The Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation and Afeni Shakur-Davis, mother of platinum recording artist, actor and poet, Tupac Shakur, will partner with the Robert W. Woodruff Library of the Atlanta University Center to make available for scholarly research Shakur’s manuscript writings and other papers.130
Born in East Harlem, New York, Shakur honed his acting and performing skills at the city’s 127th Street Repertory Ensemble and the Baltimore School of the Arts in Maryland. He first came to prominence in the early 1990s as a featured rapper for the vocal group Digital Underground and went on to become one of the most significant cultural icons of the hip hop generation. Prior to his untimely death at the age of 25, Shakur had released five record albums and appeared in four motion pictures to great success. Ten albums, numerous compilations and four feature films were all released posthumously, including Tupac, Resurrection,which received an Academy Award nomination for “Best Documentary (Feature).”
More than a decade after his death on September 13, 1996, Shakur remains one of the most influential writers and performers in the hip hop/rap genre and continues to be the top-selling hip hop recording artist of all time, having sold more than 75 million albums worldwide. A prolific writer, Tupac wrote The Rose That Grew From Concrete,when he was only 19 years old. The book contains numerous poems in Tupac’s own handwriting and has enjoyed a substantial amount of success selling over 250,000 copies. Select poems from the book will now be included in the collection. There are three more books – Tupac Resurrection, Tupac Legacy and Tupac Remembered which were all published following his death.
Tupac Shakur Collection, now housed within the Woodruff Library’s Archives & Special Collections Department, features Shakur’s handwritten lyrics and track listings, personal notes, video and film concepts, fan correspondence, promotional materials and other items providing a unique insight into his career and creative genius.
“The Woodruff Library Archives has done a phenomenal job archiving my son’s materials,” said Afeni Shakur-Davis. “I thank their staff for partnering with my family and the Foundation in helping to make these important documents available in a professional manner that will benefit scholars for years to come.”
Currently, Library staff are re-housing the collection’s 11 boxes of material into archival boxes and folders, and preparing a finding aid listing the categories and order of items included. A digital (online) finding aid will be prepared to further enhance scholarly access. The Tupac Shakur Collection is expected to be open for research in Fall 2010.
“The Woodruff Library is honored to collaborate with the Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation to preserve the artistic legacy of Tupac Shakur,” said Loretta Parham, CEO & Library Director. ”Mr. Shakur was a multi-dimensional artist who helped define a musical genre, and as the academic library serving four institutions of higher learning, it is our mission, as well as a great privilege, to help promote scholarship and research of his work, and the mechanics of his creative process and the hip hop culture.”
The Woodruff Library of the Atlanta University Center (AUC) serves the collective research and information needs of Clark Atlanta University, the Interdenominational Theological Center, Morehouse College and Spelman College. The Library’s Archives & Special Collections is the repository for historical materials documenting the AUC institutions, as well as manuscript collections and organizational records, including the Morehouse College Martin Luther King Jr. Collection and the Maynard Jackson Mayoral Administrative Records.
In addition to the archival partnership with the Woodruff Library, the Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation has recruited some of the nation’s top scholars to assemble the Tupac Shakur Secondary School Curriculum, a seventh-12th grade academic curriculum and a college-level reader. In this comprehensive curriculum, the poetry, music and views of Tupac Shakur are used to teach basic hip hop studies units within academic disciplines such as fine arts, history and language arts. This learning tool can be used separately or in conjunction with any state-mandated learning standards curriculum. Both the release of the secondary and college-level curriculums will coincide with the opening for research of The Tupac Shakur Collection at the Woodruff Library in Fall 2010.
Slain rapper Tupac Shakur’s writings will have a new home in the fall of 2010. Atlanta’s Tupac Shakur Foundation, overseen by the rapper’s mother Afeni Shakur-Davis, is teaming with Atlanta University Center to prepare the rapper’s writings for “scholarly research” to be housed at AUC’s Robert W. Woodruff Library. Shakur died in 1996.
In a release sent to Buzz Central, we’re told that the writings included in the collection will encompass the rapper’s life, starting with work from “The Rose That Grew From Concrete,” a poetry collection Shakur wrote at the age 19.
The Tupac Shakur Collection, housed within the Woodruff Library’s Archives and Special Collections Department, will feature “Shakur’s handwritten lyrics and track listings, personal notes, video and film concepts, fan correspondence, promotional materials and other items providing a unique insight into his career and creative genius.”
”The Woodruff Library Archives has done a phenomenal job archiving my son’s materials,” said Afeni Shakur-Davis in a statement. “I thank their staff for partnering with my family and the Foundation in helping to make these important documents available in a professional manner that will benefit scholars for years to come.”
We’re told that currently, library staffers are re-housing the collection’s 11 boxes of material into archival boxes and folders. An online finding aid will also be prepared to further enhance access. The Tupac Shakur Collection is expected to be open for research in Fall 2010.
”The Woodruff Library is honored to collaborate with the Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation to preserve the artistic legacy of Tupac Shakur,” said Loretta Parham, CEO & Library Director. ”Mr. Shakur was a multi-dimensional artist who helped define a musical genre, and as the academic library serving four institutions of higher learning, it is our mission, as well as a great privilege, to help promote scholarship and research of his work, and the mechanics of his creative process and the hip hop culture.”
The Woodruff Library of the Atlanta University Center serves the collective research and information needs of Clark Atlanta University, the Interdenominational Theological Center, Morehouse College and Spelman College. The Library’s Archives & Special Collections also houses the Morehouse College Martin Luther King Jr. Collection and the Maynard Jackson Mayoral Administrative Records.
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120 comments Add your comment
GAB
September 25th, 2009
12:28 pm
Another example of the decline of modern culture. The “papers” of a violent thug sitting side by side with those of a peace-loving freedom leader and a barrier-breaking civic leader. Sad times in our world.
Chapaqua Mombasso
September 25th, 2009
12:30 pm
What a tragic development. The written legacy of one of the greatest advocates for peace in human history being mixed in with the words of a misogynistic, violence -glamorizing rapper-thug.
“Creative genius”; wow, that is a sad statement of African American culture at the close of the 20th century.
Soulfinger
September 25th, 2009
12:33 pm
I would like to see either of you write poems and songs like Tupac did.
Roekest
September 25th, 2009
12:45 pm
Only in the Dirty South would this happen; strong emphasis on “dirty”. African American culture has become a joke. How sad that a violent rapper symbolizes creativity of the culture. Have you all no painters, authors, scientists, or doctors to pin your hopes and dreams on? Real life isn’t about mackin’ hos, slammin’ Cadillac doors, and NBA/NFL contracts. Wake up!
Miss Manner
September 25th, 2009
12:47 pm
It does seem like a double standard. You test a tree by the fruit it bears.
ertfs
September 25th, 2009
12:50 pm
Truly a sad moment in black history. The more I see the more Im convinced Dr. King is rolled over in his grave.
me
September 25th, 2009
12:52 pm
Scholarly Research? You mean like psycho-criminal mind or something? I am sure his earlier work is good – but that is not what he will be remembered by. Sad that the thug culture/lifestyle destroyed what could have been another Langston Hughes.
Musykluvah
September 25th, 2009
12:53 pm
Every one is entitled to their own opinion, but one cannot deny the creative genius that was Tupac! Do not judge what you don’t know…read first then make a sound justifiable decision based on what YOU know and now what has been defined by others.
Courtney
September 25th, 2009
12:56 pm
I agree with Roekest. What about storing the writings and teachings of Dr. Ben Carson or Fredrick Douglass or Robert Johnson who founded with $500, Ebony & Jet Magazine. This is truly a sad day. I can not believe that this foolishness is really taking place. We as a people are truly going backwards!!!
Jon
September 25th, 2009
12:58 pm
Tupac Shakur’s “writings” to be used as “scholarly research”? Oh my gosh, thanks for starting my morning with a good laugh. Wow, it’s a really sad day in our culture when a thug is glorified the way this man is. Unbelievable.
Mz Gigi Luv
September 25th, 2009
1:01 pm
It’s amazing how people who THINK they are so culturaly intuned to everything, are the very ones who have no idea what they are talking about. Tupac was more than just a rapper. Not all of his writings dealth with the things he wrapped about. Have any of you ever read any of his writings? I doubt it.. because you judge by what you see and have been told. You don’t take time to understand the entire experience.
As for Roekest, its amazing you can say that the African American culture has become a joke. What could you possibly know about it. If you have to ask if there are any painters, authors, etc, then you definitely do not know.. and have probably not taken the time to learn. The African American Culture is not all about Rappers, which by the way are not all violent or misogynistic or a glamorization of NBA contracts.. it is what the media chooses you to see. In so, you base your ASSUMPTIONS. Please, do not allow your assumptions make you into an ASS.
African Americans are a proud people, intelligent, talented, and honorable. Tupac’s writings were not all about ‘mackin hos’ as you say. Take a moment out of your perfect noble life and read the book. Guess what, you can even get it from the library….or is that beneath you as well? You will find that a majority of what he wrote about was real life experiences of which he had to learn. Whether you liked him, loved him or hated him, at least respect him for what he tried to do.
Jason
September 25th, 2009
1:04 pm
“Witness as we creep to a low speed, peep what a hoe need, puff some more weed.” While humorous, how does this compare to “I have a dream…”. WTF.
Molly
September 25th, 2009
1:07 pm
Okay, let’s call a spade a spade. Tupac was a gun-toting, violent thug who jumped around on stage, grabbing his crotch, and yelling. Can anyone tell me what talent that takes, or why this man is continuing to be glorified for all the pain he inflicted? Only in Atlanta would this man be so honored. Dr. King was what all men should aspire to be. Tupac was the antithesis of that.
Chris
September 25th, 2009
1:09 pm
What’s wrong with African Americans today? Tupac next to Dr. King, ARE YOU SERIOUS!?!?!?!? Get it together black people, get it together! Shame on the AUC!
Isaac
September 25th, 2009
1:10 pm
Thats exactly why i’m glad i’m no longer in the South, it’s filled with NOTHING but uninformed WHITE PEOPLE who know NOTHING about black people or their history, Tupac was not just a rapper or a thug (slang for black males) as your people so simply call him, this man was an advocate for people in the ghettos of this country that are unheard and have no voice in the mainstream of this country, the only people who get heard in this region are “Tea Party” idiots and people who ILLEGALLY tape organizations to appease FoxNews…………..
ertfs
September 25th, 2009
1:13 pm
The media isn’t making this stuff up on a hollywood back lot. Its shown on the media because that, unfortunatly is what young black people are doing, and what they WANT to see.
Life on Marta...
September 25th, 2009
1:13 pm
The only outcome from his legacy is dirty dreads, white tee’s, and bagging pants worn by a group that doesnt care about anything.
ertfs
September 25th, 2009
1:14 pm
The media isn’t making this stuff up on a hollywood back lot. Its shown on the media because that, unfortunatly is what young black people WANT to see.
Ken
September 25th, 2009
1:38 pm
We gotta make a change…
It’s time for us as a people to start makin’ some changes.
Let’s change the way we eat, let’s change the way we live
and let’s change the way we treat each other.
You see the old way wasn’t working so it’s on us to do
what we gotta do, to survive.
ant banks
September 25th, 2009
1:47 pm
Tupac has diametrically opposing sides to his character. He was very deep in some regards…”Brenda’s Havin’ a Baby”, “Keep ya’ Head-up.” and then he was wreckless as hell…”I get around” and “Hit ‘em up!!”
I think that he was the Marvin Gaye of his time. A socially conscious rapper. He could have been soo much more to the world!! Tupac really didn’t have problems early in his career, however, once he played the character, BISHOP in the movie JUICE, Tupac changed. Almost like he became that character in real life.
I have all of his collections. He was tormented like Marvin Gaye. “Troubled Man.”
Robert
September 25th, 2009
1:47 pm
It is telling that the moderator of these comments won’t allow Tupac’s lyrics to be printed here. That’s about all you need to know about Mr. Shakur, and ajc.com’s willingness to print the truth.
Kelly
September 25th, 2009
2:01 pm
tis a new day ..god help us.
New to Atlanta
September 25th, 2009
2:07 pm
Atlanta’s Tupac Shakur Foundation, overseen by the rapper’s mother Afeni Shakur-Davis, is teaming with Atlanta University Center to prepare the rapper’s writings for “scholarly research” to be housed at AUC’s Robert W. Woodruff Library. Shakur died in 1996.
Gangster Rap is being studied in colleges ? Rap lyrics are sitting next to original MLK, Jr. writings. That is an outrage and very offensive to everything MLK, Jr. stood for.
The only think they have in common is that they were both were shot.
Why in the world would you have a class on Gangster Rap in college ?
Atlanta is a wierd place !
Drew
September 25th, 2009
2:08 pm
If they focus on his poetry and some of his songs, then it’s not an entirely bad idea. However, some of his tracks, whether he lived them or provided commentary about how some people live, doesn’t quite measure up to the writings and works of people like King, DuBois, Mays, Carson, John Hope Franklin, Mary McLeod Bethune-Cookman, or others.
Too readily do we use the term “great” or “greatness” for people who were talented but not ascendant. While I’m a fan of Tupac, I don’t see them making his birthday a national holiday anytime soon. Value him as an artist and providing some commentary on the condition of some people; however, he’s not absolute.
People who are able to mobilize an entire ethnic or social class of people are probably better examples of genius or being cannonized. Next, you’ll have Soulja Boy having a museum because he put his name on his sunglasses. Yeah, that’s really genius…
James W.
September 25th, 2009
2:12 pm
Tupac was not perfect but a lot of his songs if you listen to them were very meaningful and he spoke out about the horror that goes on in urban America. Tupuc’s songs were like a news program or a documentary that highlighted some of the daily struggles in the communities across America. Tupac was very talented and that can’t be disputed and this is a good reason to store his writings in the library archives. No one in this word is perfect but few have such special talents.
New to Atlanta
September 25th, 2009
2:13 pm
1:10 pm
Thats exactly why i’m glad i’m no longer in the South, it’s filled with NOTHING but uninformed WHITE PEOPLE who know NOTHING about black people or their history, Tupac was not just a rapper or a thug (slang for black males) as your people so simply call him, this man was an advocate for people in the ghettos of this country that are unheard and have no voice in the mainstream of this country, the only people who get heard in this region are “Tea Party” idiots and people who ILLEGALLY tape organizations to appease FoxNews…………..
What is wrong with you Isaac ?
Since when is it illegal to tape a person committing a crime. Those young kids, who happen to be white, should be scene as heros for busting ACORN in 4 different cities. Provong its not just a few isolated cases. ACORN was corrupt every where.
ACORN is a crooked organization and those kids proved it. You seem to be upset about that. That shows you have a dangerous agenda.
Tu Pac is nothing but a gangter rapper and a thug. No a thug does not mean a black man………it means a person who lives every day of their life carrying a gun, doing drugs, sleeping with multiple women, and advocating violence…………then die by the gun. That is thug.
Tu Pac was your typical hypocrit. Rapping about postive things one song and violence, drugs, and ho’s the next song.
Jackie
September 25th, 2009
2:15 pm
Enter your comments here
To everyone who says that Tupac’s papers should not be housed with MLK or Maynard Jackson, then you have not listened to all of his music. I have not read any of his poetry but his music was and is still a great impression to me. He wrote about the life he knew and grew up in. When other rappers are rapping about the same issues, some of those reppers are lying because they never dealt with what Tupac had to deal with. His song “Dear Mama” is a testimony to how much he, his mon and sister struggled through out their childhood and it is beautiful. Everytime I heard it I smile because I know that from hardship that a mastermind can go and will succeed in what we call life. Tupac may not have lived a charmed life and yes he did somethings that I may not have done but for those haters, I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT HE WAS A GENUIS. HE WAS MUTLI-TALENTED. Tupac was one of the great entertainers of our time and I miss his new music everyday and I cherish his old music everyday.
Jackie
Ya'll down
September 25th, 2009
2:18 pm
I’m sure the AUC plaque will say he was “assassinated.”
phoenix falcon
September 25th, 2009
2:22 pm
how come you people only call black men ” thugs “, just curious.
phoenix falcon
September 25th, 2009
2:24 pm
was ted Kennedy a ” thug “, he KILLED more people then tupac did.
Just saying.
malikai
September 25th, 2009
2:24 pm
And we wonder why 70% of our kids are born out of wedlock, why we lag far behind other minority groups in education, and why we bring up the rear in other major categories. Simply put, our culture is misguided at best. My son, who’s an outstanding student, regularly gets picked on for “trying to act/be white” simply because he gets good grades, studies hard, and doesn’t wear baggy hip hop clothes. What does that tell you? Yet some of our so-called “leaders” like Jesse Jackson and Sharpton continue to espouse that its not our fault and someone else (see: white people) are somehow to blame for all of this. As long as we continue to make excuses and blame others for our own failures, we’ll never improve as a people or culture. Not surprisingly, a recent survey by Ebony magazine reveled that 2 out of 3 black high school males aspire to be either a pro athlete or rapper as their career of choice. Truly saddening.
phoenix falcon
September 25th, 2009
2:32 pm
DK
“I personally think the best thing he ever did was catch those bullets”
so you think celebrating the violent death of a man is a great way to teach children?
wow, ok.
can you tell me one LAW that tupac ever broke?
Lynn
September 25th, 2009
2:32 pm
Too many times we mistake talent for greatness. Tupac was not a world leader, man of the cloth, or someone who continues to inspire men and women of all races after his death. MLK had a strong positive message-change without violence. How can you even compare these 2 men? I have never heard of parents sharing stories with their children about Tupac and how he lifted up the black community and no parent with any sense wants their child to grow up and emulate his life. Yes he was a very talented singer and writer but he was not a leader or someone worth the same type of admiration as MLK.
down south
September 25th, 2009
2:32 pm
MLK may or may not have been faithful to his wife at some point, but he preached peace and solidarity throughout his life. tupac spoke of ciolence, drugs, and repeat.
phoenix falcon
September 25th, 2009
2:35 pm
down south
and your point would be what?
that MLk was liar and a cheat? and tupac was not?
my mother always told me
if you will lie you will cheat
if you will cheat then you will steal
and if you will steal, you will kill
Pompano
September 25th, 2009
2:37 pm
He may have been a gang-banging thug…but he could rap so that makes everything OK. No different than Mike Vick torturing dogs…he can play QB so everything is OK.
Bringing MLK as a role model down to the level of Tupac – what idiots. Wonder when they’ll start displaying the rantings of Cynthia mcKinney as “research”?
h
September 25th, 2009
2:38 pm
Ghetto Black Urban Culture…What a disgrace to the memory of a man like MLK
phoenix falcon
September 25th, 2009
2:38 pm
Lynn
so according to you, cheating on your wife and kids is something to look up to.
hmmmmmmmmm
phoenix falcon
September 25th, 2009
2:41 pm
wow, all the hatred, i wonder if they put the writings of david duke’s or Hitler in with mlk, how many of you people would be this upset?
malikai
September 25th, 2009
2:41 pm
phoenix, just off the top of my head, Tupac has been tried and convicted of:
rape/sexual assault
aggravated assault
theft
burglary
resisting arrest
(I’m sure there are others as well, as Tupac himself discussed at length his long arrest record from his days in Baltimore and Oakland)
phoenix falcon
September 25th, 2009
2:42 pm
Isaac
Ditto
Isaac
September 25th, 2009
2:43 pm
THUG = BLACK MAN , BLACK PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT PLEASE AND DON’T FORGET IT……………
Pompano
September 25th, 2009
2:49 pm
Wow Isaac… ACORN coached these people on how to run an UNDER-AGE prostitution ring! You must be one sick individual (my diagnosis is pedophile) if you can get on a blog and attempt to defend that type of behavior.
ant banks
September 25th, 2009
2:51 pm
For those of you who are too filled with emotions, regardin’ blacks, thug life etc, maybe should not comment here.
Please cut off the tv and read a book. For those of you who are unaware, MLK, Jr. was the TUPAC of his day. MLK, Jr. was against the status quo. He did not advocate violence but violence went where ever MLK, Jr. went. At that time, MLK, Jr. was a “thug” “uppidy negro” “always causin’ trouble for other colored!”
The paper need to be housed together!! In the sixties, people would have cringed if someone mentioned storing MLK, Jr. papers next to Jefferson Davis, Thomas Jefferson, or Abe Lincoln. However, over the course of time, we have a different opinion of King’s works. Twenty years from now, we may have the same opinion regardin’ Tupac
a1andonly
September 25th, 2009
2:52 pm
Well Do something about it malikai. You’re just as much the problem if you don’t act.
AlexG
September 25th, 2009
3:01 pm
I removed the curse word, so if that’s what kept you from approving it…. There should be no problem now….
So many negative comments about a man so few of you I’m sure have ever given a chance. Was 2pac a violent rapper? At times yes, of course he was. That was however not the epitome of his music. His content ecompassed all that we as a society go through, particularly the inner city youth. You may call him a hypocrite, but so are you and so is every human that has ever existed. His music was about violence and peace, it was about love and hate, happiness and sadness. He was an all around artist who spoke on every issue from politics, teen pregnancy, gangster mentality, God, drugs, peace etc. He decried violence in many songs, yet called for violent societal backlash against injustice in others.
He of course also did the typical ghetto music, but that’s what sells in hiphop. What better way to get your real message out to the masses than to actually sell music??? I cannot name how many rappers make a career of positive music, yet are never acknowledged. Not because they aren’t talented, but because they don’t rap about rims, gold teeth and other popular cliches. However, you cannot listen to a song like Keep Ya Head Up and honestly say that he was a rapper of no more worth than 50 Cent or Lil Wayne. No I cannot name only a handful of positive songs, I can name dozens… Why do you think he has left such a big impact in popular culture? Had he been no different than the likes of 50 Cent, I am certain his appeal would not have lasted this long, and been this wide. Had he been no different than Lil Wayne, he would’ve been forgotten long ago. Lil Wayne is currently the most popular rapper and he is garbage in my opinion, I’ve already forgotten about him. If you want a glimpse into what 2pac Shakur’s music was all about before condeming him, buy or download his album Me Against The World.
The N
September 25th, 2009
3:03 pm
While I agree that Pac was a great artist, he is no where near the man that MLK was. Now having said that, I don’t think the reason the organizations decided to place their writtings in the same place is to say both of these individuals are on equal grounds. No one in their right mind could honestly say that 2pac has had an equal impact on society as MLK, but whether you white people wanna believe it or not, 2pac had a following like none other in our generation. Before you criticize the man, I challenge you to read his writings, and not just the rap lyrics. The man has a whole book of poetry available. Go watch Tupac Ressurection and truly get to know the man. Simply calling him a Thug only shows you ignorant you are.
AlexG
September 25th, 2009
3:03 pm
Pheonix Falcon, did you seriously just compare 2pac to Hitler?…. Hitler murdered 6 million Jews, what has 2pac done to be compared to such a monster?
QueenE
September 25th, 2009
3:09 pm
It still amazes me that “Anglo Saxons” are the first to comment on something they know nothing about….You all are so uninformed that it is humorous! You love to see the “Birther’s”, “Tea Baggers” and “Deather’s” criticize, belittle and disrespect a President who neither is a “thug” nor is he a statistic of penal system, he’s intelligent, articulate and a leader but yet he is still not accepted or respected by “your people”, and yet Tupac who was more than just a rapper is giving other’s an insight into his life and writings to possibly inspire some kid who is dreaming of becoming an accomplished writer not rapper, and you folks are still not satisfied! So even if he would not have been a rapper/writer you still would have a problem with him because of the skin he was born into….White people, please live outside of the media and get some informative knowledge before you go spewing out the non-sense! Most of you have probably never even picked up a book and read any of this mans writings, but yet you are ready to judge the contents of it.Do you refer to White kids that rap violent lyrics and refer to women as “ho’s” as “thugs”? Because they exist White People! Black men are not the only group of people carrying guns and committing crimes, they’re just the only group being constantly scrutinized in the media….take a look around you! You all live such naive lives, its sickening!
joe
September 25th, 2009
3:09 pm
I can’t comment on all of Tupac’s art, but from what I’ve seen/heard he NOR ANY OTHER THUG should be honored to be in the same company as Dr. King. I don’t care how much good he did – his negative work is part of his legacy too and that should tell you everything you need to know about the man.
AlexG
September 25th, 2009
3:12 pm
Joe, Martin Luther King was a plagiarist and a womanizer, in this instance, does the negative negate the positive?
joe
September 25th, 2009
3:14 pm
AlexG: I agree that MLK’s image has been tarnished, but the WHOLE MAN did much more overall good than harm. I can’t say that for Tupac.
chiefs fan
September 25th, 2009
3:14 pm
the rapper’s writings for “scholarly research”
Wow. Words fail me.
AlexG
September 25th, 2009
3:15 pm
QueenE, I am sure their disdain for 2pac does not stem from racism. It originates from their skewed perception of the man. They’ve allowed the media to define him for them…. If it were a white man instead, let’s say Eminem, I am sure the response would be similar… That is all…
ant banks
September 25th, 2009
3:15 pm
JOE, THE N, PLEASE READ MY EARLIER POST!!!
IN 1950-1968 MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. WAS THE TUPAC OF HIS DAY!! ONLY IN 2009 CAN WE LOOK BACK AND SAY HE WAS A GREAT MAN!! THE FBI, CIA, KKK, WERE ON A DEATH HUNT FOR MLK, JR. THE SAME THINGS THAT YOU ALL SAY ABOUT 2PAC IS WHAT THEY SAID ABOUT MLK BACK THEN!!
Outlaw
September 25th, 2009
3:19 pm
For those of you on here that only view Tupac Shakur as a Thug….Obviously has no knowledge of his work outside of music…try reading some of his literature prior to ranting off ignorant statements……most of u are you are hypocrits anyway….Great Move AUC, I guarantee a wealth of knowledge will be gained from the archiving of his works….RIP Tupac Amaru Shakur
HT
September 25th, 2009
3:19 pm
For all of you who keep calling Tupac a “violent thug”, please refresh my memory of the violent acts he committed. I do recall him serving time for “touching a woman’s buttock,” a sex crime, but I honestly don’t know of him being violent. He was accused of a lot of things, but was he ever convicted? Did he ever kill anyone? Did he ever shoot anyone? If he did, I can’t find it in any research I’ve done on him. In my opinion, Tupac was a “deep” brother, dare I say a very informative brother on the issues facing Black America. If you would just listen to his songs and read some of his writings with an open mind, you may agree. I think the headline of this article has fueled some fire that shouldn’t be fueled. There are more papers housed at Robert W. Woodruff Library than MLK’s. It’s a research library people, with special collections. Tupac’s writings and songs belong there. They just can’t be forgotten about. It would be a shame if the guy’s material wasn’t preserved.
Nick
September 25th, 2009
3:21 pm
This may be news to African Americans but some Caucasian people love and appreciate Tupac’s work. I’m glad others have realized what a great talent he was and what a greater talent he could’ve been. His book of poetry is one of my favorites and “All Eyez On Me” is ALWAYS in my car. Oh, and “Juice” is an awesome movie. Just sayin’…
Bill
September 25th, 2009
3:23 pm
Tupac waxed poetic when he said, “Grab your glock when you see Tupac.” And who could forget his wisdom when he stated, “Tupac is in town, no stopping for hoes, I get around.”
QueenE
September 25th, 2009
3:24 pm
AlexG, do these same people have “disdain” for the “thug” who ran the White House for eight years? If we want to discuss the “thug”…..let’see, he lied to the people of this country (constantly), he took us into an unjust war that has left many without fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters..etc. so he is a killer, half of his adminstration are a bunch of liers, theives, crooks, womanizer’s….are they too thugs?
joe
September 25th, 2009
3:25 pm
ant banks: MLK was NOT the Tupac of his day! No comparison. Yes, he was controversial to say the least, but he did it in a constructive and uplifting way. I don’t recall his message degrading women or romanticizing the thug life. They set two different examples for their audiences.
Hack
September 25th, 2009
3:25 pm
This story is sad but unfortunately, I’m not surprised.
Oh one more thing, if the FBI, CIA, or KKK wanted MLK back in the 60’s, they would have gotten him.
a1andonly
September 25th, 2009
3:26 pm
This is a never-ending arguement. All we can do is continue to inform. People are afraid of what they don’t understand….
Nick
September 25th, 2009
3:30 pm
In the words of Tupac–”Only God can judge me.” Enough said.
a1andonly
September 25th, 2009
3:32 pm
Hack, they did kill him. Read the Willy Lynch doctrine and Excerts from the FBI files
Fred
September 25th, 2009
3:32 pm
This is nonsense. Just take all public funding away from the MLK Center, AUC and the new Civil Rights Museum and they can glorify whatever criminal they want – discrediting themselves in the process.
a1andonly
September 25th, 2009
3:33 pm
Hack, they did kill him. Read the Willy Lynch doctrine and Excerts from the FBI files….
Ja
September 25th, 2009
3:35 pm
Only one post on this blog is worth anything and that is the one by
malikai at 2:24pm. Everyone should read it.
Isaac, you can’t be serious….just one law? You probably think there is no law against smoking weed, right? Wasnt he jailed for sodomy and rape?
Craig T. Jones
September 25th, 2009
3:42 pm
While I respect Mr. Shakur’s accomplishments as an artist, his papers do not belong with those of Dr. King. Especially not here in Atlanta, where an ethnically diverse Dekalb County jury ordered Shakur to pay damages to an off-duty police officer that Shakur personally shot in the back. (I was one of the lawyers who represented the officer.) Dr. King took to the streets to preach non-violence and to promote a more inclusive society, while Mr. Shakur’s rantings did nothing more than further marginalize the very people he allegedly stood up for.
AlexG
September 25th, 2009
3:45 pm
Enter your comments hereJa, he wasn’t jailed for sodomy or rape, in fact he was found innocent of all charges exccept “touching the buttocks”…. As you know, sodomy is in fact anal sex, and he was found innocent on that charge… So what are you babbling about?
lantana
September 25th, 2009
3:48 pm
There sure are a lot if haters in Atlanta. Can’t we all just get along?
Dino
September 25th, 2009
3:52 pm
Speaks volumes about the “Atlanta University Center” doesn’t it?
The dude had Thug Life and an AK 47 tattooed across his stomach. Yeah, he was a real literary genius, who’s works deserve to be held in the same regard as the King papers.
Here’s an excerpt of his masterful writings. What a contribution to society he made:
Love tha way you activate your hips
and push your a$$ out
gotta n*gga wantin’
it’s so bad
i’m about to pass out
wanna dig you
and I can’t even lie about it
baby just eleviate your clothes
time to fly up out it
phoenix falcon
September 25th, 2009
3:56 pm
AlexG
no, i was just asking if these people would be just as upset, if they put Hitlers writings in with mlk?
phoenix falcon
September 25th, 2009
3:58 pm
Dino
were you born hating black people, or is it something you worked up too?
just curious.
The Truth
September 25th, 2009
3:58 pm
Disgraceful to even suggest putting any work by Tupac Shakur near Dr. Kings work. What has happened to our world. Disgraceful!!!!!!
Omar
September 25th, 2009
4:00 pm
No one here seem to understand what Tupac meant when he said he was a Rose That Grew From Concrete.
AlexG
September 25th, 2009
4:09 pm
“Tupac waxed poetic when he said, “Grab your glock when you see Tupac.” And who could forget his wisdom when he stated, “Tupac is in town, no stopping for hoes, I get around.”
Do you people purposefully disregard his touching lyrics and post the negative ones to make your point? Oh okay… here are some more lyrics…
“And when he tells you you ain’t nothing don’t believe’em, and if he can’t learn to love you, you should leave him. Cause sister you don’t need him. And I ain’t trying to gass you up I just call it how I it. You know what makes me unhappy when brothers make babies, and leave a young sister to be a pappy.”
“You know what;s funny? When it rains it pours, they got money for wars but can’t feed the poor”
“A place to spend my quiet nights, time to unwind. So much pressure in this life of mine. I cry at times, I once contemplated suicide. And would’ve tried, but when I held that nine, all I could see was my mama’s eyes. No one knows my struggle, they only see the trouble. Not knowing it’s hard to carry on when no one loves you. Picture me inside the misery of poverty. No man alive has ever witnessed struggles I survived.”
“No Malcolm X in my history text, why’s that? Cause he tried to educate and liberate all blacks. Why is Martin Luther King in my book each week? He told blacks if they get smacked, turn the other cheek”
“I see no changes, wake up in the morning and I ask myself, is life worth living should I blast myself”
“Back in junior high, when we was barely gettin by, when daddy died, that’s when my mama startin gettin high. My neighborhood was full of drivebys, couldn’t survive all the homies livin short lives. I couldn’t cry.”
Now that I’m grown, I got my mind on being something. Don’t want to be another statistic, out here doing nothing. Trying to maintain in this dirty game, keep it real and I will even if it kills me. My young n—-, break away from these dumb n—-. Put down the guns and have some fun n—-. The rest’ll come n—. Fame is a fast thing, the gangbanging’ll put them n—- in a casket. Murdered for hanging at the wrong place at the wrong time, no longer living, cause he threw up the wrong sign. And every day, I watch the murder rate increases. And even worse, the epidemics and diseasese. What is the future? The project’s looking hopeless I swear. More and more brothers giving up and don’t care.
I can go on and on….
Dino
September 25th, 2009
4:22 pm
I guess I worked up to it – but only because I’ve lived in Chocolate City all my life, and grown up in a time where you can’t say one negative thing about a person if they happen to be black without being called a racist. It gets old.
People disagree with Obama because they are racist. People think Tupac’s ‘papers’ shouldn’t be grouped in with MLKs because they’re racist. People like Matt Ryan over Michael Vick because they’re racist. People think Jessee Jackson and Al Sharpton are imbeciles because they’re racist — get the point?
The term “Chocolate City” was coined by a Black politician… yet, if a white person had said it, they’d be racist. The double standard is stupid.
Black kid gets beat up, national outcry.. the notorious “Jenna 6″ is born. White kid gets beat up on a bus full of black kids? Silence. Don’t dare call that a hate crime if you’re white.
So yeah, I guess it took me a while
Clubdog
September 25th, 2009
4:32 pm
To Truth: Your world is coming to an end. Deal with it! It’s a new sheriff in town and he ain’t Boss Hogg!
clarification and TRUTH
September 25th, 2009
4:33 pm
OK… the title is completely misleading. What was needed was an excellent archival.
As someone who knew Tupac, I can say that his life was truly tragic and must be on record and organized to display that. He was brilliant, but degraded himself down to play the music and entertainment industry’s game of supply and demand and to be relatable to a demographic he wanted the ear of. Small glimmers of what he (an honor student at a performing arts school in Baltimore) was really about came though in his work, but he played to much into the negative to build of his rep with those that he wanted to influence is a revolutionary way when reaching a certain level. His plan was to rise up to a level of prominence and then flip the script and utilize that to influence and empower to the masses intelligence, pride and positivism. He never got the chance and the eye of the general public just remembers a thug, because that’s all he had shown to that point. Tragic, yet there are volumes that can be learned from his life.
And, yes, with him there’s a lot of people judging what they don’t know… and looking foolish as a result.
phoenix falcon
September 25th, 2009
4:36 pm
Dino
” People disagree with Obama because they are racist. People think Tupac’s ‘papers’ shouldn’t be grouped in with MLKs because they’re racist. People like Matt Ryan over Michael Vick because they’re racist. People think Jessee Jackson and Al Sharpton are imbeciles because they’re racist — get the point?”
white people elected Obama, and i disagree with some of what obama is doing, does that make me racist?
White people think Jesse and Al speak FOR ALL BLACK PEOPLE, they don’t.
in what way is ” “Chocolate City ” racist?
if i get the gist of what you are saying……..according to you, there is no such thing as racist.
Clubdog
September 25th, 2009
4:39 pm
NEWSFLASH TO WHITES: BLACKS DON’T GIVE A DAMN WHAT YOU’ALL THINK ANYMORE.
phoenix falcon
September 25th, 2009
4:39 pm
not rap music, poems.
I Cry by Tupac
Sometimes when I’m alone
I Cry,
Cause I am on my own.
The tears I cry are bitter and warm.
They flow with life but take no form
I Cry because my heart is torn.
I find it difficult to carry on.
If I had an ear to confiding,
I would cry among my treasured friend,
but who do you know that stops that long,
to help another carry on.
The world moves fast and it would rather pass by.
Then to stop and see what makes one cry,
so painful and sad.
And sometimes…
I Cry
and no one cares about why.
ant banks
September 25th, 2009
4:40 pm
CRAIG T. JONES,
as crooked as these cops are? from my understandin’ they said somethin’ to tupac and he felt his life was threatened. had he not had the gun, they may have killed him
Clubdog
September 25th, 2009
4:40 pm
NEWSFLASH TO WHITES: BLACKS DON’T GIVE A DAMN WHAT YOU’ALL THINK ANYMORE. THAT’S SOME MORE REALITY FOR YOUR @SS!
AlexG
September 25th, 2009
4:42 pm
Club dog, it isn’t a black white thing… Don’t make into one…
phoenix falcon
September 25th, 2009
4:43 pm
In the event of my Demise by Tupac poems
In the event of my Demise
when my heart can beat no more
I Hope I Die For A Principle
or A Belief that I had Lived 4
I will die Before My Time
Because I feel the shadow’s Depth
so much I wanted 2 accomplish
before I reached my Death
I have come 2 grips with the possibility
and wiped the last tear from My eyes
I Loved All who were Positive
In the event of my Demise
Dillenger
September 25th, 2009
4:50 pm
As someone who has followed Tupac since I began listening to hip-hop, I can tell all their was no one better. Tupac spoke to young African-American males in a way that many of us understood. No he was not perfect. In fact, his song sometimes was of a violent nature and at times harsh towards women. The Tupac that I enjoy listening to was an intelligent arist. He was my generation MLK. Tupac was only 25 years when he died. How much had/ or will have accomplished with only 25 years on this earth? I firmly believe that GOD put the talent, that Pac had, in him for a reason.
I challenge anyone who has not heard of the good work that Pac did to listen to these tracks on youtube( its free)
“Letter 2 my Unborn”
“Until the end of time”
“Unconditional Love”
“Who do you believe in”
Dillenger
Joan
September 25th, 2009
4:51 pm
“African Americans are a proud people, intelligent and talented”. Wow, you just lost your credibility with me. Have you been on Marta lately? Take a look at what African Americans are. Sure there are a few who have succeeded, but Bill Cosby is crying all the time about the majority who haven’t.
Clubdog
September 25th, 2009
4:52 pm
Alex, I’m not sure what posts you’ve been reading but its clearly about race. Whites have always tried to dictate to blacks who should be our leaders and who we should honor or not honor, who we should associate with or not. Those days are over! We don’t need your imput. Blacks have a helluva long way to go to catch up with all the senseles killing and genocide perpetrated by allege decent whites around the world. A million Tupacs couldn’t match that! You’re clueless and in denial but should I be surprised?
Terri
September 25th, 2009
4:59 pm
Clubdog: “Allege decent whites?” Don’t lump all white people together. There are plenty of decent “whites” everywhere. No one likes to be stereotyped…
libr8td
September 25th, 2009
5:10 pm
Every generation has a voice that speaks of its time. There is not just one voice for each generation, there are many, from various walks of life. They express what the world appears like from where they are in such a way that everyone in their day and time can relate. The expression is what makes them genius.
In the ’60’s, King, a great orator, who choose to express what the world appeared like to him from a pulpit, changing civil rights forever. In the 70’s, Mavin Gaye wanted to know “what’s going on?” He talked about the “Trouble Man” and his “Inner City Blues.”
Tupac Shakur expressed to the world, the struggle of an African American male of his time and the world loved him for it. He told the world that “Brenda’s got a baby” and that she threw it in the trash. We now have laws that allow people to leave their babies with hospital personnel without charges being filed against them. Members of Tupac’s group Outlawz, took the names of political dictators such as Libyan leader Muammar al-Gaddafi, Ugandan president Idi Amin, former leader of Iraq Sadaam Hussein, and Iranian political figure Ruhollah Khomeini. If he was just some thug, then what is the relationship between his knowledge of these leaders and the relationship the United States has or has had with these leaders? That is why scholars want to study his thoughts and what he had to say.
phoenix falcon
September 25th, 2009
5:10 pm
Robert
good, somebody should.
AlexG
September 25th, 2009
5:12 pm
Clubdog, you’re funny… stop the act… You can’t seriously be that dumb…. or can you???
It isn’t about race… the only white person that has brought up race is Dino, in fact more blacks have brought up the race card. This issue has absolutely nothing to do with race…. As I said earlier, if it was Eminem instead of 2pac, I am sure the response would be the same….
By the way, I’m black myself, so don’t dare call me a white racist…
phoenix falcon
September 25th, 2009
5:16 pm
Terri
you mean how ALL black men are labeled as ” thugs “.? or gang bangers.
there was a white kid who murdered 3 people last week, he called himself a “rapper “, that was all you saw in the head lines ” RAPPER SUSPECTED OF KILLING 3 PEOPLE “, nowhere in any article i read did it say he was white, nor would they show his mug shot, and i did not see or hear ANYBODY calling him a ” thug “.
ant banks
September 25th, 2009
5:25 pm
I wonder if heaven got a ghetto?- T. Shakur
eolufemi
September 25th, 2009
5:31 pm
If his “Tupac: Resurrection” book from 2003 is indicative of the “writings” they plan on including than this body of work is definitely worth considering. See his essay “Code of Thug Life” for an example.
Terri
September 25th, 2009
5:46 pm
Phoenix Falcon: What you said makes no sense. I am a white woman that appreciates Tupac’s contributions to the world through his music and poetry. What I DO NOT appreciate is being put into the racist category JUST BECAUSE I AM WHITE. I try my best to treat people just the way I would like to be treated and surround myself with friends and others that do the same. I try my best not to label anyone–whether they be black, white, purple, green, disabled, mentally ill, rich, poor, gay, straight, etc. I’m not saying I am perfect, by any means. I was brought up to not hate anyone. My life has been enriched in many ways by the friends I have made from every walk of life. I’m smart enough to know all black men aren’t thugs. I’d hope you’d be smart enough to know all white people aren’t racists. So there.
KeepingItReal
September 25th, 2009
5:54 pm
Jon-get your facts together! You see him as a thug, but the fact remains…he was an artist! If he was alive today…would you be MAN enough to call him a thug to his face?!!! No-You Coward! Talk about what you know and not what you think you know! Move on IDIOT!!!!!
KeepingItReal
September 25th, 2009
5:58 pm
Terri – I understand where you are coming from! I apologize on behalf of Phoenix Falcon’s shallow remarks! Not surprise that people of all races appreciate the writings of Tupac Shakur!