Malcolm X

            Malcolm Little, later known as Malcolm X, was a self-destructive youth who was transformed into an educated leader. An African American leader, famous and followed for his strong belief in Black Pride and equal rights, overcame many trials and tribulations throughout his life. He is a great example on shifting his paradigm and changing a lifestyle that would eventually result in and early, and unexpected, death. Showing a desire for learning and education, he fulfilled his hunger for knowledge through reading and experiencing. Malcolm X overcame his addiction to cocaine, gambling and other crimes, showing personal growth and overcoming adversity.

            Malcolm Little, born fourth into a family of seven, had a rough childhood. His father, Earl Little, was a very influential Baptist lay speaker, a Pan-African supporter, and a local leader of the Universal Negro Improvement Association. His father taught his children the values of Black Pride and self-reliance, which would later impact Malcolm when he grew up.

            When Malcolm was at a young age three of his brothers, one of which was lynched, died violently at the hands of the local White Suppremists. Because of Ku Klux Klan threats, the Little family was forced to relocate to Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1926. In 1929 the Little’s home was burned down by Klansmen, fortunately, the family escaped with minor injuries. Malcolm suffered from many racial antagonism and harassment during his years growing up.

            Malcolm grew up in the ghetto and later got involved in drug dealing, racketeering, robbery and pimping. He got arrested for picking up a stolen watch he dropped off at a repair store. He was sentenced to 8-10 years in prison. While in prison he continued his self-destructive behaviors until he met a man he called Bimbi. Bimbi encouraged him to educate himself by reading and changing his life around. Malcolm found the Nation of Islam (NOI) and changed himself. This transformation and commitment to the NOI would later influence his speeches and teachings.

            Malcolm X was a very influential and educated speaker for the Nation of Islam. Elijah Muhammad appointed Malcolm and the National Speaker for the NOI after he led a demonstration due to police brutality. I think his greatest accomplishment was recognizing a problem with society at the time, and he had the incentive to do something about it. Many people viewed him as a hate monger and a Black Suppremist, but in my opinion he was standing up for what he believed in. Malcolm X was on a path to death but he changed it and turned into one of the most educated and influential leader of his time. Everyone else was allowing negative things to go on that society deemed appropriate, but Malcolm saw the visible flaws in what was going on and he committed to stopping it. He went to extremes to stopping the racial hate that was going on. What was happening deserved to be treated harshly and extremely. 

            Malcolm X exemplifies many aspects of the Creed, but the most profound ones are Education and Life Long Learning, and Personal Growth. While Malcolm was in prison he educated himself by reading books and then he developed a love for learning and education. A high school drop out turned into a smart, well educated leader is a good way to describe Malcolm X. He was a drug addict, preferably cocaine, a gambling addict and a thief, but he changed his life around, with help from Bimbi and the NOI. He changed his self-destructive behaviors and became clean and respectable. Malcolm X was very smart, excelling in school, until the eighth grade. A teacher had told him he couldn’t do anything because he was black and then he dropped out. He figured out a legal way to evade the draft to fight in World War Two and didn’t get caught for most of his crimes. He wasn’t stupid and when he decided to put his brain to good use he made history.

            Malcolm X, demonstrating a desire for education and life long learning and personal growth is an example we should all look up to and follow. Seeing through his mistakes, and only looking at the positive, will allow us to better ourselves and improve certain aspects of our lives. Sometimes all of us could do, as Malcolm X demonstrated, is seeing the flaws in the society and media and make an effort to change it. There is always room for improvement and everything changes, except change, so we should influence the world we live in positively. Malcolm X shows that you can always turn your life around, even in the darkest circumstance. We should implement his positive aspects into ourselves. I respect him for what he did and his inherent values and skills.

Bibliography:

Gormley, Beatrice, “Malcolm X: A Revolutionary Voice”. Copyright Date: 2008 to Sterling Biographies, New York. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malcolm_X

Sherol, “Malcolm X: A Story with a Twist”. Africana Online, August 18, 2010. Site visited on March 16, 2011.

www.africanaonline.com/2010/08/malcolm-x-a-story-with-a-twist/

“Malcolm X” Wikipedia.org. Site visited on March 16, 2011.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malcolm_X

Anne Frank

            Throughout Anne Frank’s short life, she faced many obstacles in her life like war, racism, self-worth, and abuse from the fascist leaders. Anne was forced to go into hiding because of her religion and race. Anne shows us that just because life is hard and hateful doesn’t mean we can’t be happy and overcome adversity and challenges. Anne learned to grow in many aspects of her life by keeping her head held high and finding the good in most things. Even though Anne struggled to find herself, while in hiding, she was still able to go on with her life in a positive manner. Because of a horrible event in time; a wonderful spirit, Anne Frank, has left and will continue to leave a big impact on many people’s lives.

            As you read Anne Frank’s journals you can see how lively she was; however, as she goes into hiding and becomes a teenager you also see how mature she becomes and the struggles she goes through. You also view how she wants to grow up and be a mature woman very badly as she gets older. Anne was always looking for ways to learn and grow whenever she could without loosing her ability while understanding her surroundings and the consequences of the choices she was making. While in hiding Anne struggles to find herself; but, still learns that life will always have trials, but how we handle them is what really matters.

            Anne frank’s family along with the Van Pels was in hiding in the Annex, from July 6, 1942 to August 8, 1944 before they were turned into the Nazi. During these two years Anne wrote daily in her favorite journal; which she called “Kitty” sharing her inner most thoughts and feelings until she was arrested. She wrote letters in her journal to friends, helpers, and to those she was hiding with; however, she called them by different names to protect them in case someone found her journal. Anne very brilliantly used her journal to figure out who she was and to stay optimistic. Anne used whatever means possible to overcome the hardships in her life and to improve herself in what little time, unknown to her, she had remaining. Anne continued to stand up for what she believed in no matter what the consequences were. Anne used her journal and hiding as a way of not conforming to what the government wanted.

            Anne Frank exemplifies both the ability to overcome adversity and challenges as well as being committed to personal growth in all areas of life. Anne chose not to stop believing in her religion just because Hitler hated Jews. Throughout her life in hiding Anne wrote in her journal about the difficulties in finding herself instead of lashing out at others. She was committed to finding all obstacles in her life and facing them head on without fear. Whether that was through not conforming or just to stay bright and lively regardless how the outside world was going on around her. She tried to help bring up peoples spirits in the camp she was at. The Nazis’ did everything to tear her down. She didn’t let them have her hope or the desire to learn though.

            Anne Frank went through many hardships although she took it with grace. She made the best out of every situation. Anne Frank gave everyone respect and simple common courtesy. If we all did this, this world would be a better place for everyone. There would be no war or racism. Anne Frank did a bunch of little things in the end turned out to add up to one big change for many people today. Everyone's life is already hard enough why would you wish to add to it.

Work cited:

Mullin,RitaThievon. Anne Frank. Hidden Hope. New York: Sterling, 2009.”Anne Frank.” Anne Frank. March 15, 2011. http://www.anefrank.org/en/Anne -Frank/History/All-people/Anne- Frank.html “Anne Frank in the world, 1929-1945 Teacher workbook.” Anne Frank Biography(1929-1945): March 15, 2011. http://www.uen.org/annefrank/bioshort.html

Babe Ruth

                                                The legend continues

“I swing big, with everything I’ve got. I hit big or I miss big. I like to live as big as I can” –Babe Ruth

George Herman Ruth better known as Babe Ruth was the first superstar in sports. Some say he could have been the world’s greatest left hand pitcher but instead he became the world’s greatest hitter. His famous Rookie card is soled for 500,000 dollars and that was back in 2008. His baseball bat is sold for 1.3 million dollars! Now that’s a lot of money to spend, but that’s how much money you need to spent in order to own a legend’s historical artifacts.

Babe Ruth was often referred as the world’s best baseball player who ever lived. In 22 seasons he hit 714 homeruns. So he mainly was known as the home-run hitter. In 1927 he set the record for hitting 60 homeruns in 154 games, a major league record that stood until 1961. Babe Ruth was one of the only two people to ever hit a homerun in the World’s Series Games. He also became part of the Hall of Fame.  At the age of fifthteen he was playing both catcher and pitcher for St. Mary’s varsity team.

            At the age of 19 he was discover by Jack Dunn, who signed him to a professional contract but couldn’t because Ruth was under the school custody so, Ruth had to remain in school. That led to some difficulty, and that lead Dunn to adopt Ruth to be able to go play baseball. People thought it was way funny that at the age of 19 Ruth was adopted and was Dunns’s baby! That’s how he got his nickname Babe Ruth. He started to play in a small team Dunn wasn’t making any money and so he and two other players were going to get traded but Ruth didn’t wanted to but he still got traded so then he play for the Boston, Red sox where he became known as the best player later on he got traded for the New York, Yankees for twice the amount of a regular trade off.

He faced a lot of taught challenges. He’s a great example of over coming adversity. He came from a family of eight children but only him and his sister Mimie survived infancy. At the age of seven his parents give up custody to St. Mary’s industrial school. He hated how they treated and the strict rules but, he did what he thought was the best. He soon learned that that was the best decision he ever made because there is where he learned to play baseball, the game that lead him to success.

            In conclusion, Babe Ruth was a great man who over came adversity and never give up even when things got tough. Coming from a family with nothing he still made a difference in he’s life. He didn’t let things get to him and kept studying in school and played the game he loved and because he stayed in school he got to live the dream he never even imagine. More than seventy years has passed since Babe Ruth passed away but, he is still remains like The Best Baseball Player.

Satiation: Http://notablebiographies.com/g1-he/Ginsburg.Ruth-html

 http://history1900s.about.com/od/people/p/baberuth.htm

Muhammad Ali

The boxing legend Mahamad Ali “The King of the Ring.” Is a young 18 year old, gold medalist. He was trained by a cop named Joe Martin in junior high. He became a fames boxing legend, and he created the “Make a Wish” adoption agency. He reminds me of the creed because he dedicated his life to serve others and personally delivered food to those in need just because he cared.

Mahamad Ali, first started learning how to box in junior high, even though it was hard he stuck to it. He started to learn to box because someone stole his bike and wanted to beat them up. When he was 18 he won an Olympic gold metal in the Athletic Union light weight fights in Rome. After that he dedicated his life to service by caring about those in need. I love boxing so his story inspires me and makes me want to stick to what I like to do. His story tells me that you can accomplish anything you set your mind to.

I think that his greatest accomplishment is that he was that much of an important person that he got to light the flame in Atlanta in 1996 Olympics. As we all know he began his carrier as a young boxer then went on to create the “Make a Wish” adoption agency. I think this is his greatest accomplishment because, he helped orphans get in to loving family’s he actually care to make a difference in children’s life’s, another accomplishment he made was a study he started on by donating $30 million to find a cure to parking sons syndrome witch he was diagnosed with it in September 1984. He did this so that others wouldn’t have to go threw what he did.

If, you were to ask me what category of the Summit student Creed I’d put him under I would label him under the line “I pledge to be caring, and live a life of service”

Because my example of this is how he started the” Make a Wish” foundation. I chose this example because, he dedicated himself to helping others and put little kids with loving families that were there and really cared. I also think that the cure foundation that he started fits in the aspect of caring because he donated $30 million to find a cure to Parkinson’s syndrome, because he suffered through it himself and if you can help stop it, why wouldn’t you? He also started the world peace group because he didn’t like violence, witch I find odd because he was a boxer but that’s another one of his accomplishments that got to me.

I think that life long learning is another aspect of the creed that reminds me of Muhammad Ali because he never stopped trying to learn new ways to better himself and ways to help others.  Just like when he created the adoption agency. I honestly think that everyone can make a difference all they need to do is try a little harder to be a little better and they can make a difference.

Sources;

WWW.ALICENTER.ORG/ABOUT/PAGES/DEFAULT.ASPX

HTTP://NOVALINE.NVCC.EDU/ELI/EVANS/HIS135/EVENTS/ALI98.HTM

Helen Keller

            Helen Keller lost her sight and hearing at a young age of 19 months. Even though she became known as “mute” at such a young age, Keller went on to writing books and being an American Lecturer. This is a great example of how Keller used her disability to show you can do anything and not use it as a crutch. Waking up daily not being able to understand what anything is, but then accomplishing all the great things she did, truly shows how she overcame adversity. At times she would scream, but one thing she didn’t do was give up.

            June 27, 1880, in Tuscumbia, Alabama, a beautiful, healthy baby girl, was born to Captain Arthur and Kate Keller. Suddenly, in February of 1882 the 19 year old, Helen Keller, was down with, at the time know as, “brain fever.” Coming down with this caused her to lose her sight, speech, and hearing. She spent the next couple years clinging to her moms’ skirt. March 3, 1887, Anne Sullivan came to help teach, Helen, sign language. Anne was a strict teacher. She wouldn’t deal with Helens’ tantrums, and she would even hit back. At times, Helens father would see that Anne wasn’t letting her eat. Repeatedly, he would demand for a reason for why she would do that. She would simply reply with, “She wouldn’t get dressed. She needs to learn to “listen.” ” Later on Helen realized that Anne was there to help. They became close and lifelong friends.

            Helen went on in life, with the help of Anne, to school. She graduated Perkins Academy being Valedictorian. With her amazing memory, Helen could put her fingers to someone’s mouth and know what they were saying. She went on in 1904, cum laude, and first blind/deaf person to receive a college degree. In 1924, she was known for raising funds for the American Foundation for the Blind. She also became a supporter for women to vote and use birth control. Even in 1933, when Nazis’ burned a bunch of her political essays, it never stopped her. She later on wrote a book “The Story of My Life.” She used the money from that to buy herself a house. She went on as an American Lecturer and became a very good friend to the Chinese.

            Think long and hard. Most teens these days think schools have so adversity to overcome, which is true. Imagine being blind and deaf on top of it all. She was “mute” and still managed to graduate Valedictorian. She wrote her books by signing to her help, Anne. She would find ways to make it and not give up when things got to tough. She came from clinging to her mom to this spotlight idol for everyone! She really overcame the adversity in life, which most would have said was impossible to do.

            So in all, life has its obstacle. What you do with them and how you act, will determine the outcome. Overcoming adversity is part of many people’s lives. Learn empathy. Helen Keller is a huge role model. She had disabilities, but didn’t make it the excuse to no do anything. She never once gave up, that’s why you shouldn’t either when life gives you challenges.

WORK SITED:

Berne, Emma Carlson. Helen Keller. Courage in Darkness. New York: Sterling, 2009

“Helen Keller.” NNDB. (2011 Soylent Communications):  March 16^th, 2011. www.nnbd.com/people/074/000046933/

“Helen Keller.” Garden of Praise. March 16^th, 2011. www.gardenofpraise.com/ibdkell.htm

Livergood, Norman D. “Helen Keller as Mystic.” Helen Keller. March 16^th, 2011. www.hermes-press.com/keller.htm

Amelia Earhart

            When Amelia Earhart was 10 she saw her first plane but it wasn’t until she was about 20 that she got interested in flying, at a stunt flying exhibition. She took her first flying lesson when she was 24 and that changed her for good cause six months later she bought her first plane a yellow Second-Hand Kiner Airster. Her greatest accomplishments were being the first woman to fly across the Atlantic and being the first woman to fly across the Atlantic solo. I think that Amelia most exemplifies the part of the creed that mentions overcoming adversity. The reason why she is an example of this part of the creed is because she was told so many times what a woman can and can’t do and she still chose to follow her dreams.

            On December 28, 1920 Amelia and her father visited Frank Hawks who gave her a ride on his plane. “By the time I had got two or three hundred feet off the ground I knew I had to fly” Quoted Earhart. Amelia had her first flying lessons beginning on January 3, 1921, at Kiner Field. Six months after that Amelia bought her first plane, a Kiner Airster, in which she broke her first record of rising to an altitude of 14’000 feet. Then April of 1928, Amelia got a phone call “how would you like to fly the Atlantic.” She promptly replied yes.

            I think that Amelia’s flight across the Atlantic solo and her first flight across the Atlantic were her greatest accomplishments. Accompanied by Wilmer Stultz and co-pilot Louis Gordon Amelia took her first flight across the Atlantic and on June 11, 1928 landed in Wales, United Kingdom. In Amelia’s solo flight across the Atlantic she experienced many hardships although she eventually landed in a pasture in Northern Ireland. I think that these are Amelia’s greatest accomplishments because she wouldn’t let herself be told she couldn’t.

Good Goes Bad

When evils good, the good goes bad

Just a little boy asking for a second chance

One imperfect decision left him stuck

His future loomed to show no love

This life is rare and up to no good

His freedom taken away to make it better understood

He stands on a road with two directions

Little does he know he’s really facing

The biggest dicision of his life

Now it’s ether bow down or fight

But bowing down isn’t him so he’ll stand and fight, for his beliefs

Even if it means laying 6ft. deep

He feeds from his power of will

And is very deadly when he grips the steal

He’s always ready for the good or bad

His life is in his hands

He completely understands

That, the end is near

Still he stands alone with no help or fear.

Want to Give Up

It’s just one of those days that make, you want to give up

The love from your FAM just isn’t in off

You want to move on all that you want is peace

But there’s something missing something in between

You’re FAM and friends give you they’re full support

But for some reason that don’t matter no more

You want to give up but can’t ask for help

You’re looking in to the eyes of hell

Trying to make a name for yourself

Some how, you end up in all the wrong places

Talking to strangers and unfamiliar faces

Knowing one false move could leave you dead

You walk with regrets but have to pretend

Like your life is ku

Like if you got a lot to gain but nothing to lose

Sounds

As I lay on a summer night,
I see the stars but feel a fright,
I hear wicked sounds
Throughout the grounds,
I’m so scared, I see no light

I can feel the fright,
The sounds of night are deathly ill
The power of karma has no will,

Until I see what’s in front of me,
I won’t sleep, but continue to weep.

I hate this life,
Struggling to strife,
Ill never see the brighter side of me,

All I see is black and white,
All I hear are the sounds of night.

Tears of despair

Tears of despair
They say real man don’t cry
But he’s heart had died
He felt everyone had lied
Trying to comfort him I sat by his side
It turns out a chick he once had
Left him feeling sad
“I love her” he said
“It’d be easier to put the gun to my head,
We spent so much time together but it was never enough
She made realize that I’m not that taught
She made me stop dealing cocaine
I was ready to give her my last name
There’s no one better than her
She so real and so pure.”
“I’m sorry” was my respond
“Even though you think I don’t”
Remember you can talk to me when you’re feeling down
The sun always rises the world goes around
I’m here like the very first day
Just promise me that you’ll never go away.”
But he didn’t stay
That night he pulled the trigger to his head
Tears of despair I cried,
Trying to understand why?
He laid in a puddle of blood
I knew nothing would ever be the same
I saw a note that read my name
“You were always there lil’ lady
You’re the best don’t act shady,
I know you could never be replaced
You helped me get through the struggles I faced,
You’re my best friend my right hand, I’m sorry I left you I hope you understand.
But no matter the situation my always there
This world can be wonderful and unfair.
But don’t screw up, don’t let me down
Just like angel I’m always around.

Complete Opposites

The world spins round
Different colors, sound, and sense of time
DIVERSITY
Love, hate, happy, sad

A smile, a frown
A sweet kiss with tears of joy

Fly or fall, High or low
How does love make you…and your soul?

Flash, spark, there’s fire in the dusk
Firemen lighting that last book
Of love with all their hate

Look at me; do I not look like what you see?

My eyes of green,
Others blue, brown, hazel, or grey

We all see different
What I see in you is the reason why I’m falling for you. _

For better or worse

They say they know me
But do they really?
They call me Billy
Yet I feel so ashamed.
After all I’m being blamed.

I feel so small
While everyone else is so tall.
They try to control me
I feel so unlike the rest
Like this is all just a test.

I hope this is all just a dream
Then I could go away
Maybe then I’ll even stay.
I’ll be on my own team.

I will start over in another place
Then it will all begin again
So much for this game.

Our hearts will come closer

I keep going back to you I don’t know why
I forget about you, and again you show up,
Myspace txt and in my dreams there you always are
I want to fall in love with you, share tears and laughter with you
So the says go on and all I do I think of you
After a while I forget your name
But feelings remain the same
I seem to move on until I hear something about you
Like where you got caught and where you are now at
I think about you that smile on your face
Then I see a massage from you on Myspace
Telling me that you here, to protect me from my fears
And wipe away my precious tears
And I believe we’re meant to be
Happiness is all I can see
But I don’t know whether I should try
Cause I don’t want our friendship to be jeopardize
I believe in destiny and fate
Then you do something stupid, get locked up
Making it harder to communicate.

Acceleration

The wave’s crash
The air quickens
The heart beat speeds
The heat exceeds

The time is endless
The mad rush of joy

Your shinning smile
Melts my heart in the fire of your love

The fire of our love
The fire of our fate

You send me on this endless ride of happiness

I think of my past
Thinking this will end badly
When can I get off this ride?
I think I’m going to be sick

Then you stop me
Kiss me like it would be our last

My desire for your love is on fire

I’m struck so please take me higher!

Earth

Earth is round
Like a ball,
Twirling slightly in the fall

I don’t know how
Earth came to be,
Still in the universe
Like a tree

Earth is pretty
And super sweet,
But all the pro’s are unlike wheat

The moon sits still
In the sky
Looking up, above my eye

But ever since my birth,
I have always wondered
About
Mother Earth.

Paradigm Shift

Sometimes Life gets rough,
Tough and you feel crushed.
Keep moving forward,
Improving and progressing.

There’s always someone out there,
Who has it worse than you.
So chill and feel,
Don’t deal and kill.

Is your cup half full?
Or are you being held back?
By your negative thoughts
And unnecessary crap.

Why do you hurt yourself?
Making life worse.
Shift your paradigm,
And change life’s course.

Life’s not as hard
As we make it out to be.
Flip life’s cards and
Happy you will be.

Schizophrenic Silence

She told me there was no poison
Without my angel I would’ve died
She told me to wash the rags in that poison
I yelled and pleaded for anything but that
I was doomed; I chose to live than die.
I won’t be able to ho home now
The king will send me back to hell
There’s no way out of this.
I will be forced to do worse things now
She will laugh at her games she plays.
I can’t even scream, shout, or cry out
There’s no use now
Maybe I should let her poison me
The worst will be over then.
I won’t have to suffer again…
I won’t feel the pain at the end…