The Portrayal Analysis Of Tupac Shakur's Change

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Generally protest songs use strong emotions to chastise an injustice, point out a problem, and attempt to come up with a solution. Different economic, social and political realities from all over the world provide the context for protest songs. Protest songs are underlying with satire, sarcasm, symbolism and hyperboles. The purpose of these songs is to induce deep feelings from its listeners so that its lyrics resonate well with the audience. Among the many songs that fit this description and purpose, the one I will be evaluating is Tupac Shakur’s Changes. Written in 1992, the song captures the deplorable conditions the African Americans live under in the United States. From racial profiling and stereotyping, to abject poverty, and police …show more content…

America is a nation that has been grappling with issues of racial inequalities. Civil rights movement like those led by the late Dr. Martin Luther Junior led protests against discrimination and social injustices. Tupac became part of this social movement advancing for advancement of the African American race. The song Changes is an expression of the exasperation that greeted coloured folks after fighting for so long for equal rights, yet their conditions remained the same. That explains the title of the song and repetition of the words “I see no changes” (2pac Changes, Genius). However, like any protest song, Tupac offers the solution in unity and love. He …show more content…

Tupac poses, “Is life worth living? Should I blast myself?” This sets the tone of the song as despondent. When he proceeds to mention that the reason for his hopelessness is being black, it evokes feelings of anger. He moves on to explore the deplorable conditions of African Americans. To start with, they are hungry, thus forcing them into crime. The police react through extra-judicial killing, often relishing in shooting African Americans. The organization of the song is chronological, a common feature in protest songs. It has a cause-effect style in which a coloured person is hungry, snatches a purse, and ends up dead from police

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