Tough Love: Cultural Criticism & Familial Observations on the life and death of Tupac Shakur (Black Words Series) - Softcover

9781888018059: Tough Love: Cultural Criticism & Familial Observations on the life and death of Tupac Shakur (Black Words Series)
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Essays. More than twenty young Black writers are gathered in this collection to offer a compelling blend of insightful and critical observations of the life and death of Tupac Shakur, hip-hop's premier "gangsta" rapper.

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From the Publisher:
The concept of tough love is a neccessary one-particularly as we close a wild-ass century during which it's seemed any kind of love is worth getting. In the life of Tupac shakur, tough love seemed a central force. Hence the aptyl titled collection of writings on the Boy-Man-Gangsta-Lover-Thug, "Tough Love: The Life and Death of Tupac Shakur." The editors describe this anthology of poetry essays, letters and meditations as "cultural criticism and familial observations." The latter is significant, fo as Kwame Alexander's preface points out, "We must determine and define the parameters by which our culture , and it's stabilizers, are judged. However, it is not until the sxth entry, by Washington Post writer, Esther Iverem, that the hypnotic mono-chord of why--Tupac was a revolutionary's baby, his momma was on crack, he loved and hated women, he was beautiful, he was ugly, we wante him to just ackright, etc.--is interrupted. Iverem tackles the Tupac topic as a thinking jou! rnalist/writer should, moving from the obvious to the violence of the thugs on Wall Street, in Congress and the White House, who may not seem as overt yet who affect us all. After all, tupac is undeniably a product of America. The overall collection is spirited, albeit some-what rushed and bumpy in spots. Given that in Black America only music makers and sports jocks--with an odd Malcolm or Martin thrown in for balance--attain the exalted status Mother theresa or Ghandi have for others, Tupac deserves this commemoration at least. "Tough Love" demands we take the good with the bad, and the sour with the sweet. Self-determination is also part of this love, no matter how ugly it gets. Mutulu shakur, the deceased's jailed stepfather, reached the deepest in his letter to his son, the enigma. "go forward tupac, we ain't mad at you, we're better because of you. May Allah bless you for your deeds and forgive your errors." Amen
About the Author:
As a poet, stage director, producer, editor and publisher, Kwame Alexander is a pivotal figure in the current renaissance of Black literature and performance.

The 29-year-old CEO holds a BA Degree in Psychology, English and Black Studies from Virginia Tech. Where he studied for three years under the renowned poet Nikki Giovanni, and edited the student literary journal, Umoja.

Alexander is the Founder and CEO of BlackWords, Inc. an independent publishing house dedicated to providing publishing opportunities for the many talented literary voices of the Hip-Hop Generation.

The best selling BlackWords title, Tough Love, was the first published collection of essays and critical commentary on the life and death of slain "gangsta" rapper Tupac Shakur.

Kwame produces and hosts an annual celebration of Black Literature and Performance entitled We Real Cool. The three-year-old event has featured emerging musical acts such as Kenny Muhammad a.k.a. The Human Orchestra (As featured in a burger King commercial) and the freestyle Union; and writers, Haki R. Madhubuti, Marita Golden and Kalamu ya Salaam.

Alexander has written, directed and produced five screenplays: The Weight of being Black: For Brother's Who've Considered Suicide (producer, Gunston Arts Center, 1995), Jazz Jive Jam: The Life of Langston Hughes (Writer/Director/Producer, Gunston Arts Center, 1994), Chains & Images (Writer/Director/Producer, Carver Community Center, 1993), Ebony Images (Writer/Director, Norfolk Center Theater & Virginia Tech, 1990), and Self-Discovery 101: You Gotta Havit (Writer/Director, Virginia Tech, 1989). In 1988, Alexander was a participant in Theater Master Classes conducted by Douglas Turner Ward, Cicely Tyson and Woodie King. In 1984,Kwame starred in the Off-Broadway Musical, The Chosen, directed by Spike Lee's Aunt Consuela Lee Moorehead.

Kwame is the author of three books of poetry: Survival in Motion (1993), The flow: New Black Poetry in Motion (1994), and Just Us: Poems and counterpoems 1986-1995, which was awarded the 1996 international Black Book Award for Poetry. He is also the co-editor of Tough Love (1996), a collection of essays and poems from 26 writers on the life and death of Tupac Shakur.

Kwame's poems have been anthologized in numerous publications including: Grandfathers (Henry Holt, 1999) edited by Nikki Giovanni, 360 A Revolution of Black Poets (BlackWords, 1998) edited by Kwame Alexander and Kalamu ya Salaam, Catch the Fire: A Cross-Generational Anthology of Black Poetry (Riverhead/Putnam, 1998) edited by D-Knowledge, and Warpland (Chicago State University's Gwendolyn Brooks Center Literary Journal, 1997). In addition, Alexander has been widely published and featured in newspapers and magazines including Vibe Magazine, Source Magazine, Amsterdam News, Sacramento Observer, Richmond-Times Dispatch, Chicago tribune, Poets and Writers Magazine, Dialogue Magazine, YSB Magazine, Norfolk Journal & Guide, Washington City Paper Baltimore Afro-American, QBR: The black Book review, Rap Pages and 4080 magazine.

Kwame Alexander works and lives outside of Washington, DC where he juggles all of these exciting projects and his seven-year-old daughter, Nandi Assata Alexander.

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