Section 3 Summary

The section titled "Just a Breath of Freedom" begins with the poem of the same name. The work is dedicated to Nelson Mandela, the South African leader that was imprisoned for 27 years due to his political views and stance against apartheid. Mandela was later released and went on to serve as the president of South Africa, a major coup in the country's government. Mandela went on to solidify his status as an icon through political and humanitarian works.

Shakur comments that putting Mandela in prison was worse than killing him as the man's spirit began to die. On the day Mandela was released from prison Shakur notes that the man raised his "regal brow in pride." Although Mandela spent nearly 3 decades in prison, there was always hope that the powers that be would be forced to pay for the crimes they had committed...