Tupac Shakur

Review: Words for My Comrades: A Political History of Tupac Shakur by Dean Van Nguyen

Most portrayals of Tupac in the mainstream media superficially depict him as a reckless, antisocial tearaway, but anyone with more than a superficial familiarity with his music will know that his outlook was steeped in social awareness and political analysis. And how could it have been any other way, given that Afeni raised him in such a political environment? His godfather was Geronimo Pratt, a leader of the Black Panthers, while his godmother was Assata Shakur of the Black Liberation Army.

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Advertising shot from One battle after another

Review: One Battle After Another directed by Paul Thomas Anderson

For all its political references and sympathetic portrayals of the radical left, the film is more concerned with shootouts and car chases than delving deeper into political themes and ideas. Nevertheless, the fact that this movie could be made, on a massive budget and by a mainstream studio, and was received so positively, reflects something of the mood in society today.

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