Tupac's "Changes"

            The daily racial injustice that African American’s were faced with is reflected in Tupac’s “Changes”. Rap became a popular platform through which African American’s were able to express themselves and bring awareness to these everlasting issues. These common racial injustices included subjects such as poverty, racism and police brutality. “Racist faces” and “disgrace to races” advocate the strong barrier between whites and blacks, possibly relating to the segregated lifestyle in the early 1990's. Life was 'color coordinated' and the rights this race had were limited. Interpreted from the country’s racial division, he felt that the citizens “[weren’t] ready to see a black president” and should wait for more accepting times. “I’m tired of bein poor and even worse I’m white” expresses the social issue of high poverty rates within the community. Resulting from these high poverty rates followed crime and violence; “war on the streets”. Police brutality followed this abundance of violence, eith their negligence voiced through “pull the trigger kill a …” and “cops give a damn about a …”. “[I] never did a crime I ain’t have to do” represented the extent they had to reach in order to attain a financial standing. “Penitentiary’s […] filled with blacks” resulted from high violence rates. Throughout the piece, Tupac addresses the African-American community through the use of “we”, encouraging people to “start makin’ some changes”. It could be assumed that he believed that in order for change to be evoked, the black community must unite, as he addresses others of the community as “brothers”. Although this song relates to events which occurred in the US, other countries similarly were faced with numerous issues surrounding racism. Tupac spent many years in hopes of creating change, and his strong personal connection and desire for equality can be deprived from this song.