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Part 4: Billy Garland on Afeni Giving Birth to His Son 2Pac, Listed Dad "Dead" on Birth Certificate
Part 2: 2Pac's Dad Billy Garland on Joining Black Panthers, FBI Causing East vs West Panther Beef
Part 1: 2Pac's Dad Billy Garland on Seeing His Mom Die Getting Illegal Abortion at Age 6
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In a revealing interview, Billy Garland, the father of iconic rapper Tupac Shakur, opens up about his relationship with Afeni Shakur, Tupac's mother, during her tumultuous time with the Black Panther Party in the late 1960s. While Afeni was married to Lumumba Shakur, Garland disclosed that he was unaware of her marital status when they first met during a Panther meeting in Harlem. Their liaison happened amid a backdrop of civil unrest and government surveillance of Black activist groups.
Afeni was part of the infamous "Panther 21" case, where 21 members of the Black Panther Party were accused of plotting attacks on police stations. Garland describes how the accusations stemmed from a setup involving undercover law enforcement agents. Despite the chaos, including significant figures like Fred Hampton being targeted, Garland and Afeni's relationship blossomed while she worked to raise funds for Panther members’ legal defenses. He recalls the significant but controversial fundraising efforts involving celebrities like Jane Fonda.
