On May 25, 2020 America hit a breaking point.

George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, died from cardiac arrest after being restrained by Derek Chauvin, a white police officer, who knelt on his neck for nine minutes. In the aftermath of George Floyd’s death, protests and riots spread across the nation and around the world.

For myself and many others, this has been difficult to process. I hope this horrible incident incites the change people so desperately need, but I wish it never had to come to this. It has been constantly on my mind for the past two weeks. As is my habit, I thought about this through the lens of design.

For designers, empathy is the key to creating positive change for people. In order to empathize, we have to understand where others are coming from. How do we build understanding? We listen.

People are outraged over George Floyd’s death, and they should be. The truth is, Americans have been speaking out about police brutality and injustice for years. Most people probably think of Colin Kaepernick, but it goes back even further. A few days ago, I looked back at an essay I wrote for a business ethics class in 2017. The goal of my essay was to pick a song of my choice and analyze the different ways it could affect listeners. The song I wrote about -Changes (feat. Talent) by Tupac Shakur- was released 28 years ago, and it echoes the same changes people desire today. As a designer, I always ask the question why? Why does nothing seem to change? The root of the problem is that people are not listening.

Having freedom of speech does not guarantee our voices will be heard. As Americans, it is our responsibility not just to speak up but also to listen to what people are saying. For designers, desirable change happens when we internalize what others are saying and reflect on it. I believe this mentality can help us move forward so this incident doesn’t happen again. Listening takes effort and humility, but we need to try. It’s not enough to hold a belief without reflecting on why we believe in something and why someone believes in something else. Let’s recognize that other people’s perspectives can differ drastically but also be true and deep.

The Black Lives Matter movement has never been louder.

America, it’s time to listen.

What better way to listen than through music.

There are many ways we can listen and understand each other. Music is a powerful way to bridge the gaps between us and build empathy.

Changes (feat. Talent) by Tupac Shakur is one of my favorite songs, which is why I chose to write about it for a class assignment. I copied my entire essay below. Its message is just as relevant now as it was when I wrote it three years ago.

Please note, that since writing this essay my views on the Black Panther Party have changed. I have learned that the negative public perception of the Black Panther Party has been manipulated by the COINTELPRO project initiated by the FBI. I recommend readers learn more about this here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COINTELPRO.

Songs Can Change Us

Music is one of those golden treasures with the power to unify people through shared emotions, experiences, and interests. Like a sport event, a music concert brings thousands of strangers who enjoy the spectacle together. The beauty to music is that it feels universal and individual at the same time. Individuals interpret and react to music in a way that makes it special to his or her own perspective. I picked one of my favorite songs to demonstrate the dynamic emotional perspectives music can have on listeners.

The song I will analyze is Changes (feat. Talent), by rap artist Tupac Shakur. I consider this song a masterpiece, and many others would agree that it is one of the greatest hip-hop songs ever created. Released in 1992, Tupac’s Changes offers an influential and insightful commentary on issues in our society. It is an example of the ways music affects listeners differently based on the varied interpretation of its message and composition.

After hearing the song, think about the emotions or thoughts you felt and consider if this matches any of the themes in this essay.

Oftentimes music invokes feelings of conflict against someone or something else. Changes is no exception. There is a clear opposition Tupac wants to overcome. He’s urging his listeners to stand against the forces behind institutional racism and injustice. It’s clear who is to blame. The lyric, “They got a war on drugs so the police can bother me” echoes his frustration toward the police, law makers, and government. He wants listeners to realize there’s a problem. This is what makes his message so effective. Listeners truly identify with his side and feel his animosity. It’s hard to hear this song and not sense the struggle between the black community and society’s discrimination. Tupac uses Changes to stir a reaction in his listeners to get them to care about these issues and to do something about it. Change depends on defeating the things that cause these issues in the first place.

While it’s an important dimension, the song is not just about antagonizing society’s prejudice. Some listeners will internalize Tupac’s warning against breaking the law and why change comes from the good decisions people make. Tupac understands impoverished people are compelled to steal or commit crimes out of survival and not because they are bad people. He admits that he himself resorted to stealing when he says, “My stomach hurts so I’m looking for a purse to snatch”. The morals behind this reality aren’t as important as the implications these actions have. Tupac goes on to explain the consequences resorting to crimes such as theft, drug dealing, or gang violence has. He claims, “I always got to worry about the payback” from his past in a gang. Poverty leads to violence and crime which exacerbates racist injustice and causes more and more racial inequality. Crime will only continue this vicious cycle. The only way to change this is by living up to the law and not giving in to rule breaking no matter how hard it is. In other words, he articulates that blacks should respect the law not because it is ethical but because it will make their situation better. In almost a haunting foretelling, Tupac was fatally shot 6 times while in Las Vegas four years after this song came out. There’s a lot of speculation over who murdered him (some even say he might still be alive) although chances are it was related to gang retaliation (1). Changes is his reality and truth. Life is not always fair, but acting illegally will only make it worse.

Respecting the law is a means for change, and so is our attitudes and actions toward others. A resounding message throughout the song encourages whites and blacks to respect one another regardless of the color of someone’s skin. Institutional racism and injustice stems from our own cultural beliefs and biases. Tupac mentions the death of the founder of the Black Panther Party Huey P. Newton. Huey started the Black Panthers as a means to use rebellious force to achieve economic and political power (2). Considering the party dissolved and has been widely criticized for using violence, it’s safe to say fighting injustice with injustice doesn’t work. Instead, Tupac urges listeners to live by the golden rule, asking to “Learn to see me as a brother instead of two distant strangers”. If every member of the community cared for each other then true changes can be made. This rule applies to all races; blacks need to respect each other within their own community and whites need to overlook their blinding prejudices and treat blacks with equality. The road to progress can only be taken by sharing the lanes. Tupac’s expression, “Let’s change the way we treat each other” encourages listeners to change their mentality. Using the golden rule, people can overcome their inherent biases, learn to live with each other, and appreciate others for who they are and not for the color of their skin.

Taking a step back, there is an appreciation for the music in it and of itself. When I first heard this song, my roommate was playing it as background music in our dorm. I was immediately hooked by the melody, instrumentals, and catchy chorus. Not considering the deeper meaning behind the lyrics, this is simply a good hip-hop song that speaks to the talents of Tupac and his producers. There is a reason he is commonly put on the Mount Rushmore of hip hop artists. Fans of hip hop and rap music can enjoy the song for its composition and nothing more.

Beyond the music, what he says is just as important as how he says it. Yes, Changes is a good hip-hop song, but its acclaim arises from the picture Tupac paints of our society. While Tupac’s perspective can be hard to swallow, it is still refreshing to hear one of hip-hop’s more prominent rappers raise his concern over real issues. One may feel a simple appreciation for what he is doing and his openness in sharing his experiences. He is using his industry as a platform to represent millions of underprivileged people. The instrumentals are a bucket and the lyrics are the water. If the song was poorly done, then it wouldn’t get the attention it deserves and the weight of its meaning is lost. The song tells an impactful story from a genuine and influential rapper, it has a rhythm and a beat hip-hop fans enjoy singing along to, and it carries a powerful message between each verse. What’s not to like about this song and what it brings to the table?

Many listeners will appreciate the music and its meaning, yet some may feel compelled to actually act on his words in other aspects of life. Tupac is calling on everyone to consider what he is saying and the reality he is expressing. This is more than just a serious rap song or an angry rant. He wants people to really make a difference by challenging the status quo. The current black lives matter movement makes this song just as relevant today as it did 25 years ago. Its message can apply to everyone in society. He’s not just appealing to our government, political leaders, or law enforcers, but everyday people as well. Indeed, “It’s time for us as a people to start makin’ some changes”. These are words we can live by because we are either part of the solution or part of the problem. The message is reflective of former president Obama’s 2008 campaign slogan “Change we can believe in”. Obama was encouraging the same thing; we can change police brutality, the war on drugs, persistent racism, perpetual poverty, and the day to day difficulties blacks face. These issues are happening everywhere around the world and can apply to the repression of minorities in other countries. Regardless of where someone lives, to some people this song is not just another song heard through headphones but instead it’s a motivation to actively strive for equality and acceptance of other people in our personal and professional lives.

The literal theme of Changes refers to changing our attitudes and beliefs toward racial inequalities. However, the music could strike a connection that goes beyond race or politics. The interpretation of change can transcend Tupac’s literal meaning. Oftentimes, it’s hard to change our habits. The repetition of “that’s just the way it is” captures how change seems hopeless or impossible. In life, many people feel the same way. We may want to change something about ourselves -to work out at the gym regularly, to take school more seriously, or to move on from hardships- but we can’t seem to do so. Tupac laments the ways things never seem to get better, and it is frustrating to him. Despite this, he still pushes himself and the listener to try. The lyrics, “Let’s change the way we eat, let’s change the way we live” appeal to a broader sense of changing something about ourselves. It’s an understanding that we can pursue changes in our lives. Tupac acknowledges the struggle to change, but at the same time he gives listeners power in knowing that they always have the ability to change life for the better.

Everyone wants something to change for the better in some degree. Changes means something different to everyone. Upon listening to this song, some people may feel inspired to make a difference while others play it as background noise. Each and every one holds a certain perspective toward the song. Some listeners may feel several of the emotions mentioned, they may feel indifferent, or they may feel something else. Changes exemplifies how listening to music is a different experience for everyone. It is important that we identify what we are feeling and why we feel a certain way so we can better understand ourselves and others.

References

(1) Wittmer, Carrie. “The murders of Biggie and Tupac are still a mystery after 20 years here are all the theories about them.” Business Insider, 27 Mar. 2017, www.businessinsider.com/biggie-and-tupac-murder-theories-cases-suspects-2017-3.

(2) Duncan, Garrett Albert. “Black Panther Party.” Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, inc., 28 Sept. 2016, www.britannic.com/topic/Black-Panther-Party.