Tupac's "Changes" Analysis

In Tupac's 'Changes' the rapper narrates a violent, racist, depressed, and poverty corrupt system affecting the daily lives of African Americans. Tupac gives an insight into the struggles African Americans endure and expresses the idea that changes need to be made in order to bring an end to the social issues afflicting their population. The rapper starts the song showing signs of depression as he says "Is life worth living? Should I blast myself?" These rhetorical questions manifest the depressed theme and emotions in the audiences' head especially when 'blast' creates an even clearer image in their mind. He then delves into the inimical relationship between police officers and blacks as blacks are often mistreated by the cops. "Cops give a damn about a negro? Pull the trigger, kill a nigga, he's a hero" this statement refers to the violent theme occurring in the song insinuating that killing a black is an accomplishment. Tupac then interprets a conspiracy of elimination of the African American population, "Give 'em guns, step back, and watch 'em kill each other" still relating to the violent theme portrayed in the song. He makes a correlation between race and being poor when he says "I'm tired of being poor and even worse I'm black" then continues on to explain how poverty causes crime by saying "My stomach hurts, so I'm lookin' for a purse to snatch." These statements exhibit the connection between the racist and crime themes presented throughout the song." I see no changes. All I see is racist faces," directly focusing on the racist theme. Proceeding deeper into the song, Tupac discusses the situation of people who are often silenced for their active fight for equality when he addresses Huey, " "Its time to fight back" that's what Huey said, 2 shots in the dark now Huey's dead" Huey Newton was a political activist and the co-founder of the black panthers. Tupac suggests solutions to these complex social issues in which he believes that uniting the African Americans can help reduce and eventually obliterate poverty, racism, crime, and violence that are consuming their lives, "I got love for my brother but we can never go nowhere unless we share with each other. We gotta start makin' changes." However, Tupac realizes that such changes cannot be made if some do not contribute, he elaborates this by saying "Try to show another way but they stayin' in the dope game" implying that they have a choice but they rather continue on with the way their life is going. Tupac then dives into the poverty theme and the extents the African Americans have to go to in order to have some money, " Sellin' crack to the kids. I gotta get paid, Well hey, well that's the way it is" this part unveils how the people of this community feel compelled to do such things because that's the only type of survival they have. The rapper continues to put emphasis on this issue saying, " There's war on the streets and the war in the Middle East. Instead of war on poverty" he highlights the issue indicating that not many people are fighting against poverty and its consequences. He continues saying "And as long as I stay black, I gotta stay strapped and I never get to lay back. Cause I always got to worry 'bout the payback" putting intensity on the audience to understand how such social issues are truly affecting the African Americans' lives. Tupac sends a strong message to the African American community of how they need to unify as a race and change the way they survive in order to benefit themselves and society. Tupac was also able to describe the hardships the African American community go through to allow those who do not experience such issues an insight to the reality of these people's lives.