“You can kill a revolutionary but you cannot kill a revolution”
Afeni Shakur Davis (born Alice Faye Williams), Legendary mother of a legendary rapper (Tupac Shakur), a black panther, poet, fighter, activist and much more died yesterday. She was 69.
Despite her background, she was different, she was strong and fearless, making her voice heard in whatever situation. In 1971, according to F. Kennedy Taylor, she represented herself in court and was acquitted on 156 counts and charges, and released from prison shortly before Tupac’s birth.
In jerry Bird’s word:
A young, pregnant black woman with no legal training defended the Panthers against the NYPD in 1971 at the height of the Nixon era. And won.
— Peter Pandemic (@BostonJerry) May 3, 2016
Interestingly, her name “- Afeni Shakur, derived from the Yoruba term for “lover of the people”– and a new vision for the future.” thereby identifying with her African heritage.
You can follow Tweets from around the world and tributes on her passing in this link.
She seems to me a phenomenal woman, who knew what she wanted and wasn’t afraid to go for it. Some of her quotes that inspired me are below:
- “We continue 2 fail these brilliant young people because they R not saying what our message was.”
- “You can kill a revolutionary but you cannot kill a revolution”
- “If you can’t find somethin’ to live for, you best find somethin’ to die for.”
- “Don’t isolate me. If you do, it will relieve ordinary people from assuming their important roles.”
- “It’s important to know the stuff you came from.”
- “Life comes in cycles. When God gave war, he also gave peace. the most important thing is 2 b the best & most peaceful u can.”
- “I guarantee that the seed you plant in love, not matter how small, will grow into a mighty tree of refuge.”
More importantly,
“Remember to keep yourself alive, there is nothing more important than that”.
Rest in peace, legend momma!
Afeni Shakur: Life in Pictures.