|
Register Now!
|
|
Register now for vtap for the fastest and easiest way to watch web video on your mobile device!
|
|
Afeni Shakur (born January 10, 1947) is the mother of American rapper Tupac Shakur, and was an important member of the Black Panther Party.
Shakur was born Alice Faye Williams in Lumberton, North Carolina to Rosa Belle and Walter Williams, Jr. She led a series of chapters during the "break down" of the Black Panther party. Her intellect and ability enabled her to edit and write columns for the Panther Post with such strategic craftiness that it misled the FBI to believe that the Black Panther Party was no longer in existence, while in fact they were multiplying rapidly.
While pregnant with her son, Afeni Shakur was arrested for withholding information that could have led to the arrest of leading members of "Panther 21". While in prison, Afeni Shakur reportedly obtained a court order to have three boiled eggs per day because the food within the jail was unfit for an expecting mother. She defended herself in court during a bomb conspiracy trial and was acquitted of 156 counts against her and other members of the Black Panther Party. No evidence was found to support the charges. After her son was born, she married Mutulu Shakur (who later became her son's stepfather) and converted to Islam. Afeni and Mutulu had a daughter they named Sekyiwa.
Since her son's death, Afeni Shakur oversaw Tupac's unreleased material. By bringing in the best producers to work with her son's unreleased material Afeni allowed Tupac to sell millions of albums. Afeni is largely credited for her ability to sell Tupac's work and to add to his legacy. A year after Tupac's death, Afeni founded the Georgia-based Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation, which provides art programs for young people. She has also since launched a fashion clothing line, Makaveli Branded; all proceeds go to his charity, the Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation.






