Panther Power

8/13/2019 Panther Power

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Joshua Park

Professor Osbourne

Writing 1408 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 Shakurin 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


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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


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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 theprocess 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


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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


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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.


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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.

Documents

Panther Power