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Suggested Topics:
•Portrait of a Revolutionary
•Remember Me: The Living Legacy of Tupac Shakur
•Among Panthers: The Black Power Movement through a Sister's Eyes
•Overcoming Addiction
Afeni Shakur is on a mandate. She
has been a revolutionist, activist, Black Panther
and is mother of multitalented artist Tupac Amaru
Shakur. Now she is taking on yet a new role-
one she believes is sanctioned and guided by
the power of God. As Founder/CEO of Amaru Entertainment/Amaru
Records and creator of Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation,
Afeni is now the keeper of her son’s legacy,
and with the guidance, strength and loving grace
of God, Afeni is working to make his
wishes a reality.
“I’m driven by the things Tupac was
blessed with in his lifetime,” Afeni says, “I
have no right to hold Tupac’s art hostage,
so we will continue to share the enormous body
of work he left behind with the world.”
In early 1997, Amaru Entertainment/Records was
founded as a vehicle through which Tupac’s
work could continue to be legitimately released
after his murder. Named for Tupac Amaru Shakur,
the company is the realization of one of his
goals and is established to continue the vast
amount of work he had begun before his death.
Along with the support of “ The
Outlawz” (2PAC’s cousins & group),
family, & friends, Afeni put together the
first album release, R U Still Down? (Remember
Me), a double CD of 24 songs selected from the
over 200 unreleased works 2PAC
had recorded. The album sold 548,000 copies during
the first of week sales and reached No. 2 on
the national pop charts. A feat Afeni describes
as “a blessing.” Since then Amaru
Entertainment has successfully released several
chart topping albums & a book of Tupac’s
original poetry with an accompanying CD both
titled “The Rose That Grew From Concrete.”
The Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation, based in Georgia,
recognizes the role that the arts and cultural
education can play in unleashing the creative
genius of our youth. The Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation’s
Summer Camp provides opportunities for our youth
to pursue their creative and artistic dreams.
To date over 100 youth ages 12-18 have participated
in the annual summer camp. Several participants
are currently enrolled in College and are employed
by the Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation. Born Alice
Faye Williams in Lumberton, North Carolina, Afeni
and older sister
Gloria “Glo” moved to New York when
Afeni was in the sixth grade. She attended the
Performing Arts High School in Manhattan with
aspirations of becoming an actress. It was at
Manny’s Bar on 169th
Street in the Bronx that Afeni was introduced
to the lessons of the Nation of Islam and Malcolm
X, and even though she never joined the Nation,
her search for self began.
In Harlem around September 1968, just as her
nephew was about to enroll in 1st grade, the
teachers of New York Public Schools were threatening
to strike and Afeni decided to join with the
Black Panther Party to help reopen the schools.
Her life in the Black Panther party began. She
quickly rose in leadership, serving as a section
leader and organizing lunch and other community
improvement programs. In 1969, Afeni and other
Panther members were arrested for conspiracy
against the United States government and several
New York Landmarks, in what became known as the “New
York Panther 21” case.
She spent eleven months in jail and
while free on $100,000 bail, Afeni became pregnant
with her son. Due to the courts fear of flight
by Afeni and other defendants, her bail was later
revoked and she returned to jail five months
pregnant. In a bold move, Afeni decided to represent
herself as opposed to the court appointed attorney,
and despite the odds stacked against her she
prevailed. One by one, Afeni listened to the
sound of not guilt, not guilty, not guilty repeated
more than 100 times for the number offenses against
her and other members of the Black Panther Party.
The acquittal came one month and
three days before she gave birth to Tupac Amaru
Shakur in East Harlem.
Shortly after her acquittal, Afeni worked as
a paralegal and tenant organizer for over 10
years at Bronx Legal Services. She gave birth
to Sekyiwa Shakur in 1978 and continued to struggle
to provide for her family. In 1985, as a single
mother, Afeni fell on tough times while trying
to provide for her young children, so she relocated
her family to Baltimore. It was in Baltimore
where Afeni started using cocaine and soon her
family foundation began to crumble. Still searching
for peace and stability, Afeni moved her family
to Marin City, California in 1988, hoping to
leave her troubled days behind. “There
was no stability,” Afeni recalls. “I
was smoking and screwing up my life.” Her
addiction to cocaine resurfaced and soon she
found herself estranged from Tupac, who was at
the start of his musical career. Then in 1990,
her wake up call was sounded- she had to be told
that Tupac
appeared on the Arsenio Hall Show. At that point,
Afeni realized she was out of control.
With the help of God, prayer, family, & good
sponsors, Afeni was free from the addiction of
cocaine and began to repair her relationship
with both Tupac and Sekyiwa.
Now, after a lifetime of battles, Afeni Shakur
is at peace. She continues to live by the doctrine
instilled in her during recovery, “take
it one step at a time.” Afeni is honored
God chose her to be Tupac’s mother, “Tupac
had a special purpose and time on this earth,
his earthly life was 1971-1996, however his work,
spirit, influence, and legacy will continue to
live on in eternity.”
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