In June the much anticipated 2Pac
biopic All Eyez on Me was released.
The critics were brutal and a number of fans had mixed reviews as well. As a
2Pac fan, I enjoyed the film. While there were scenes in the movie that seemed
rushed, overall, it was well done. Having a glimpse inside the life of 2Pac was
incredible. He was a creative genius, activist, and poet, easy on the eyes,
bold, and outspoken, all of which All
Eyez on Me portrayed well. Prior to the release of the biopic, I was
already familiar with his music and a number of his films (specifically Juice and Poetic Justice) both being films where you could see his star
rising. His portrayal as Bishop in Juice
was terrifying in the best kind of way. He owned the part masterfully. And in
his role as Lucky in Poetic Justice,
you could still see the street side of him, with a chill and likeable vibe. What’s
incredible about 2Pac is the fact that his legacy still remains and not just
because of the release of All Eyez on Me,
but more so because of the meaningful art he created through his music.
Sure, he made some mistakes in his life, but to get a glimpse of what his
journey was like was real. And regardless of the negative reviews from the
critics, All Eyez on Me was great. If
you haven’t seen it, I recommend checking it out. It’s dope.
As you embark on your career, I want you to know some things and stay woke about what you’ll be up against. Please understand that no matter what, you have value, and you matter. Always remember that. As progressive as this world and different workplaces may seem, every workplace has a culture. You’ll be in different places where a lot of people who don’t look like you will be in the room. But know that you belong in those rooms too. Spend some time observing and studying those spaces and learn as much as you can. There will be people you work with who will make presumptions about your competence, education, and ability to fulfill your job duties. There will be more who will think less of you because of the color of your skin and try to disqualify you the moment you make an error, mistake, or ask questions about things you may not understand. This will all feel uncomfortable and you may get insecure, feel like you’re all by yourself, and think you don’t belong there, but ride it out...