Page 10
The Blue Banner
September 19, 1996
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In the end, another bright young flame is snuffed out by violence
Andre Mack
Guest Writer
(Editor’s note: This commentary is
being run unedited by request of the
author.)
Rapper Tupac Shakur died on Fri
day, Sept. 13, 1996. He died of respi
ratory problems and cardio-pulmo-
nary arrest. Although I’ve never met
him, share no history with him, my
heart and prayers go out to him and
his family.
Tupac represented and lived the care
free lifestyle (as depicted by the me
dia) that many dare not engage in but
fantasize about. His lifestyle tran
scended race, socio-economic, and
ethnic barriers, that, admitted or not,
was appealing.
He seemingly lived life as a practic
ing hedonist. It’s a shame that he no
longer has the chance to develop as an
individual.
But his death does more than just
invoke sadness. His death makes me
wonder what his critics are saying
about him, particularly those of his
own race.
One can only speculate on what his
critics are and have said about him
now that he is dead. He got what he
deserved? ‘Niggers’ killing ‘niggers’
again? I didn’t like him anyway?
Having been on the opposite ends of
the “good-bad” spectrum. I’ve found
that African-Americans are harsher
critics (by way of words) than mem
bers of other races, when it comes to
individuals of Tupac’s character.
In a sense, one would expect this
phenomenon, but in another sense,
one would expect deeper investiga
tion of the factors that shape the de
velopment of such a character.
Factors such as educational back
ground, family stability, family and
personal economic background, na
tive environment, and family and per
sonal emphasis on religion.
This process is seemingly obsolete
in the African-American community
when characters such as Tupac’s are
in question.
The tendency seems to immediately
write such a person off as a hoodlum.
But when characters such as those
embodied by William Kennedy Smith
(of the infamous Kennedy Klan, tried
on an attempted rape charge) or even
Tim Allen (convicted cocaine user
and distributor turned sitcom star),
Demi Moore (high school dropout
turned actress) or Melanie Griffith
(high school dropout, married at age
17 to 33-year-old actor Don Johnson)
are in question, the tendency is one
that is evident in high profile cases
involving aristocrats and worsens as
you descend the socio-economic/eth-
nic ladder. ^
I can imagine what my “brothers”
and “sisters” who are reading this ar
ticle are saying right now. Most likely
you are agreeing with every word be
cause it sounds sensible. But what are
the reasons for such harsh criticisms
of each other? Is it best described as
self-hatred?
For the “sisters,” does Tupac remind
you of the one that broke your heart,
so now you hate Tupac and all those
like him?
For the “brothers,” was Tupac’s
lifestyle (projected by the media as
being filled with money and women)
the life you secretly desire, so now
you, too, hate him?
If you feel the need to dislike some
one, dislike the “brothers” and “sis
ters” who hate their color and history
to the point that they exclusively date
outside their race.
Intensify your dislike when you
speak to “brothers” and “sisters” who
are eager to embrace other cultures to
the point where they won’t associate,
or even look at those of their own. To
be more exact, dislike yourself for
making fun of your disadvantaged
African and Indian “brothers” and
At least he died
knowing that he
didn't have to kiss
the a— of the a—
kisser to keep a
bulls— job for 20
years.
—Andre Mack
“sisters” when they take classes with
you or try to interact with you.
Dislike yourself for making fun of
your “brother” or “sister” who is try
ing to get through college the best way
he can. Dislike yourself for being close-
minded to ideas such as gay mar
riages, owning your own business, or
venturing out of your small town and
small town mentality. Dislike the per
son who has two parents to finance
his/her education and he/she still de
cides to drop out.
Tupac often spoke publicly of being
homeless for a while, his father’s ab
sence, and his mother’s absence due
to involvement in the Black Panther
Party. Amid the turmoil, he rose to
celebrity status in the music industry.
His celebrity status is largely due to
the realness of his music. He was a
thug and rapped about the “thug life.”
He even had the phrase tattooed on
his midsection. He’s dead now.
At least he died knowing he didn’t
have to kiss the a— (i.e. - the assistant
manager, the second assistant man
ager, or the d— supervisor ) of the a-
- kisser (the manager, the district man
ager, or the vice-president) to keep a
bulls—t job for 20 years, to build a
pension and gain benefits that may
not be there when he’s finally old
enough to claim them.
He didn’t have to smile on cue. He
didn’t have to fake a laugh or act
concerned when he really wasn’t for
the sake of a job. At least he explored
his thoughts, as illustrated through
his lyrics. He talked the “thug life”
talk and walked the swaggered walk
that went along with it.
When he felt a “f—k you” was in
order, he said it. When he felt a push
or a punch was necessary (mostly to
the heads and equipment operators )
he did it. Publicly, he smoked, drank,
cursed, exploited women in his vid
eos, and in his publicized personal
life.
He also was involved in the cam
paign to do away with California’s
affirmative action initiative, along
with the other prominent artists. Only
children have the same expressive free
doms Tupac indulged in.
But what about his critics and others
like them? What devilish behavior did
they partake in as youths? Did they
peddle or use drugs of any sort? Did
they shoplift, sleep around a lot, or
get food stamps while in college? I’m
sure one of these deeds is applicable to
every one of them as well as you and
me. Only God and the individual
remember those deeds.
Today, these same critics are your
career politicians, professors, “A” stu
dents, housing directors, and psy
chologists. They are the people that
are in positions ofleadership and guid
ance. They are your bosses and even
your parents.
These are your critics. Suddenly,
since the passing of time has hidden
their devilish deeds, they adopt pris
tine attitudes. Now they feel as if they
can criticize and punish “you” any
chance they get, with the full support
of others like them who make and
enforce social laws.
If you think this observation is mis
taken, put someone to the test. Ask
your parents, housing director, coor
dinator of African-American Student
Development, or Career Center di
rectors if they ever used drugs. Ask
them if they were sexually promiscu
ous at any point in their lives. Take
notice of that person’s reaction. Is it
one of anger or simply a smile?
If you want an honest answer, call
their undergraduate universities’
records departments or police depart
ments. Usually people in these de
partments remember such people and
even remember the deeds.
Most are eager to share the stories
with you, too, as I found to be the case
when I contacted the University of
North Carolina at Charlotte, Colgate
University, and Southern Illinois Uni
versity.
Either way you will be able to sense
that something devilish has been done,
and you might even consider being
less crucial of characters like Tupac
Shakur... 1970-1996.
Resignation of public safety director to result in search for replacement
Monica Williams
Staff Writer
The director of public safety recently resigned in order to take
a job at another university, according to Eric lovacchini, vice
chancellor of student affairs. Jeffrey Van Slyke took on the job of
police chief at the University of Iowa at the beginning of
September.
“Jeff finished his master’s in public administration about a year
and a half ago,” said lovacchini. “At that time, he started to look
for other positions.
“He interviewed for several positions,” said lovacchini. “He
found that the University of Iowa would be a good match for
him.”
Jeffrey Van Slyke was unavailable for comment.
According to lovacchini, a search will begin immediately for a
new director of public safety. The search will involve both
lovacchini and a focus group, consisting of both students and
other faculty members.
“We are going to go around and talk to UNCA students and
departments about what they think is needed in the next director
of public safety,” said lovacchini. “They will help us set the
parameters as to what we will be looking for.”
Many UNCA residents feel that it is a good idea to let the
students have some input in the choice of the new director of
public safety.
“I believe Dr. lovacchini should definitely get the student
input,” said freshman Holly Collins. “After all, the students are
the ones that everyone is here to teach. We are the reason for the
school being here.”
Some residents feel that lovacchini’s actions are admirable,
because what he and other administrators decide will ultimately
effect the resident student population.
“I feel very confident in Dr. lovacchini’s decision in getting
input from the students,” said Antwane Turner, a junior educa
tion major. “The students know better than anybody else what
their needs are.”
people who live here.
“Issues dealing with public safety deal with students,” said
Graham. “Students should definitely have some input in that.”
According to lovacchini. Van Slyke saw the opportunity in
Iowa as a good career move for his future.
“It is a job where the staff and student population is about three
times the size of UNCA’s,” said lovacchini. “However, he will
not have parking to deal with, which is another department.
“I guess that he will stay there probably three to five years,” said
lovacchini, “and then move on to something else.”
lovacchini said that Van Slyke had visited Iowa throughout last
year.
“He had been up there a couple of times to look for housing,”
said lovacchini. “His last day was September 2.
“He needed to work a day into September in order to keep his
benefits for the month,” said lovacchini, “so we worked out an
arrangement.
According to lovacchini, Arnold Jones, the current assistant
director of public safety, along with Dennis Gregory, current
public safety investigator, are sharing the responsibilities of
director of public safety until a replacement for Van Slyke is
found.
“Arnold and Dennis are two long-time employees, who are
well-known by everybody,” said lovacchini. “They will be
holding down the fort.”
lovacchini also added that a new director of public safety
should be named sometime after the first of next year.
Both Jones and Gregory were unavailable for comment.
“We live here
three-fourths of the
year,” said freshman
Jason Graham.
“This campus
should revolve
mostly around the
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