By Qaasim Mian, Photo: Shutterstock, The Conversation, March 27, 2022
It has been over 30 years since hip-hop superstar Tupac Shakur first told the story of 12-year-old Brenda, a sexually abused and exploited preteen mother.
I hear Brenda’s got a baby
But, Brenda’s barely got a brain
A damn shame, the girl can hardly spell her name
(That’s not our problem, that’s up to Brenda’s family)
Well let me show you how it affects our whole community
Tupac Shakur, Brenda’s Got a Baby
Based on real events, the lyrics shone a light on the tragic cycle of poverty, abuse, substance use and the lack of social supports for vulnerable people. They necessitate the question: How do we support children like Brenda who have been exposed to such trauma on an ongoing basis, and recognize its impact on the adults we live and work with?
Comments (0)