A Principle to Keep

                                                               
                                                           
          There are many golden principles that I have learned and memorized throughout my 15-year life. However, the main principle I try to live by is honesty in all situations. My father always tell me, "Honesty is the best policy". I usually try to be honest all the time. Of all the times I've been dishonest, there hasn't been many times where it worked out in my favor. Honesty always doesn't have to be telling the truth; honesty can be what you're going to do in a crucial situation such as finding someone's money on the street or a phone in the hallway. Also, if you are dishonest, there is an 100% chance that it will come back to hurt you.

Album Review: To Pimp a Butterfly

                                                                   Album Review

    The album I will be reviewing is To Pimp a Butterfly by rapper Kendrick Lamar. Although it seems that Interscope Records releases a Kendrick Lamar project every three years, it is very much worth it. One main thing that makes rapper Kendrick Lamar very unique is that he uses rap to proclaim his vision (s) such as him growing up in Compton, California, struggles in society, and white privilege. Lamar uses the album cover to show how he lived in Compton, as all the people on the cover were his hometown friends in front of the White House. Lamar uses songs such as "Alright", "Mortal Man", "King Kunta", "Institutionalized", "Hood Politics",  and "i"  to show his ideas and thoughts on white privilege around the world, but mostly the United States of America. He proves his thoughts of the struggles in society by using songs such as "These Walls"and "How Much a Dollar Cost?". I appreciate how Lamar really uses spoken word to get his thoughts across at the beginning and end of songs. I won't lie, I don't really investigate lyrics in songs most of the time. But, for the tracks of this album, it was necessary to find out a piece of Kendrick Lamar's mastermind. Overall, I would give this album a well-deserved 5 out of 5 stars. This album was well-deserved of 11 Grammy nominations, and hopefully it will actually win some.

Thankful for a Classmate

                                                 Thankful for a Classmate: Kayleigh Peng

         
         The classmate I am thankful for is Kayleigh Peng; I am thankful for her because despite that we talk a lot in class, she is very helpful to me and I am very helpful to her in class. She always reminds me to do the English homework on nights that I might forget and when we wrote the Hemingway essays, she gave me quality edits and advice on my rough draft that led me to getting a great grade on the final draft. Also, she is one of my few friends in the class. I am very grateful for Kayleigh Peng and all that she does related to English class.

6 Word Stories

6 Word Stories by Phillip Denne

The cold hits. It comes strongly.

The bullet flies, the man dies.

Tears drop down, spirits rise up.

For christ's sake, make some pancakes!

Little boy shy, he does cry.

Boy becomes man, man named Dan.

The 4th Stooge

John Proctor: Hero or Stooge by Phillip Denne

    John Proctor has played a very, very important role in the play "The Crucible". Even though he's been relevant in every act and almost every scene, his character as a Puritan was never truly put into effect until the middle of Act 2. A lot about him has come out through Abigail and Elizabeth, which are not good signs. Although he's had heroic moments in the play, he has been more effective as a Stooge. When his character was tested, he failed to prove that he is not a sinner or try to lie.
    Proctor falls in line with the rest of the Salem resident who've been questioned and proven to be sinners. The main reason that worsens his situation is that he is defying the Ten Commandments, and one of the main ones for that matter. Also, he cheated with someone who is a main suspect of witchcraft and association with the Devil, which puts him in the talk of association. Confessing might have been the logical thing to do in the court, but now that he will be in jail and probably hung for his crimes.Act 3 revealed his true self as a stooge.

There Goes the Neighborhood

There Goes the Neighborhood

      Slavery. The tragic, terrible, and abusive cause that brought African-Americans, or Blacks, to the United States of America. But, they've worked hard, moved to the North, and created opportunities for the future and now we have a black president. Whites have lived in America way longer than Blacks, and although it seems that Whites have dominated every aspect of American culture, a legit argument can be made on which race is over the other. My opinion is that neither race can top one another if you break down many aspects. Pros and cons can be revealed about Whites and Blacks living with each other in America. These two races are way more different most eyes can see. Whites and Blacks each have the opportunity to learn each others' culture and blend together to make one. Some of America's most iconic and major speeches have been focused around the point of bringing Whites and Blacks together as one, such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s speech on the March on Washington on August 28, 1963. However, many and major cons and backlash have been brought to the light, especially in recent years. The public eye makes it seem that Whites and Blacks have always have and always will hate each other, which can be true; some of the most violent crimes within the past 5 years across America receiving popularity have between Whites killing Blacks, or vice versa. With cases such as Mike Brown, Trayvon Martin, Walter Scott, or even the black church in Charleston, outrage between the races will never die. But, both races have its example of stubbornness, and the races can never let differences go and come together until the stubbornness fades out.

Me

Blog #1: Me

    My name is Phillip Bernard Denne, Jr. I was born September 15, 2000 in Chicago, Illinois. I live at home with my mother, father, and sister. I am the youngest in my family. My hobbies are playing games on my phone, playing video games, sleeping, playing soccer, and hanging out with friends and family. Previously, I went to Skinner West for Kindergarten through 6th Grade, and I attended Kenwood Academy's Academic Center from 7th Grade to 8th Grade. Now, I attend Whitney M. Young Magnet High School.
    I live with my parents and sister. My parents are very caring, loving, and strict about my academics. My sister, Jordyn, is 2 years older than me. She is very bossy, but she always looks out for me. As the "baby" of the family, I rarely get in trouble and usually get what I like. However, I do face consequences when I do get in trouble.
    As a student for most of my life, I've always valued education first. From Kindergarten all the way until now, I've been on the honor roll every quarter possible, mostly getting A's and B's. When I graduated from Kenwood in 8th grade, I had a 4.14 GPA and was on the Principal's Honor Roll every quarter I was there. As I enter Whitney Young, I know the rigorous academic program and high academic standards will be a challenge, but I know I can handle it.
    I love to play soccer. I am on the freshmen team at Whitney Young. Outside of playing soccer, I usually sleep, as you can never get enough sleep in life, especially when you're busy with an extra-curricular activity or school most of the year.  
    I am eager to get my high school career started, as it is a new chapter of life and arguably the most critical.