that she has done for him and his sister. One may be able to get very clear imagesof what his childhood and lifestyle was like from hearing his lyrics. This song really touches home for me, because I can relate to being a son who is beyond grateful and appreciateive of my mother beiing a strong and single black parent. Just like Tupac’s mother Afeni, my mother also raised my sister and I all on her own. When he states “And I could see you comin home after work late in the kitchen tryin to fix us a hot plate, Ya just workin with the scraps you was given. And mama made miracles every Thanksgivin”, (Verse 2) he describes that no matter how bad things were that his mother made sure that he and his sister was fed. These are the exact things that my mother did for my sister and I. If I could ever tell my mother how much I appreciate everything that she has done and continues to do for me in a song I would choose this song without a doubt. Thank you Tupac.
www.azlyrics.com 26 September, 2012
Shawn Johnson
Professor Sabir
English 1A 11:00AM-11:50AM
26 August 2012
“Dear Mama” Free Write
“Dear Mama”, a song by Tupac Shakur is in my opinion an ode to his mother Afeni. He does a very good job in being vivd and explaining his feeling, in which he is thankful for everything that she has done for him and his sister. One may be able to get very clear imagesof what his childhood and lifestyle was like from hearing his lyrics. This song really touches home for me, because I can relate to being a son who is beyond grateful and appreciateive of my mother beiing a strong and single black parent. Just like Tupac’s mother Afeni, my mother also raised my sister and I all on her own. When he states “And I could see you comin home after work late in the kitchen tryin to fix us a hot plate, Ya just workin with the scraps you was given. And mama made miracles every Thanksgivin”, (Verse 2) he describes that no matter how bad things were that his mother made sure that he and his sister was fed. These are the exact things that my mother did for my sister and I. If I could ever tell my mother how much I appreciate everything that she has done and continues to do for me in a song I would choose this song without a doubt. Thank youTupac.
www.azlyrics.com 26 September, 2012
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Tupac Shakurs lyrics come across as being spiritual and deep.In his
poem"Black Woman,4Marquita", his words are touching. I never really knew tupacs poetic side. Honestly I was only attracted to him because of his looks and sex appeal that the mainstream media appluaded. This poem is deep and show his understanding on how his feeling towards black women. I don't know who Marquita is besides the fact of him writing the poem to her. When reading it, I felt as if it were my boyfiend talking to me since our relationship compares to his words in a similar way. I feel love the want to love and be positive when I read this poem. The connection between the words and I are real and that's my favorite part of this poem. As a black woman I feel empowered when reading this poem. Reading Tupacs words make me feel like if alive and I was his girlfriend, he would support me as a black woman and keep me close because of the power and strength I hold and that is an important role for a man to take on in a relationship. My favorite line is,"My negative side will attempt 2 change u But please fight that with your all" I personally feel that it is key for your partner to open up to you about thier unwanted behavior so you can not let it affect you in a way that causes you to fall out of love with that person.
Shakur, Tupac. The Rose that grew from Concrete. New York: Pocket Books, 1999.
Michelle Chim
Professor Sabir
English 1A 11-11:50am
September 26, 2012
“Dear Mama” by Tupac Freewrite
In this song, Tupac raps about his mother; he talks about how great his mother is to him and in general. You can tell he respects her a lot; she’s taken care of him so much and made many sacrifices for him and his sister, as well as her grandchildren. For a single mother, she has been through a lot and has done a lot for children and family; that is what makes her well-respected. When he mentioned how he didn’t cry when she passed away, he meant that his angered was build up so much because she’s gone, so all he can do was to stay strong and keep his head up and keep all of the memories of his mother alive.
Joseph Carlo Tolentino
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A 8:00 – 8:50
26 September 2012
Free Write for Black Woman by Tupac Shakur
Tupac Shakur’s poem on the Black Woman was very touching, and dare I say it, romantic. Compared to other love poems, Tupac’s poem gives a more realistic yet stronger approach. Most conventional love poems are filled with promises and compliments to the person it was written for. Majority of the people would believe that but I disagree. Tupac’s version comes to me as a believable and honest representation of his feelings towards Marquita, to whom the poem was written for. He knew that arguments would arise and that he was far from perfect. Henceforth, he had considered this and deeply admired Marquita’s Strength. He wants her to keep that strength so that both of them can balance each other out and not to mention allow Tupac’s negative side to simmer down a bit.
Shakur, Tupac. The Rose that grew from Concrete. New York: Pocket Books, 1999. Print.
Bianca Hsueh
Professor Sabir
English 1A 11-11:50
26 September 2012
“Dear Mama” Freewrite
In his book, “Holler if You Hear Me”, Michael Eric Dyson writes about how Black and Latino men who live in impoverished area have an intense love and care for their mother. He claims that fathers from these areas usually leave their children behind which results in the mother having to raise the child by themselves. As a result, the mother becomes the only parental figure the child can look up to. The child later realizes how hard it is for a mother to raise a child by themselves, which creates more love and care for their mother.
Tupac is an example of what Dyson is trying to explain in his book. Dyson reveals that Tupac’s mother, Afeni Shakur, was addicted to drugs for a long period of time, which was the main cause for breaking down the Shakur family. Afeni and Tupac spent years without interacting with each other as mother and son. Nonetheless, Tupac still loves his mother and holds no major resentment towards her. I could tell from his song, “Dear Mama” that this was a true fact. The lyrics of the song talked about how even though Afeni was addicted to drugs and neglected Tupac for years, Tupac still loved his mother and never gave up on her.
Tupac fits Dyson’s claim even further as he did not have a father figure growing up. His father had left Afeni before he was born, so Tupac never had any interaction with his father. In other words, Afeni raised Tupac and his sister by himself through poverty. I believe that it was because Tupac knew how hard Afeni had to work to raise both him and his sister; he understood why Afeni began to use drugs as an escape from her difficult life.
luchanda Williams
Professor Sabir
English 1A
September 26 2012
“Dear mama” reflection in the light of Dyson about Tupac and his mother is when they both spoke about how his mother was a drug addict but also a black queen while Dyson refers to her as being strong. The also spoke about how he was on his own at the age of seventeen. The lyrics of the song seems to show Tupac’s appreciation for his mother. He reflects on how strong of a woman she was raising him and his sister as a single parent. It’s as if he wanted her to know the things he was unable to tell her in person. It also shows how strongly he valued her as a mother.
Pablo R. Hernandez
Professor Sabir
English 1A 11-11:50
26 September 2012
“Dear Mama” Free write
In the book, “HOLLER IF YOU HEAR ME” written by Michael Eric Dyson Afeni was only described superficially. Mr. Dyson goes on to describe Afeni’s success as well as her failures. The one thing Dyson can not describe is what Tupac saw in Afeni. Tupac’s song “Dear Mama” was such a great song, Tupac finally showed the world how he really felt. The song was meant to express the appreciation Tupac had for his mother and that he knew it was tough to raise a man all alone. Tupac loved his mom for trying even though she lived with her own problems, Tupac sang
“And even as a crack fiend, mama
You always was a black queen, mama
I finally understand
for a woman it ain't easy tryin to raise a man”
Without Tupac being raised the way he did, I believe Tupac would not have been the poet he became.
Tupac spoke from the heart which made this song amazing to me. I was able to relate to his lyrics and the love he had for his mom. I can never have a week pass by without listening to this song because I believe my mom is strong and had different struggles. I could never find the words to express the way I feel, until I heard this song.
Tatiana Johnson
Professor Sabir
English 1A 11-11:50 AM
26 September 2012
Free Write for "Black Woman"
This poem reminds me of a love note. I think it is a powerful poem because Tupac saw strength the first day that he met Marquita and he knew that she was pure woman. He didn't want his "negative" side to change her but that her strength will look pass the negativity so that they can keep standing.
Shakur, Tupac. The Rose that grew from Concrete. New York: Pocket Books, 1999.
Lhadze Bosiljevac
Mrs. Sabir
English1A
26 September 2012
8:00a.m.-8:50 a.m.
Black Woman: Freewrite
This poem literally by the second paragraph gave me chills from my head to the floor. Most times than not it is hard to get to the point in a poem. To have such short lines and powerful statements. This poem is the definition of strength for the mind, the body and the soul. With all things said, the line that got me the most was, “ ...and since it was strength that attracted me to you, it will take strength to make it last.” (p.g. 45, para. 2). She has he qualities of a true woman, and he makes it obvious with how he wants her to be with him to help ground him as well. That because she has had such a terrible past, he wishes to make a brighter future for the both. And he states honestly “ My negative side will attempt to change you, but please fight that with your all, it will be your strength that keeps us both standing, while others around us fall.” (p.g. 45, para.3) I feel as if this was the standing ovation in the whole poem. The song “Ring Around the Roses” came into my mind instantly. Which is strange because it talks about people dying from the plague and using rose petals as a method to not contract the disease. In this situation, everyone around Tupac and his woman Marquita all dying or falling apart. Yet for the two, they can uphold the people falling apart around them using their past struggles to taut their interrelation. The words in the poem loop themselves together perfectly with no seams missing at all. Most times than not poems are too short and do not ever get to the point; yet then their are ones so long the story is lost. Tupac’s poem is perfect. With every word immaculately placed in such class the words seems to glide. He sees her former life as a gate way to their future, which crushes the saying men want women with a good past. If only more men wrote to women in this way or conveyed the message as deep as Tupac and still actually ment it.
Shakur, Tupac. The Rose that grew from Concrete. New York: Pocket Books, 1999.
Abiodun Apata
Professor Wanda
English 1A 8:00-8:50am
26 September 2012
Black Woman
Line 1-4 is a eulogizing word to describe the strength of a black woman. He talks about her presence in his life and the success that has accompanied the great energy.
Line 5-8 is a powerful and emotional word that is so realistic. One of my friends had experienced exact thing in his relationship with his woman. She is from a divorced and chattered home which she daily live with the bitterness of the past especially her Daddy’s abusive ways. When she met him, God helped them to relief her of that.
Line 9-12 is so real. Her flaws brought out some of his weaknesses that tend to have negative effect on their relationship. However, they always try to make up and are still trying to fight out their weaknesses till date. God help them.
Jesse Valdez
English 1A
Professor Sabir 8-8:50
26 September, 2012
Black Woman Reflection
This poem me sounds like Tupac knows he can be angry or depressed or some kind of negative feeling that is similar, since he says he has a negative side. He also states that Marquita has a very strong personality, and seems to want to be with Marquita so she can keep him positive to help him not have negative feelings. This makes me think that Tupac was in some kind of dark place during this time, something that caused him to be very pessimistic. Perhaps he had a bad break up, or something happened in his life where he needed someone to lean on for support, which is why he might turn to Marquita for help.
Ian Bailey
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A, 11-11:50
September 26, 2012
"Dear Mama" Free Write
Tupac Shakur's song, “Dear Mama,” reflects on his feelings toward his mother. It seems that his feelings toward her are mixed, both respecting the struggles she went through while raising him and always showing him love, but also being frustrated by her shortcomings, such as kicking him out when he was only 17 and getting caught up in a crack addiction. While his feelings come across as mixed, it is still clearly a song of appreciation, expressing admiration for her commitment and effort, despite their harsh situation. This is beautifully illustrated in the verse, “You were always committed. A poor single mother on welfare, tell me how you did it.” This song shows that, even in the face of hardship, the bond between a mother and her son stays strong, and should be appreciated.
Amanda Lara
English 1A
8:00AM-8:50AM
September 26, 2012
Professor Wanda Sabir
In the Poem Black Woman by Tupac Shakur written for Marquita who is described not only as a Black Woman but someone strong with a tough past. My favorite part of the poem is in lines 9 and 10 when he writes “ My negative side will attempt 2 change u but please fight that with your all”. The reason those lines got my attention is because a lot of times people want you to change who you are and in this Tupac wants her to stay the same and not let him influence her. He is happy the way she is. I think to my life situations and I wish someone would of told me that. The wording that Tupac uses makes me think that he was going thru some type of struggle and wanted balance in this relationship were he was assured not to fall like others.
Shakur, Tupac. The Rose that grew from Concrete. New York: Pocket Books, 1999.
Wei Zhang
Professor Sabir
English 1A
9/26/2012
Black Woman
When I first read this poem, I realized this poem must talk about Tupac`s mother Afeni, a black woman who is full of strength. It is a wonderful eulogizing for such a mighty woman. Although there are a lot of misunderstanding between Tupac and Afeni, but Tupac still love his mother deeply.
I think the three books textbook in this class look like a system that make me comprehend what the essence of African-American evolutionary is.
There is one thing I am a little confused is all we read are surrounding the African-American evolutionary and the Black Panther that include some radical factors.
Sam Everett
Professor Sabir
ENGL 1A 8-8:50
26 September, 2012
Black Woman Freewrite
When I read "Black Woman" by Tupac Shakur, the first thing I thought of was Dyson's explanation of why black women are partially blamed for poverty of African Americans. He said that because black women are so strong and aggressive, they are a central part of the family. They alone make the African American family possible. This means that if a family fails, the mother gets blamed because of the responsibility that she holds.(Dyson, 22) Strength, to some people, is intimidating because of this, but not to Tupac. He respects this strength and is attracted to it because he understands that although it is dangerous, it is essential.
Riana Watts
Professor Sabir
English 1A 11-11:50
26 September 2012
Freewrite on “Black Woman”
After reading the poem that Tupac wrote, I feel like he was what I would call a real man. He was able to admit his flaws and encourage others to ignore them. I admire that about anyone. He also admitted to to this woman, what he respected about her, her strength. I think that makes their bond unique because there is a mutual feeling of respect and strength. He felt that she was so strong that she could find a way to deal with or look past his flaws or his negative side to better their relation.
Fermin Carrera
Ms. Sabir
English 1A 8:00-8:50 Am
September 26, 2012
Black Woman Free Write
The poem “Black Woman” is a very significant poem and perhaps now one of my favorites. I think that the main message of the poem is that it will always take strength to move along in this world. Tupac explains that Marquita encountered a sorrow part of her life, which made her become a woman with great strength and soul. One will always have ups and downs, but you must always learn how to get up when life puts you down and become even a stronger person within your own self. Out of the entire poem, my favorite line is “it will be your strength that keep us both standing while others around us fall”
Riana Watts
Professor Sabir
English 1A 11-11:50
26 September 2012
In Holler if You Hear Me, by Michael Eric Dyson, Afeni Shakur who is Tupac’s mother was only described to an extent and quickly. She was described in the book vaguely; you would never know how much she meant to Tupac by this description. He only went on to describe her accomplishments and failures but never her relationship to her son.
However in Tupac’s song, Dear Mama, he vividly describes his love and respect for her and all that she has done to protect and provide for her family. In the song, it seems as though he knows her struggles were necessary to become who she is today but is still embarrassed to think about it.
I know this feeling very well and I relate to this song deeply. I know that you have to endure pain to realize and appreciate the accomplishments in life. Though this is a part of life it can always be some thing you regret and is a sensitive subject in your mind. But remember everyone has a story to tell but you have to be willing to listen first.
Michelle Chen
Professor Sabir
English 1A 11-11:50
26 Sept 2012
"Dear Mama" Free write
Tupac and his moms relationship wasn't the best, they argue and fight all the time when he was younger. Being kicked out of the streets when he was just 17, breaking rules and not knowing what he was doing. In this song, Tupac explains to his mama that he appreciates her, that no one will be above her and he loves her. Whenever he felt hopeless, he can always depend on his mama. This song relates to me not as a son to my mom, but a daughter. I believe everybody should appreciate their mama. She's the reason I am here and I can't thank her enough for bringing me to this crazy beautiful world. She has watched me since I was born and I bet that it was hard, even if she had some help. How Tupac feels about his mom, I feel the same way towards mines everyday.
Messi Chaib
Perfessor Wanda
English 1A 11:00AM-11:50AM
26 August 2012
“Dear Mama” Free Write
“Dear Mama”,a song by Tupac Shakur that he made for his mother appreciating her about what she did to him when he was a child. Despite Afeni was poor and an addict, she tried to do her best to help her son Tupac and cover his father's place who Tupac did not know. Even Tupac did not get much help from his mother and got upset about his her addiction, he understood her feeling and situation and he forgave her all the bad things she did because at least she tried to help him and did not leave him alone like his father did.
Rachel Avalos
Professor Sabir
English 1A
8-8:50AM
26 September 2012
Black Woman
The poem appears to be about a woman Tupac cared about, someone he admired for being strong. Yet he feared that he would try to change her, he advises her to fight him if he tries to change her. He claims that her strength will support him and their relationship together, and that is how their relationship will outlast others. Tupac seems to rely on her strength to keep him going. The poem has a rhyme scheme to it, abab in between the second 2 paragraphs and on the third to last, as well as the last verse. Although most of the poem does not follow that rhyme scheme at all.
Davian Grant
English 1A 8-8:50
September 26, 2012
Miss Sabir
Black Woman free write
The meaning of pure woman, nothing could be so powerful. Pure love, Pure support, and pure affection. Possessing a spirit that was strong. Many women have moments where they believe that they aren’t worth shit. But to come across one that you can see right off is a strong person, that is something special. It was the strength of the woman that lured the speaker into being attracted. And he also admits that it is strength that will make the relationship last. There are many temptations out there, and many women would change their mind on a heartbeat, but a pure strong woman would remain strong and be loyal. It would take everything to look past a person’s negative side. And many times, it is the woman who has the decision to keep going. The man will already love her but it is up to her whether or not she wants to be with him. So it is her strength that will keep them together, her will to keep loving through the bad.
Emily Lam
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A 11-11:50am
26 September 2012
“Dear Mama” Reflection
In the poem, Tupac was basically talking about how his mother is a very strong woman. She was strong enough to be a single parent and still raised two children. Not everyone person could do that. He believes that he is very blessed to have a mother like her. He knows that all the bad and tough things she went through, she should still be able to put a smile on her face and look beyond it. Tupac thinks that his mom is such a powerful woman that it makes him wants to be strong and feel strong. It gives him the spirit to be the exact same way as his mother. This poem also shows that he is thankful to have a mother like her and that he loves her.
Shakur, Tupac. The Rose that grew from Concrete. New York: Pocket Books, 1999.
Kovida U
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A 11-11:50am
26 September 2012
Black Woman
Black woman have full of energy, I saw them first time, I knew that people have story to tell about their history in the United States. Also, the should be proud of being black and fight for their rights and they will be continuing their future giving strength each other.
There should not be the negative side to change the society to be better way and we all have to hold our each other hands when we are fighting for something for people.
Antionette Armour
Professor Sabir
English 1A 8-8:50 AM
26 September 2012
Freewrite: Black Woman for Marquita
In Tupac Shakur’s poem, Black Woman for Marquita in his book Roses that Grew from Concrete, he writes about the strength of a black woman. Many black women are known for their strength of enduring all the pain from living through poverty, on governmental assistance, and the misogynist treatments they receive from their male counterparts. The strength of black women appeals to a lot of people due to their ability to be outspoken and stand on their own. Tupac has been attracted to a black woman who is very strong in her views and the way she handles things. He asks her to hold their relationship together, despite all of his wrong doing, which is expected in a lot of black communities. Dating black man or any man, I have been told plenty of times that it is my strength and confident ways that makes them attracted to me. I have gained this strength through humbling myself and defeating all the battles that have come my way. Not only does black woman experience hardships, but all women endure pain and battles in this patriotic world.
Shakur, Tupac. The Rose that grew from Concrete. New York: Pocket Books, 1999.
Makonnen Richarddson
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A 8-8:50
26 September 2012
Black Woman
Tupac's original initiative or motive is to explain the concept of strength in our black women. An element so commonly associated with our people in terms of beauty and struggle, it is that strength in her (Marquitat) that drew the attraction between the two. And that same strength will be needed to sustain the relationship. Knowing and aware that we all have conflictions within our nature, he urges and hopes that she will fight his negative side and keep being strong for them, because this is what he needs in a woman, like balance and support.
Amanda Lara
English 1A
September 28, 2012
Dear Mama; freewrite
8:00AM- 8:50 AM
Dear Mama brings back many memories to me especially in these last couple days. When I was in high school I was in year book class and we would listen to Tupac very often and just sing to the lyrics. One of my class mates was killed due to violence on Monday in Richmond. So listening to Dear Mama made me think of him. He was a smart sweet guy always filled with energy . This song fits the struggles of many people that I know who have been in and out of jail, but they worship there mother more than anything. That is their queen. My relationship with my mother is not the best but there is respect. I have grown apart from her and our relationship is more of a professional level that a relationship where I can talk to her about anything. But at the end of the day she is my mother and I am thankful for her and all the struggles that she has made for me.
Joseph Carlo O. Tolentino
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A 8:00 – 8:50
27 September 2012
Free Write: Dear Mama
Tupac’s song, Dear Mama, reminded me how important my mother is. The deep words and love his Lyrics contained almost brought me to tears as it reminded me how I was loved so much and how my own mother sacrificed her time for me. My mother is strong and Tupac’s song represents how a mother’s love stays deep within their children. Normally I don’t like listening to rap music but I enjoyed this as it was very special and lacked all the negative aspects of rap music that made me hate it. Dear Mama gave me a view on how some rap music can actually be bearable and special. Tupac’s own mother reminds me of how strong my own mother was and like the famous rapper I would not give her up for anything.
Sam Everett
Professor Sabir
ENGL 1A 8-8:50
27 September, 2012
Dear Mama Free Write
In Dear Mama, by Tupac Shakur, Tupac uses the emotions he felt in his own life to give a general description of mother son relationships. In the song, the description of his mother is accurate. She made bad life choices, but always gave her son love. Tupac’s life, on the other hand, does not reflect the song. In the song, the son begins living a bad lifestyle. He sells crack and associates with bad people. In Tupacs life, this never happened. Tupac, beause of his talent was too involved in his career to get involved with extreme forms of crime. He very well could have though if it wasn’t for his music. I highly agree with the message of the song. No matter what the choices your loved ones have made, you can still appreciate them because they gave you love. Just because they may do crack for example, doesn’t mean they don’t love you, or you shouldn’t love them back.
Virginia Tan
Professor Sabir
Eng 1a 8:00-8:50
26 Sept 2012
The poem “Black Woman” is very touching when I first read it, I felt like it is talking about Afeni. I don’t know if I am right or not, maybe? In the poem it shows that Afeni was a strong woman to Tupac. She is the one who raised him as a single mother. They have been struggle through a lot of things, like homelessness; they were having a tough time together. Afeni is the one who give Tupac strength to live on. On the negative side, her mother addiction affects him, but he is fighting to tries to keep the strength on both sides. Tupac still have faith in his mother.
Jesse Valdez
English 1A 8-8:50
Professor Sabir
27 September 2012
Dear Momma
Tupac’s song Dear Momma expresses many things some people may feel when they with their mothers. Tupac starts his song by saying he is seventeen, almost an adult and his mother kicks him out. He goes on to say that while he is on his own, he misses her very much and wants to see her. He later talks about trouble he got into, and all the problems he had, blaming his mother for it. There is one line in that particular section however, that states he is hugging his mother while was in jail, so he still loves her very much.
Keelan Sunglao-Valdez
Professor Sabir
Englsih1A
11:00-11:50
September 27, 2012
Free Write: Dear Mama
"Dear Mama" is one of Tupac's most emotional songs. Dyson shares that Tupac struggled being raised by his mother and her addiction. Tupac resented his mother's addiction and her absence as a mother, but he never lost his love for his mother. "And even as a crack fiend, mama/ you always was a black queen, mama." Even though Afeni struggled raising her children, Tupac loved her for raising him and his sister on her own. Afeni taught Tupac about life and he learned from his mother's revolutionary past. Growing up, he took everything he learned from his mother and applied it to his life and career. Dyson states that "Mamas" are a big part of the black culture. I believe Tupac is a strong example of the love for mothers. Through all he problems and struggles, Tupac never lost his love for his mother. Even as a legendary hip-hop artist, he paid respect and homages to his mother through song.
Dyson, Michael Eric. Holler If You Hear Me: Searching for Tupac Shakur. New York: Basic Civitas, 2001. Print.
Shakur, Tupac. Dear Mama. Me Against the World. Interscope: February 21, 1995
Ian Bailey
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A, 11-11:50
September 27, 2012
Son Of A Panther
The chapter “Son of a Panther” goes much into depth about the “thug” mentality and Tupac’s affiliation with the thug life. The author says that “thugs bring arbitrary correction to the imbalances that revolutionaries seek to redress,” mentioning how thugs promote change and social justice by undermining society. However, I disagree entirely with that sentiment. The dictionary definition of “thug” is “a violent person, especially a criminal”. Implications from the book also suggest that being a “thug” involves a strong sense of pride in one’s affiliation with the ghetto, or a lower-class, crime-ridden society. Violence, in itself, is not constructive. It does not serve a cause, and it has no direction, no purpose. It just degrades society, and doesn’t really promote anything besides fear.
Tupac Shakur’s affiliation with the “thug life,” in my opinion, is a mistake on his part because it causes him to hold on to a mentality that degrades his moral character. Even after finding success with his musical career, Tupac constantly mentioned and preached about the “thug life,” as if senseless violence is something to be proud of. In reality, as unfortunate as it is that so many people are forced to partake in violent behavior to survive in the ghetto, seeing such actions as a way of life is very harmful to oneself.
Jonas Sota
Professor Sabir
English 1A 11-11:50
September 27 2012
The Ideology That Shaped Tupac’s Character
In Dyson’s biography of Tupac “Holler If You Hear Me” he probes Tupac’s environment as he aims to determine the reasons for Tupac’s character, skills, and essentially his grand influence on society. Dyson doesn’t simply look at Tupac as a designed product of God, coming out of the womb with a certain destiny or set of characteristics and skills. Rather, Dyson adheres to the belief that one’s environment; one’s parents, neighborhood, education, peers, and the challenges that one faces as a child have a great affect on who one develops into. More specifically, Dyson focuses on the political ideology that Tupac was surrounded by since the beginning of his life, “Our best chance of understanding Tupac’s dilemmas, and his failures and triumphs, too, rests in probing the ideals with which he was reared and that shaped his life for better and for worse. What did it mean to be a child of the Black Panthers, to have a postrevolutionary childhood?” (49). Here Dyson is giving great credit to the Black Panther’s political ideology revolving around response to the oppression of black people by the white man’s capitalist system.
Between the revolution led by the Black Panthers and the 1980s, the black community held an animosity towards the capitalist economic structure. The capitalist system was seen as a tool of oppression used by the “white man” – working for a white man for low wages was compared to slavery, modern-age slavery. Many blacks refused to play the capitalist game and therefore didn’t attend college and didn’t strive to develop a successful career within the capitalist system, “She says that receiving her ‘training from the movement’ made her believe that ‘capitalism’ was a dirty word’” (55). Revolutionary blacks during the time of Tupac’s childhood resisted the capitalist structure and therefore remained relatively poor and unstable within the capitalist economy. Tupac spoke of his family being wealthy in regards to spirit and soul, but terribly lacking of money, and this lack of money posed certain problems for Tupac which without a doubt helped shape the person he developed into.
To be continued...
Works Cited
Dyson, Michael Eric. Holler If You Hear Me. 2nd ed. New York, NY: Basic Civitas
Books, 2006. Print.
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Asmita Dahal
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A 8-8:30 AM
27 September 2012
"Black Woman" by Tupac Shakur
This poem by Tupac, I thought, was very touching. He explains how he was attracted to Marquita for her strength. He explains that she is a strong black woman. I think that that's what real men are attracted in a woman, not just about how she looks, but about her inner qualities. I find it very sweet when he says that he doesn't his own negative side to ever affect Marquita and that Marquita will have to show strength into the relationship, for that is what will make the relationship last.
Asmita Dahal
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A 8-8:30 AM
27 September 2012
"Black Woman" by Tupac Shakur
This poem by Tupac, I thought, was very touching. He explains how he was attracted to Marquita for her strength. He explains that she is a strong black woman. I think that that's what real men are attracted in a woman, not just about how she looks, but about her inner qualities. I find it very sweet when he says that he doesn't his own negative side to ever affect Marquita and that Marquita will have to show strength into the relationship, for that is what will make the relationship last.
Asmita Dahal
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A 8-8:30 AM
27 September 2012
"Black Woman" by Tupac Shakur
This poem by Tupac, I thought, was very touching. He explains how he was attracted to Marquita for her strength. He explains that she is a strong black woman. I think that that's what real men are attracted in a woman, not just about how she looks, but about her inner qualities. I find it very sweet when he says that he doesn't his own negative side to ever affect Marquita and that Marquita will have to show strength into the relationship, for that is what will make the relationship last.
Jeannae Williams
Professor Sabir
English 1A 8-8:50am
26 September 2012
FreeWrite: Black Women
This Poem in my opinion expresses the attraction of meeting a black women. How when you see an African beauty you see strength from a man's perspective (Tupac) if he is looking for a strong women. It also explains that when a black women is down and out to replace those those frowns with smiles, but over all have strength no matter what it takes for a couple or a good friendship to keep standing to pull through the B.S, even though people change and that one might change you, but the main goal is to keep the strength, so that things stay as a whole.
Shahur, Tupac. The rose that grew from concrete. New York: Pocket Books, 1999.
Jeannae Williams
Professor Sabir
English 1A 8-8:50am
27 September 2012
Freewrite: Dear Momma
I can relate to this wonderful song because my life as far as my mother happened the same way except I was four years old instead of becoming a teen like Tupac. I gotta give it up to Tupac though on this "Dear Momma" anthem because it was a song that told a story of him & his mother's relationship alot of grief expressed from his heart through this song, and this will be a song that lives on till the earth no longer exsist. Alot of people been through this type of situation but Tupac expressed his feelings in a way that lots of people can relate too through this song.
Rachel Avalos
Professor Sabir
English 1A 8-8:50AM
27 September 2012
Response to “Dear Mama”
In this song Tupac both agrees and disagrees with the way his mother raised him, and some of her actions. He criticizes her, praises her, and apologizes for causing stress simultaneously. Tupac agrees that his mother raised him with difficulties and sings her praises for being able to take care of both him and his sister while she was on welfare. Unfortunately he also points out that she was a crack fiend and made bad choices but despite that he still loved her. His mother was there for him as much as she could be, and he was glad that she was able to love him and raise him honestly. This song is an excellent example of agreeing and disagreeing at the same time, mostly he agrees with how she raised him and lets her know that he loves her. In the song he says that he wants her to know he understands how difficult it was for her to raise him, and that he appreciates it; letting her know through sending gifts and paying the rent.
Virginia Tan
Professor Sabir
Eng 1A 8:00-8:50
27 Sept 2012
“Dear Mama” Free Writing
Tupac’s song “Dear Mama” was one of the amazing songs I ever heard. The lyrics really expressed his feelings toward his mother. The song shows that Tupac appreciated Afeni for raising him alone and there are no ways that he can pay her back. Afeni gives all her love to him, all her love as a mother and father. This song reminds me of my parents, how they are important to me. I feel I am luckier than Tupac because I have both of my parents there for me. My mom always loves me and gives me all the things I wanted. I don’t know how to pay her back for all this. She always tries to be the best mom ever. I will always appreciate her and cherish her for the rest of my life.
Fermin Carrera
Professor Sabir
English 1A 8-8:50 am
September 27, 2012
Dear Mamma Free Write
The song Dear Momma by Tupac Shakur, is a very intellectual song because it makes you think within the lyrics. In general, I think that Tupac’s music is intellectually artistic. As I listen to the song, I began to visualize certain things that are described in the lyrics. Trough out the entire song, Tupac show his appreciation for his mother although at some points she is described to be the best mother, Tupac later on realizes why she was the way she was. Tupac did not grow up with the support of a father and so his mother had to take that role as well. In the first verse, Tupac says
I finally understand
for a woman it ain't easy tryin to raise a man
You always was committed
It was tough for Afeni to raise Tupac the correct way a father would raise their own child. Tupac and his mom had “beef” with each other making it hard for them to have a good mother son relationship, but all because it was only his mom that was raising him and not both of his parents. In the end Tupac realizes the hard work her mother did for him and so he try to repay her for her caring actions as a mother.
Marco Gonzalez
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A 11-11:50
27 September 2012
The chapter “No Malcolm In my Textbook” is a fairly interesting chapter that I agreed with for the most part. The main idea of the chapter as the title inquires is the fact that history books in schools do not give credit let alone bring up iconic figures in African-American history such as Malcolm X. The chapter also shines some light onto Tupac’s more intellectual side, as he is described by many as one of the brightest minds you could meet. This chapter holds a lot of truth to it and I definitely agree with the majority of things said in it.
This chapter gets into detail about Tupac’s high school years that would prove to be a time of great growth and self finding for him. TO BE CONTINUED
Marco Gonzalez
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A 11-11:50
September 26, 2012
Free Write Dear Mama
“Dear Mama” by Tupac Shakur is a song dedicated to his mother that is a successful attempt to express his feelings for his beloved mother. Tupac tells about all the struggles that they faced together and shows admiration for her in the situation despite the many adversities. A line that summarizes the song very well for me comes in the first verse when Tupac says “And even as a crack fiend mama…you always was a black queen, mama.” This sums up how Tupac feels about his mother, despite any of the negative impacts his mother had on him he loved her for what she had done which is raise him as best she could and loved him unconditionally. Through the whole song Tupac talks about how through thick and thin his mother and he both maintained a mutual love for each other. I can relate to this because my mother and I have had our share of differences yet for better or worse she always has had my back and loved me like she always has. If your mother has given her best effort to provide and care for you regardless of what it may have been I feel you owe at least owe her respect and love.
Wai Man (Remy) Tang
Professor Sabir
English 1A 8-8:50 AM
27 September 2012
Reflection of Dear Mama
In this song that Tupac wrote for his mother, it mentioned her bad parts and her good parts, which made me think that he has accepted and forgiven her for how she had to raise him and his sister. He now understands that she did the best she could for them. This reminded me that no one is perfect. I have also hated the way my mother brought me up, but now I understand that that was how she thought was the best way for me to grow up. I hated doing chores and I hated that I had to be home right after school. Now I just think that she was preparing me for when I have to live alone, I would know how to do all the house chores. I understood that she was afraid that I would hang out with bad people so she would have me in the house rather than outside with no way of knowing what I was doing. It is hard being a mother.
Antionette Armour
Professor Sabir
English 1A 8-8:50 AM
27 September 2012
Freewrite: Dear Mama
Tupac’s song, “Dear Mama”, brings chills throughout my body. When I listen to this song I hear a son expressing his love and appreciation for his mother. Many people would think that he is exposing Afeni’s past mistakes and addiction to drugs; however, he recognizes her strength, love, and sacrifice that she possessed for both his sister, Sekywia, and him even though she was a drug addict. Although my mother has never done drugs or abandoned my siblings and I physically, I felt like my mom abandoned me throughout my puberty years while I needed her there. She does not think she did it intentionally and I am pretty sure that she did not try to do it purposely; however, my personality and the mistakes I made were influenced by my mom’s absence in my lady-hood evolution. Tupac’s song is powerful because he does not disrespect Afeni at all but he is really honest and through his honesty many people can relate and of course Afeni understood. The message her son was sending to her.
Shakur, Tupac. Dear Mama. Me Against the World. Interscope: February 21, 1995
Tracci Davis
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A 8:00 - 8:50
26 September 2012
Dear Mama- Free Write
Tupac spoke from the heart which made this song amazing. I was able to relate to his lyrics because of the love i have for my mother . i can also relate to being a a daughter who is more the than grateful and appreciateive of my mother beiing a strong and single black parent. Just like Tupac’s mother Afeni. I could ever tell my mother how much I appreciate everything that she has done and continues to do for me in a in a poem let alone a song I would choose this song without a doubt. Tupac did his thing on this song.Thank you Tupac for writing this song that express the love for a mother.
www.azlyrics.com 26 September, 2012
Tracci Davis
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A 8:00 - 8:50
26 September 2012
FreeWrite for Black Woman
Reading the poem that Tupac wrote, Black Women 4 Marquita, I feel like that was very manly of him to express his feeling the way what he did about a women other then his mother. He was able to admit his flaws and encourage like others who will ignore them. I admire that about him he showed that he is a real man . He also admitted to this woman, what he respected about her, her strength, her self respect that , and the way she cares her self . I think that makes their bond very unique and strong because there is a mutual feeling of respect and strength. He wants her to find a way to deal with and look past his flaws and all his negative side to better their relationship but to also he wants her to be the back bone and to also be his right hand man but still be able to hold him down .
Shakur, Tupac. The Rose that grew from Concrete. New York: Pocket Books, 1999.
Gabe Shalaby
10/05/12
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1a
8:00 a.m. - 8:50 a.m.
“Black Woman, 4 Marquita”
I really enjoyed this poem. It's funny that I would be listening to a Mac Dre song while reading a poem that's so tender and loving. Something that really jumped off the page at me was when he was talking about his negative side trying to change her. Men bringing their flaws to light and praising women for their strength are not common occurrences in the mainstream hip hop culture. That's not all that surprising seeing as how Tupac is the one that wrote this poem, but it still grabbed me none the less. I also like how he tells Marquita to resist his will to change her. He really does want an individual, strong, and intelligent woman.
Kendra Jones
English 1A 8:00-8:50 AM
Professor Sabir
26 September 2012
Free Write: Dear Mama
My heart feels with love, when hearing the song Dear Mama by Tupac Shakur. I remember when I was a little girl first hearing this song made me wonder why it was so. I couldn't figure out why Tupac was so hurt by his mom and as an artist why did he want to put out such an uhappy song? That was the great thing about Tupac. No matter what age you were his lyrics always made a way into your heart and soul. As I got older the lyrics became more girl and I understood that his mom lived a life of the streets and due to her past decisions, she became pregnant with Tupac while in jail. Understanding the lyrics just made the song even more heartbreaking.I remember my sisters and I used to sing this song to my mom and even though she is nothing like Tupacs mother, the song is a good song to dedicate to her because it has so much love attached to it. Tupac is a great artist and I will always remember him for his strong lyrics.
Shakur, Tupac. The Rose that grew from Concrete. New York: Pocket Books, 1999.
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