"REBEL OF THE UNDERGROUND"
             The Life and Works of Tupac Amaru Shakur
             Both Tupac and Amaru are words of Inca origin. Together they mean, "shining serpent." Shakur means "thankful to God," from the Arabic language. Tupac, commonly known as America's most controversial rapper was labeled a gangster rapper and one of the largest figures in the rap community. He was always known for doing what he wanted and not caring what others thought of him. His life symbolized what a lot of people have gone through. Through his music and movies he showed how hard life can be.
             On June 16, 1971 Tupac was born to Alice Faye Williams in Brooklyn, NY. His mother was a "revolutionary" as she called herself "Afeni Shakur." For many years she associated herself with members of the well-known Black Panther Party. She joined a New York chapter of the Panther Party in 1964 and fell in love with an organizer, Lumumba Abdul Shakur. After four years with Lumumba, Afeni started to see another party member, William Garland who was another activist working with the party members to support their causes. Around this time things were going downhill for Afeni. In 1969 she and other members of the Panther were arrested and charged with several felony counts, including conspiracy to bomb a public place. A well-educated schoolteacher, Afeni decided to defend herself. However, things took a turn for the worst. While out on bail she became pregnant with Tupac. Soon after, her bail was revoked. Afeni recalls: having previously miscarried "four or five" times, she did not expect to carry him to term. But Tupac, she says, "wanted to be in this world." She remembers while in her cell she would pat her belly and say, "This is my prince. He is going to save the black nation" (Kin 151).
             Acquitted and released on 156 counts from the Women's House of Detention in Greenwich Village for lack of evidence, she was now out of jail and eight months pregnant with T...