Actor and hip-hop artist Tupac Shakur was shot several times on this day in 1996. He died several days later. What does his popularity say about us?
Tupac Shakur, in terms of sales numbers, is apparently the most popular hip-hop artist of all time. While I had heard Tupac's name in passing over the years, I never really concentrated on learning anything about him until just a few years ago.
I was a teacher at a Christian school in Northern Virginia, and gave an assignment to my World History class. I wanted the students to name who they thought were the top ten most influential figures in world history. One of my students argued rather strongly for Tupac Shakur. Since I couldn't quite understand how a hip-hop artist would rank alongside the likes of Martin Luther, Christopher Columbus, Albert Einstein, Julius Caesar, Muhammad, or Jesus Christ, I had to learn more.
Tupac was a talented and influential hip-hop artist, to be sure. But the man was also known for his brushes with the law and for a life wrapped up in violence and sexual escapades. Tupac was, in fact, convicted of sexual assault for a rather notorious hotel room incident in which he was apparently party to a gang rape.
I know I'm a white, evangelical, conservative pastor - and therefore may not be qualified to speak on this, in the minds of some. But I find Tupac's celebrity status deeply distressing.
There's no question that we can appreciate the man for his impact on urban culture. And we should love and care for him - as we should anybody. This article is not in the spirit of bashing Tupac. However, to elevate him to the status of hero and martyr is pushing it. And to argue that he's one of the most influential figures in world history is beyond the pale of reason.
