In light of Tupac Shakur's birthday today (June 16th), I decided to write an article focused around this interview from him back in 1992.
The most interesting thing I found in this interview is that everything Tupac was talking about is still relevant today, especially his mentioning of Donald Trump. I decided to connect the points he brought up in his interview with a common topic that I constantly stress and address in my everyday life: inequality. I have constantly seen this topic argued about, especially during this current presidential election. What I have noticed, though, is that most politicians tend to argue about it from a political and economic standpoint, however, I want to address this issue from a more logical and emotional standpoint. This Tupac interview really made me realize why I think the way I do about inequality. After watching it, I think it is safe to say that Tupac would be a modern day Bernie Sanders supporter.
The main idea this interview made me realize, which is the idea that subconsciously helped sculpt my resentment toward inequality, is that every single successful person has received some type of help to get them to where they are now in life.
Tupac mentions in the interview that, "Everybody needs a little help on their way to being self reliant," which is totally true.
Whether your parents put you in school, your peers taught you how to communicate or even if you have some type of support system from your friends and family, you have received help in some type of way. Many United States citizens fail to realize this. They also fail to realize that there are many deprived people in the U.S. that do not even have basic help that so many of us take for granted (such as a support system). When this is the case, just like Tupac was talking about America needing to lend money to its friend, the U.S. must have an economic and political restructure to help these people. If you read this from a political perspective, you might consider this socialism; however, if you read this from a logical and non-political perspective, it makes perfect sense.
Tupac's other idea he brings up in the interview is more emotional and moral-based, which might make it harder to convince somebody who is against restructuring our economic and political system (because certain emotions and morals are taught at a young age and are hard to acquire as an adult). His idea is that he believes it is wrong and makes no sense for somebody to be extremely rich, have huge houses with a lot of bedrooms etc., while there are people starving with no home or anything. He believes that everybody who is this rich owes to society.
EVERYBODY NEEDS HELP IN ORDER TO SUCCEED. The next time you feel resentment toward programs that help poor people, think about how much help you received in your life. Let us take this time to remember the best and most socially aware rapper to ever live, 2pac.
