What were Tupac's long-term goals in life? What would he be doing if he were still alive?
Scott Ruffner
Fairfax, VA

AFENI SHAKUR: It's hard to say for sure, as Tupac was constantly evolving and always thinking up new ideas. He would have definitely given back to the community. He had experience in this area already with "The Underground Railroad," which he designed to keep youths off drugs by getting them involved in music. But I'm sure the project he would have been most passionate about would have been the Tupac Amaru Shakur Center for the Arts. He loved helping kids learn how to express themselves through art more than anything else. He would have continued to make music too and through his songs try to evoke social change.

Your son was known for the passion with which he lived. What would or did your son say about the apathy or indifference which seems run rampant, not only in the young black community, but also within youth of America today? And what sociopolitical impact might Tupac have had on the US if he was still alive?
Tyler Hotchkiss
Toledo, OH

AFENI SHAKUR: My son was outspoken about the injustices he saw around him and I can only speculate that as his music matured he would have had a greater impact on the youth community as a whole. I don't know whether Tupac is a "political" icon, so much as he is a "cultural" one. Tupac possessed the confidence and the courage to communicate exactly what he believed to a wide variety of people from all walks of life. The reason that he's still the top-selling rap artist of all time is that he touched people from all races, classes and backgrounds. His ideas were about how people should live their personal lives, not about bureaucracy.

Hello, after reading your life story, I was deeply impressed with your relationship with your son. Do you believe that Biggie and Tupac were just pawns in the music business?
I do believe that your son was more of a community activist and poet than a rapper — the voice of his generation. I am middle aged but I see his influence everywhere. How do you feel about the way the youth are idolizing him?
Tamara R. Johnson
Queens, NY

AFENI SHAKUR: Both Biggie and Tupac were remarkable young men who were taken from us at an early age. The speculation about the cause of their deaths has so far been unresolved but they were definitely not pawns in the music business and I'm sorry that the controversy over their death has overshadowed their lives and people misinterpret the tragedies. Unfortunately, the media will always think what they want to increase their readership.
I feel blessed by the impact my son had and is continuing to have on his generation and the youth of today.

Has any progress been made on trying to solve these cases? What's sad if it was any other star such as Elton John or Madonna, Justice would have long been served. I am no fan of Rap or Hip Hop but do mourn the loss of somebody's son or brother. Nobody wants to bury a child, especially for something stupid as a West Coast - East Coast rivalry.
Frank Sudore
Ft. Lauderdale, Fl

AFENI SHAKUR: What I know about the criminal justice system in America is that they cannot punish anyone the way God is ultimately going to punish them. It would be great to get answers about their deaths, but in the end, what would it change? It will not bring them back.

Being one of the biggest fans your son ever had; are we to expect any new Tupac albums? I also have to take this opportunity to thank you Ms.Shakur...Thanks for making him the man we all knew and loved.
Damon Dulin
Indianapolis, IN

AFENI SHAKUR: There will be a new album released at the end of the year and the album will feature some prominent hip hop artists, plus new material.

My prayers are always with you and your family. Stay strong and keep-keeping on! How is the Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation progressing? I understand that the Stone Mountain education and performing arts complex opened this past spring. How would an aspiring artist apply? Also, are you writing a new book? Your last one you and Jasmine Guy wrote was brilliant. I see where Pac got his writing roots. Peace and blessings.
Marc Wise
Washington.D.C.

AFENI SHAKUR: I started the Center as a way of carrying on what Tupac hoped would be his life's work. The Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation opened last year in Stone Mountain, Georgia to bring a quality arts program to our young people by providing a positive and healthy foundation for them to build and grow upon. To date over 500 students have benefited from the program with a broad range of training available via the Annual Performing Arts Camp. Kids are able to study creative writing, vocal technique, acting, stage set design, dance, poetry and spoken word. It is situated on 11 acres and the Peace Garden houses the bronze statue which sculptor Tina Allen donated to the Center. Please log onto www.tasf.org and details of how to apply are posted on the site.
The Tupac Amaru Center for the Arts is not just a performing arts school. It's also a place where young people can learn to resolve conflicts and to deal with the negatives issues that face them on a daily basis. Tupac pursued the performing arts as an alternative to life on the streets. Forming the Foundation and the Center were my way of guaranteeing that Tupac would be remembered as the man he really was, not as the character he often took on in his music.

Is the school and/or the botanical garden open to the public?
Julie Mackert
Galesburg, IL

AFENI SHAKUR: The Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation and the Tupac Amaru Shakur Center for the Arts are open to the public Monday through Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm and Saturday 12pm-5pm

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