Afeni Shakur is an American activist, businesswoman, and mother of the famous rap artist Tupac Shakur, who was killed in 1996. She opposed social injustice and racial discrimination. And after the tragic death of her son, she became a source of comfort for other grieving mothers. Traveling in America, Afeni Shakur spoke at meetings and made speeches.
Afeni Shakur was a member of the black left-wing radical organization known as the Black Panther Party, and one of those arrested on charges of conspiring to carry out bombings in public places. Later, pregnant at that time, Afeni was acquitted of all 156 counts.
Raising her children in the status of a single mother, she became addicted to cocaine and was forced to live on social money. Her son Tupac left home and tried to earn money through his work. However, Afeni managed to overcome her addiction and reunite with her son. Her independent character and revolutionary views are reflected in Tupac's music. Later, she successfully managed the musical heritage and property of her son.
Biography
Afeni Shakur, born Alice Fay Williams, was born January 10, 1947 in Lumberton, North Carolina in the family of housewife Rosa Belle and truck driver Walter Williams, Jr. The girl became the second child of Williams. Afeni had an older sister, Gloria Jean.
The childhood of the future activist was overshadowed by domestic violence reigned in the family. Fleeing from the tyrant’s father, she and her mother and sister moved to New York in 1958. Then she was 11 years old.
Bronx High School of Science Photo: Bxsstudent
In a new place, the girl continued her studies at the Bronx High School of Science. When Afeni was 15 years old, she became addicted to cocaine and for the next years of her life she struggled with drug addiction.
Activities in the Black Panther Party
In 1964, Afeni Shakur met Malcolm Little, who is also known as Malcolm X. In the Bronx, he recruited young people for the then-nascent Black Panther movement. Afeni joined the organization, and, according to her, this gave her an understanding of what she should devote her life to. She became the author of the Panther Post Party Newsletter. And then, reaching the age of 19, I got a job working in the mail.
Malcolm X awaits the start of a press conference March 26, 1964 Photo: Marion S. Trikosko
In 1966, a radical movement was finally formed when Bobby Seal and Huey Newton founded the Black Panther Party. In 1968, Afeni, having married one of the members of this party, decided to change her name from Alice Fay Williams to Afeni Shakur. In the African language, Yoruba Afeni means "loving people", and Shakur from Arabic translates as "grateful to God."
Afeni Shakur was the section leader of the Harlem branch of the Black Panther Party, and she also mentored new members. On April 2, 1969, twenty-one “panthers, ” including Shakur, were arrested on charges of conspiracy to carry out explosions in department stores, subway stations, police stations, and public places in New York.
The deposit amount was high. However, the party decided to bail out Afeni Shakur and Yamal Joseph, and then allow these two to raise funds to release the other detained party members.
Performance by Yamal Joseph at Seattle City Hall, Washington Photo: Joe Mabel
After leaving prison on bail, Afeni became pregnant. Already in a position, Shakur did not stop taking an active part in the activities of the party. Moreover, inspired by Fidel Castro's 4-hour speech, she decided to represent herself in court. Afeni interrogated witnesses and argued in her favor. The process lasted for 8 months and in May 1971 twenty-one “panthers” were acquitted on all 156 counts of charges.
Activities
After the trial, Afeni Shakur did not return to the party. But she was always proud of her participation in the activities of this organization and said that the movement taught her to "believe in herself."
She later worked in the Bronx with Richard Fishbein as an assistant lawyer. In 1984, Afeni moved with her children to Baltimore, Maryland. Here she began to use crack cocaine and lost her regular job. The family was forced to live on social money.
In 1988, while trying to get rid of her addiction, she and her children moved again. This time they stopped in Marine County, California. But Afeni it did not help.
Due to her mother’s dependence, in 1989 her son Tupak decided to leave home. For the next few years, he did not make music or communicate with his family. In 1991, rapper's album "2Pacalypse Now" made him a star. In the same year, Afeni Shakur returned to New York and successfully coped with her drug addiction. Later mother and son made peace.
On September 7, 1996, Tupac received four gunshot wounds, from which he later died at the University Medical Center in Las Vegas. After the death of her son Afeni, Shakur became co-owner of his multi-million state. At her disposal was also a library of unpublished materials worth more than $ 100 million.
Tupac Graffiti East Harlem, NYPhoto: JJ & Special K
A year later, she founded Amaru Entertainment's recording studio, which was intended to release Tupac's posthumous material. She also founded the charity Tupac Amaru Foundation of Arts, which provides scholarships and grants to young artists, organizes summer camps for children and various charity events.
In 2003, Afeni Shakur launched her clothing line under the Makaveli brand. In addition, she traveled extensively throughout America, giving lectures and speaking at various meetings. On May 2, 2016, she died allegedly of a heart attack at Sausalito Hospital, California.
