Thuglife is both an anagram and an acronym. 

Tupac Shakur had Thuglife tattooed across his abdomen. Tupac was a rap artist, a poet, a philosopher and a champion of Black rights. I could write a whole post dedicated to Tupac, but I want to stay focussed on the meaning behind “Thuglife”. I first learned what it meant when I read The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas a few years ago. It has nothing to do with the life of a thug.

THUGLIFE; The Hate You Give Little Infants Fucks Everybody.

Recent images of young children standing with their hands zip-tied as they are deported from the U.S. alongside their parents are emblematic of giving hate. If a government, or ruling body can’t get behind giving lunches to school children, or providing access to basic health care for children, well, that’s giving hate too. 

The irony is that no one, not even the haters, benefit from giving hate. There is a long line of established history to show that haters, oppressors, controllers, and nasty governors do not end up on the right side of history.

The hate that is happening now has been building for a few decades. When, (not if, but when), this current American regime changes, I hope that first on the agenda of the new regime will be to give ALL little infants full access to medical care, education, and room to play. Personally, I can’t wait.

Keep your joy.

Anne Milne is an every Sunday blogger, unless it’s a holiday weekend. Or summertime.