Joshua Park Professor Osbourne Writing 140 8 September 2013 Essay 1 Panther Power As stated by James Truslow in 1931,Life

should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement. The American Dream is a set of ideals in which freedom is expressed through opportunities for success and economic sufficiency. This radical term was coined as early as the 1700s; although the exact definition has not been maintained, the never-ending purpose to achieve a prosperous life has been preserved. As evident through the constant racial segregation in society, this specific ideal has not been demonstrated within ethnic minorities. While it does not actuate to legislative alterations, Panther Power, written and performed by Tupac Shakur in 1988, renders a catalyst for social innovation by exemplifying the effects of racial discrimination. By presenting hindrances within society and flaws within the government, the false hope of the American Dream advocates involvement within the targeted racial minorities. Social change is generally referred to the modification of the general order within a community. This revolutionary and prominent change may lead to a vast variation of societal movements. Although it is commonly exhibited through physical action, advocating people to adjust their mindsets is the most primary and influential method of social change. As portrayed through the lyrics of the song, Tupac, rather than promoting physical change, passionately informs his audience of the nuisances delivered by the American Dream. Tupac provides definitions and examples that could possibly change peoples attitudes. Socials movements can merely be a single persons alteration of beliefs and values. This has enough authority to be

considered as an act of social change. Informing the minds of millions of people about an ongoing topic possesses power in itself. Eventually, this continual process of engaging the audience altering their attitudes can potentially lead to an outburst of physical action. Defining the term, social change, will assist the reader to correctly acknowledge the influence that has been built up because of Tupac Shakurs song, Panther Power. The falsifications of the American Dream are explicitly evident through the information presented in the lyrics. Tupac expresses the realities that have been triggered because of this ideal. The song starts with a straightforward introduction of the paradigm, as real as it seems the American Dream. Aint nothing but another calculated scheme, to get us locked up shot up back in chains, to deny us of our future, rob our names (Shakur 1-4). This revelation leads to the implication that this prosperous ideal was not created for racial minorities. The American Dream was founded to give an equal opportunity to freedom to every citizen, regardless of race. Tupac suggests that the government, ultimately to throw racial minority groups back into prison, created this plot. Disturbingly, this process was eventually designed to enhance the racial majority and deteriorate the minority. The American Civil War produced lasting effects that conclusively initiated radical change. The war was fought over the expansion of slave statesthe South pursued the growth of slavery, while the North waited for an endlasting from1861 to 1865. Tupac presents a major act that was a critical development towards the termination of slavery, with this dump full of knowledge of the lies you told. Promised me emancipation in this new nation. All you ever gave my people was starvation (Shakur 12-14). The Emancipation Proclamation, January 1, 1863, called for the freedom of slaves in the 10 unresolved states that still partook in the utilization of slaves. Tupac Shakur informs the audience about this so-called emancipation that was never

truly placed in the arms of racial minority groups. Strongly opposing the true purpose of the proclamation, Tupac believes that the government placed lies in the minds of minorities to gain false hopes and dreams of true freedom. Through the powerful use of expression, this song generated strong supporters through basic spreading of knowledge about the American Civil War and the Emancipation Proclamation, thus leaning towards a catalyst for a social movement. About a century later, the Black Panther Party arose because of the continual racial discrimination that still existed in in America. The Black Panther Party in itself was an enduring and persistent social movement, because of the active participation and reoccurring campaigns that were formed by the collective group. The party was a self-defense militant group that fought against the governments military unit to inaugurate equal rights within the nation. As written throughout the entire audio track, panther power is the chorus and one of the primary objectives of the song. Tupac creatively and historically utilized this militant group as the title of the song to influence action and social change in the passion-lacking communities. In correlation with the lyrics of the song, the Ten-Point Program, written in October 1966, was the set of ideals that directed and steered the process of the groups demanding functions. The Black Panther Partys ideals and the song, Panther Power, the two incorporate similar ideals in the pieces of work. As stated in the program, we believe that the federal government is responsible and obligated to give every man employment or a guaranteed income (Newton 83). The Black Panther Party possessed a demanding ideal to receive equal opportunities for employment; even to this day, racial discrimination is still presented in the work place. Tupac clearly states, so now Im sitting here mad cause Im unemployed, but the governments glad cause they enjoyed (Shakur 19-20). The intriguing relation between the two establishes a common ground between

the song and the actual activist party. Instilling general knowledge, within the audience, of the Civil War and the Black Panther Party draws in the action of a societal movement. The organized and rising emotional structure provokes a greater knowledge of the overall meaning in the songwhich leads to the agreeability and fondness of the songs systematized construction. Tupac begins each verse by describing how certain events render in a detrimental way. He discusses how the American Dream promised freedom, education, and equality, but ended up giving nothing but slavery. As the verse progresses, he supplements the conclusion by adding a imperative statement; when my people are down so they can screw us around. Time to change the government now, panther power (Shakur 21-22). Towards the closure of the song, Tupac creates a turning point and shifts the perspective by talking directly to one individual listener. His redundant use of you, promotes the emphasis that changes have to begin with the attempt to alter yourself. He pronounces, open your eyes realize youve been locked in chains, said you wasnt civilize and stole your name (Shakur 57-58). The audience gains the ability to capture and grasp the negative consequences of racial discrimination, while also clenching on a specific command to develop social change. Although Tupac presents a majority of his points and topics informatively, he gathers a set of commands that triggers the audience to fulfill movements. More than just head knowledge, the enhanced familiarity of racial discrimination motivates communities to cause radical movements within society. At the end of the second verse, Tupac asserts, dont you ever be ashamed of what you are, its your panther power that makes you a star (Shakur 37-38). Having pride and confidence in ones self and establishing that they possess power beyond measure can serve as a notion to social change. Tupac repetitively proclaims that we, as a racial minority, have panther power; as the elite Black Panther Party succeeded in the 1960s, so can the audience

as they are spurred on by direct instructions. Tupac also draws prominence in this statement; try to stop me oh boy youll be clawed to death, cause Ill be fighting for my freedom with my dying breath (Shakur 52-53). He pushes involvement by urging his audience to fight for freedom, to fight for what is right. His ultimatum is reached as he professes that change will not occur unless the people participate in tedious actions. The vivid descriptions displayed in Tupac Shakurs song, Panther Power, generate edifying developments within the community; his ongoing utilization of the spreading of information and imperatives grant the audience to transition out of deafening implications pushed through by the government. Ratifications within society will not be approved and fulfilled without the attitude changes within the racial minorities. Tupacs emphasis on fixing and proposing change through the community first is the sole way for his effort to be manifested and demonstrated. Panther Power is a definite stimulant for social change, but the spurring within the government will not be apparent without the participation and involvement of the ones being oppressed and unfairly burdened.

Works Cited Newton, Huey P. War Against the Panthers: A Study of Repression in America. New York: Harlem River, 1996. Print. Shakur, Tupac. "Panther Power." Rec. 1988. Beginnings: The Lost Tapes. Tupac Shakur. 1988. MP3.