Fences.

     The play Fences by August Wilson takes place in 1957 during the difficult years of change with blacks. It takes place in a dirt-yard and porch of the Maxson family's house in Pittsburgh. In the time period of the play many things associated with blacks vs. whites were going on. There had been a Montgomery Bus Boycott because of Rosa Parks. Jackie Robinson broke the Gentlemen's agreement which kept blacks from playing in major leagues. Schools were being desegregated. The Civil Rights Act and the Voting Act was passed 8 years after the play. Blacks were free from slavery but were trying to  be cut off from society at the time.

Race & Racism

     Young people understand race as either a gift or a curse. In the video A girl Like Me one of the girls says all her sisters are lighter than her so she felt ugly. Many people grow up thinking that if they are not from a certain place or look a certain way they will not be accepted in society. The mentality of many young people is that if you aren't white you aren't good enough. It shouldn't matter how someone looks or where they're from because people can't change that, what matters is the way someone is on the inside.
     In my school I asked guys what they look for in a girl and many of them described a light skinned girl. Beauty should not be measured on whats on the outside but whats on the inside. Many dark skinned people are beautiful and not all of them are from Africa. Choosing one person over another because of their race and color of skin is racism.
     In the past blacks went through slavery and were seen as nothing. Whites dominated everything and even today that happens. We grew up thinking that whites are always going to be better than us. But that's not true. What makes you a better person is what you're willing to do for people. A color or nationality should never define a person.
     Our generation should learn from past mistakes and not let other people define who we are. Every individual is beautiful in there own way and we should not let someone tell us different. Its all about self confidence and what you believe about yourself. Not everyone will like you but you have to learn to like yourself. The only thing that matters is the person you are in the inside.
   

John F. Kennedy

     The negative impact that Kennedy believes science has had on the world is that he thinks it causes the opposite of peace. In his inaugural address he states, " ..the quest for peace before the dark powers of destruction unleashed by science engulf all humanity in planned or accidental self-destruction." This means he doesn't think science is helping keep things at peace because of weapons and other new technology. This is similar to what one of my teachers told me once that the more technology built, the more people are at risk because the more weapons and things like that are in the hands of people. Two ways Kennedy believes science can positively affect the future are in one bring us together to explore more things and two have people face problems together instead of on their own. In his inaugural he states, " Let both sides seek to invoke the wonders of science instead of its terrors." This demonstrates that we should not fear science but have it help us. Many people are afraid that because of new technology other countries will attack on us with new weapons but we should trust people and work them and stay at peace like John F. Kennedy wanted.

St. Patrick's Day.

     St. Patrick's day is celebrated every year on March 17th. It is the Roman Catholic feast that honors Saint Patrick and now has to do with Ireland and Irish culture. Irish is the second most common ancestry in America. St. Patrick was an or English or scotch man from the 5th century who was missionary to Ireland. He is seen as a historical figure and someone who converted people to Christianity. Even though the day falls on the fasting season people are allowed to eat meat that day. The Irish dance, drink and feast on traditional meal which is bacon and cabbage. The parade for this day started in America because of Irish soldiers who served the English army. Over the years Irish people immigrated to America and many "Irish Aid" were founded to help celebrate this day. The parade for St. Patrick's Day is the oldest and largest parade.

Think Different

 
     People generally react in a disapproving way with people who are willing to step outside the box of comfortability and normalcy in a way that is considered unconventional or unacceptable. In the movie Glory Road the other people in charge of the basketball team don't like the fact that the Coach is letting black people play. This demonstrates how the Coach thinks different from the others, he doesn't see the color of their skin he sees their skills. It reminds of Rosa Parks who didn't want to give up her seat and was sent to jail because people didn't want blacks to step out of their limits. It was so important for Don Haskins to think different because he changed things. In the movie the coach tells a black guy that he does not see color he sees skill. This means that he didn't care what the person looked like what mattered was how they played. All over the world people get judged but it takes one person to see things different so they can make a change, just like Don Haskins. He thought different than others and made a difference.

My Marlin

    

     Starting high school the stress sets in. Thinking about what I want to be in the future and what college is right for me. Freshman year is the most important year and most of my friends didn't have classes with me. I'm a very shy person and keep to myself unless I know the person well. In middle school I had slacked off in school especially 7th grade. But I was determined to make honor roll freshman year. Coming in to high school I was scared of what would happen. I didn't want to get distracted and mess up. I wanted to have good grades in all my classes.

     The first few weeks of my freshman year I kept to myself.  I meet a few new people like Jonathan who was in my history class. He was tall and goofy. He had light brown eyes and wore braces. HE would get mad so easily but he was fun to be around. He made me laugh until my stomach would hurt. But I knew I had to concentrate in school. Every week I had quizzes and tests. But I would study hard for them something I normally didn't do I would just wing at them. I would study vocabulary words over and over again. Read through my notes till my eyes would close from my tiredness.

     In class everybody seem to think I was a nerd and too quiet but I didn't care. In my math class I would always be answering questions and in science as well. It came to a point where my teachers would ask a question and say except for Aydee. My science teacher literally would give me more work and I would be ahead of the class. A couple of times she would say "I don't know what else to give you." I didn't want people to dislike me but I couldn't help myself. My friend Allen always said "you're so smart Aydee, how do you do it?" Truth is it isn't easy.
     So far I had made honor roll first semester, my hard work was paying off. That when I meet Erica it's kind of weird how we meet. She just randomly went up to me and asked me a question and we talked about everything. After that we would talk all the time and we started spending more time together. This helped me become less shy around others as well. She would make fun of because I did all my work sometimes even before it was due. But I was willing to do anything to get honor roll all school year.
     Around May I had realized that I was actually about to reach my goal. Only a few weeks left of school and finals were coming up. The best part was I only had to take 2 finals because I had A's in my other classes. Gym was a final we had to take no matter what our grade was. And my other one was algebra because annoying teacher decided that because of a 92 I had to take it. One point from not taking it! After finals I didn't go back to school there was really nothing to do. I waited every day for my report card. That was the ultimate proof that I had done it. And finally it came. I caught my marlin.

Dia de San Valentine

     The story behind Valentine's day is about Saint Valentine who secretly married soldiers from Claudius II who forbid young men from getting married because he thought the soldiers would become to attached with their families and wouldn't make good soldiers. Claudius found out what Valentine was doing and sent him to prison. Valentine met a prisoner there who had a blind daughter and it had been said that Valentine had healing powers. And supposedly Valentine cured his daughter. Claudius was impressed but Valentine still disagreed with the marriage issue. The emperor tried converting Valentine to notice Roman gods but couldn't. Valentine tried to convert the emperor and that had consequences and he order an execution. Valentine had fell in love with the prisoners daughter and before he was killed he sent a message to her that said "From Your Valentine." It is said that Valentine was killed on February 14, 270 AD. We celebrate Valentines day because over the years it became about love and a man sending a message to his love.

 

 

 

     According to the graph the majority of break ups occur during spring break, and two weeks before Christmas. Most people break up because they want to have fun during spring break and want to be free and not have to worry about someone else. But you can have fun with that special someone to. You don't have to break up with someone to enjoy yourself because that's why you got with them in the first place to have someones company and to be loved. The majority of break ups happen because people make mistakes like cheat, stupid arguments or other problems. If you know you won't stay faithful don't get in to the relationship but you should try and control yourself because you wouldn't want that to happen to you. Sometimes money could be the problem because you have to buy presents but you can make things for the person, its the thought that counts.

Personification

Personification is when you give inanimated objects human qualities. For example saying he did not realize that his last chance was walking out the door. A chance at something can't walk out of a door like a human. Another example would be my computer throws a fit every time I try to use it. This means the computer decides not to work when I use it. Personification is a funny way of demonstrating things. Treating them like if they were human.

 

Monday is like a boring and lazy man. He's dull and has no enthusiasm for anything. Hes tired and sleepless. Hes lifeless and drags himself to get places.

 

Tuesday is the guy that isn't noticeable or important. He walks the hall but nobody cares about him. No one gets excited to see him. He's just there.

 

Wednesday is that middle child. They don't get all the attention like the older and younger siblings. They have more stress. And try to be better at things and get noticed.

 

Thursday is that girl whose on her period. Everything annoys her because it's been a long week but she's happy its almost over. Shes grumpy and just wants to go off on people but then she becomes excited. She has mood swings and just wants to get everything over with.

 

Friday is that happy little girl with candy. She runs around and shows off her candy. Happy to finally have it. Full of joy and excitement. Nobodies happier than her.

 

Saturday is a crazy hyperactive women. Ready to party her butt off. Full of life and wants to just have fun. Wants to go wild and look amazing.

 

Sunday is that relaxed person who doesn't want to do anything. Just wants to sleep all the time. They want to stay in bed all day. Just be comfortable and relax.

Simile & Metaphor

A simile is comparing two things using like or as. For example she got as red as a tomato. Similies are an important part of writing because it compares things making it more interesting. It makes writing more interesting and not boring.

Do you ever feel like a plastic bag
Drifting through the wind, wanting to start again?
Do you ever feel, feel so paper thin
Like a house of cards, one blow from caving in?
Do you ever feel already buried deep?
Six feet under screams, but no one seems to hear a thing
Do you know that there's still a chance for you'
Cause there's a spark in you?
You just gotta ignite the light and let it shine
Just own the night like the 4th of July
'Cause baby, you're a firework
Come on, show 'em what you're worth
Make 'em go, oh, oh, oh
As you shoot across the sky
Baby, you're a firework
Come on, let your colors burst
Make 'em go, oh, oh, oh
You're gonna leave 'em falling down
You don't have to feel like a waste of space
You're original, cannot be replaced
If you only knew what the future holds
After a hurricane comes a rainbow
Maybe you're reason why all the doors are closed
So you could open one that leads you to the perfect road
Like a lightning bolt, your heart will blow
And when it's time, you'll know
You just gotta ignite the light and let it shine
Just own the night like the 4th of July
'Cause baby you're a firework
Come on, show 'em what you're worth
Make 'em go, oh, oh, oh
As you shoot across the sky
Baby, you're a firework
Come on, let your colors burst
Make 'em go, oh, oh, oh
You're gonna leave 'em falling down
Boom, boom, boom
Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon
It's always been inside of you, you, you
And now it's time to let it through
'Cause baby you're a firework
Come on, show 'em what you're worth
Make 'em go, oh, oh, oh
As you shoot across the sky
Baby, you're a firework
Come on, let your colors burst
Make 'em go, oh, oh, oh
You're gonna leave 'em falling down
Boom, boom, boom
Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon
Boom, boom, boom
Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon
 KATY PERRY - FIREWORK 


AND

A metaphor is when you compare two things without using like or as. For example you could say hes a dog, your comparing a dog to a guy. I think metaphors are an important part of writing because it makes the writing more interesting. It also makes the writing funnier.

As long as you love me
As long as you love me
As long as you love me
[Verse 1]
I'm under pressure,
seven billion people in the world trying to fit in
Keep it together,
smile on your face even though your heart is frowning
But hey now, you know girl,
We both know it's a cruel world
But I will take my chances
[Chorus]
As long as you love me
We could be starving, we could be homeless, we could be broke
As long as you love me
I'll be your platinum, I'll be your silver, I'll be your gold
As long as you love, love me, love me
As long as you love, love me, love me
[Verse 2]
I'll be your soldier, fighting every second of the day for the dreams girl
You can be my Destiny's Child on a scene girl
So don't stress, don't cry, we don't need no wings to fly
Just take my hand
[Bridge]
As you love me we could be starving, we could be homeless, we could be broke
As long as you love me
I'll be your platinum, I'll be your silver, I'll be your gold
As long as you love, love me, love me
As long as you love, love me, love me
[Big Sean]
I don't know if this makes sense, but you're my hallelujah
Give me a time and place, and I'll rendezvous, and I'll fly you to it,
I'll beat ya there
Girl you know I got you
Us, trust...A couple of things I can't spell without you
Now we are on top of the world, 'cause that's just how we do
Used to tell me sky's the limit, now the sky's is our point of view
Man now we stepping out like wow (Oh God)
Camera's pointed shoot,
Ask me what's my best side,
I stand back and point at you
You, you the one that I argue with,
I feel like I need a new girl to be bothered,
But the grass ain't always greener on the other side,
It's green where you water it
So I know we got issues baby true true true
But I'd rather work on this with you
Than to go ahead and start with someone new
As long as you love me
[Chorus]
As long as you love me
We could be starving, we could be homeless, we could be broke
As long as you love me
I'll be your platinum, I'll be your silver, I'll be your gold
As long as you love, love me, love me
As long as you love, love me, love me
As long as you love, love me, love me
As long as you love, love me, love me
As long as you love me

JUSTIN BIEBER - AS LONG AS YOU LOVE ME LYRICS

Our Rights

     The rights we have today we take for granted. Martin Luther King Jr in his speech Been to the Mountain Top said " And I've seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight that we as people will get to the promised land." King believed that everyone should be treated fairly, the way every human deserves to be treated. If Martin Luther King Jr walked in to my class tomorrow he would be disappointed.
     The way students treat each other with no respect would show him that he fought a battle he thought he won but is not over yet. Today students treat each other horrible. They call each other names and they disrespect teachers and everyone around them. They think there better than everyone and do not care if what they do or say affects someone. That is not what King wanted, he wanted people to treat each other kindly and with respect but as time goes on our generations gets worse.
     He fought so that everybody could go the same schools and come together. But if you look closely we still are segregated. Hispanics with Hispanics, blacks with blacks and whites with whites. We might go to the same school but segregation is still there. Our grades show that we do not take advantage of our rights. Most students are okay with just passing and do not want to go beyond that. They think of themselves as below white people still because we go to public schools. But that is not what King wanted.
     He gave it his all for us to have a better education but we do not appreciate it. A lot of people drop out because they do not want to keep trying but colored people back then would kill to go to a good school and learn. And we take what we got as a joke. Yeah we have rights but how many of us appreciate that? We dont because we were born knowing we had them. King and many others fought for them and even died for the rights we have today. If he walked in my class he would know that it is not over that kids need to be pushed so they could work harder and appreciate things. But he would know that there are a few who do know what they have and take advantage of it and those are the ones that will help the rest.

Hyperbole Homework

Hyperbole is an exaggeration of something like if you accidentally trip someone and they say they almost broke their neck and they only stumbled. Its stretching the truth like saying your tall when in reality your under average height. Hyperbole is important in writing because it makes it more interesting to read. Sometimes hyperbole's are funny and that's what you want to have the reader be entertained. Have the reader wanting to keep reading.


Easy come, easy go, that's just how you live
Oh, take, take, take it all but you never give
Should've known you was trouble from the first kiss
Had your eyes wide open, why were they open?
Gave you all I had and you tossed it in the trash
You tossed it in the trash, you did
To give me all your love is all I ever asked'
Cause what you don't understand is
I'd catch a grenade for ya
Throw my hand on a blade for ya
I'd jump in front of a train for ya
You know I'd do anything for ya
I would go through all this pain
Take a bullet straight through my brain
Yes, I would die for you, baby
But you won't do the same
No, no, no, no
Black, black, black and blue, beat me 'til I'm numb
Tell the devil I said, hey, when you get back to where you're from
Mad women, bad women, that's just what you are, yeah
You'll smile in my face then rip the brakes out my car
Gave you all I had and you tossed it in the trash
You tossed it in the trash, yes, you did
To give me all your love is all I ever asked'
Cause what you don't understand is
I'd catch a grenade for ya
Throw my hand on a blade for ya
I'd jump in front of a train for ya
You know I'd do anything for ya
I would go through all this pain
Take a bullet straight through my brain
Yes, I would die for ya, baby
But you won't do the same
If my body was on fire
Ooh, you'd watch me burn down in flames
You said you loved me, you're a liar'
Cause you never, ever, ever did, baby
But darling, I'd still catch a grenade for ya
Throw my hand on a blade for yaI'd jump in front of a train for ya
You know I'd do anything for ya
I would go through all this pain
Take a bullet straight through my brain
Yes, I would die for you, baby
But you won't do the same
No, you won't do the same
You wouldn't do the same
Ooh, you never do the same
No, no, no, no
BRUNO MARS - GRENADE LYRICS

Tone : The tone of the song is hurt. With everything he says you can tell he's done so much and got nothing in return.

Mood : The mood is sadness and regret because he would do anything for the girl but she doesn't feel the same way.

Meaning : The meaning of this song is to watch who you give your heart to. To be careful with who you fall for.