Final Reflection Post

1. This semester in Creative Writing, I wrote more meaningful pieces than I ever have. Like things such as our "You May Say I'm a Dreamer" post, and  "Caged Bird" post all the way to our children's book (which I lost).  We've even done more hands on creative things, which is what I really liked. Things like painting, and even the mugs we did just yesterday.

2. I've read a few different post when I was instructed to do so. None of which stuck with my throughout the semester. I don't tend to read outside of school, so I don't have any I remember from then either.

3. I remember first setting up my blog this semester. I wasn't super hype about it, but it wasn't like I disliked the idea. I was indifferent about it because I thought we were just gonna be writing stories on paper all the time. I came up with my blog's name easily, it's my own nickname so I thought that it'd be the best choice. "Rah Rah" is what everyone knows me by, it's what I like to be addressed as, so it was a perfect fit. I don't think I'll continue using my blog after this class ends. I wasn't very good with using it during the class.

4. I write about different things in my journal. Most recently I wrote a letter to my father, who tragically isn't here anymore, and I've wrote fictional stories and real life stories about my past and where I see myself in the future. I'd actually be comfortable with just about anybody reading my journal. I feel like it'd be a glimpse into the mind of Robert Bernard Calloway III. I love to journal, so I will continue to journal. It's a way for me to vent, without having to really vent to another person. I want to buy a true journal like with the leather covers and all that fancy stuff. It'll most likely hold all the raps I write and partially be kind of a log.

5. Window Poem -
Ahead of me I see all the tops of homes surrounding my own.
I see the street lights when they're on and off.
To my left, my television sits. Waiting for me to play a movie or video game.
As I look out today, a house is burning to the ground.
Sometimes I yearn to see more, always end up seeing the same thing.
The sun is setting, leaving a orange glow across the other homes.
I can barely see the field in the distance,
I can almost make out the form of a calf.
Alone. Waiting for it's mother.

5 (cont). I wrote this because this is what I really see almost everyday while I'm in my family room. Well I see all that except for the house burning down. That happened while I lived out in Sparta, and it wasn't a house, it was all the land they owned.

6. Family -
The screams wouldn't stop. I hoped it was Kayla, she'd gone missing out of nowhere. I slowly approached the small house and pushed the door opened. Right when the door opened it smelled worse than any thing I have ever smelled in my life. It was too dark to see, so I turned my phone's flashlight on. I instantly regretted it. There were bodies, and body parts spread around the home. I felt so light headed, confused by what I was seeing. I couldn't wrap around my head around the fact that this is what had been happening, less than a mile from my house. I guess that's one of the perks of living in the country, your next door neighbors aren't really you next door neighbors. They're close enough to kind of see, but far enough that they can't bother you.

I head the screams again, it sounded more and more like Kayla. It had to be coming from the basement, that's where all the cliche murders happen right? I wanted to turn around and search somewhere else, but I couldn't risk it actually being her. So I slowly walked down towards the basement, flashlight on, heart pumping so fast I could barely breath. I kept my head on a swivel watching for anyone, or anything, that wanted to try to get the jump on me. Only place that I failed to keep an eye on was behind me. I was pushed down the old wooden stairs. I tried to look at who pushed me, but I couldn't focus my eye sight. All I could see was a figure standing above me. Everything was coming into focus. It was my older brother Michael.

To be continued. . .

7. I actually plan to continue creatively writing. I like to rap, so in a way I have to be creative with every song. Don't want to put out the same music every time. Low key, I write actual poems too. That began when I was in a rehab program. I found love in writing poetry. What I write on my own time is different than what I write at school because, its not forced it's natural feeling. 100% authentic. I don't have to force myself to write about anything I don't feel like writing about.

8. Look ya'll, my only words of advice are, NEVER GIVE UP. I've been through so much but I'm still pushing so I know if I can make it, so can you. Always stay positive and love yourself, and everything will come naturally.

9. Lastly, I will be at the top of the world in less than 10 years. You all just wait on it. One way or another, I will be legendary!

Food Story

It was an average Thanksgiving at Grandma’s house. Grandma always invited everyone over, but if you did come, you’d be put to work either before or after we eat. Unless you bring some food. Anyways, everyone was here. Brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins, it’s rare that we all get together like this. Usually when all of us are together like this, somebody ends up fighting. Guess that’s just a thing when black people get together.

Everything was going so well, everyone was eating, laughing, playing, watching football up until my big brother Jordan busted in. He was supposed to had gone and bought some plastic forks for the house since we didn’t have any left (My family is notorious with waiting until the last minute to get stuff). When his body finally decided to stop his constant huffing and puffing, we all realized he was crying.

“What’s wrong with you boy?” My uncle James asked. He was a man who looked really intimidating but on the inside he was just a man who had been more than I could ever understand.

“It’s DJ,” Jordan said with a pant. “He got shot and he’s on the way to the hospital. They say he may not make it. They said that and he hasn’t even made it to the damn hospital yet!” He began harder now.

Everyone on was completely silent. Only thing you could here was the T.V and the quiet hum from the ceiling fan. DJ had been Jordan’s best friend since elementary school. He was basically a family member since his family was always too strung out to be an actual family to him. But DJ was hardheaded, he always wanted to be on the street gang banging, shooting, thieving, robbing. Everyone knew about it. That’s why he wasn’t invited to Thanksgiving. Now I kind of wish he had been invited.

Later on that day, Jordan got the call. DJ was gone. It makes think how crazy life is. Even on the day of thanks. You can still can lose something, or someone, you’re thankful for.

Childrens Book Draft

The Day I Got Grounded -

One day when I was at school I was being very bad. The teacher told me to stop but I didn't, I was having too much fun. Ms. Teacher got tired of trying to tell me to work and left me alone. I was fine with that, I continued having fun. Being loud and not doing my work.

The bell rang. I went outside to get into moms car. Ms. Teacher was there too. She told Mom what I did today and mom was not happy about it at all. She said when I got home, I was in big trouble. I didn't want to be in trouble so I got mad.

When I got home, Dad was there. He didn't look happy. Mom called him and told him what happened at school today. They said I was grounded. I never been grounded before. I didn’t know what was going to happen.

For the whole weekend I could not do anything! I could not go outside and play. I could not watch T.V. I could not even play video games. I had nothing. All I did was clean the whole weekend.

Sunday night Mom and Dad talked to me for a very, very, VERY long time. Mom and Dad said that they were not mad at me. They wanted to show me that being bad was not cool at all. Mom and Dad said when I go back to school I had to tell Ms. Teacher sorry for what I did. So Sunday night I got to watch T.V and play video games.

Monday morning I went to Ms. Teacher and told her how sorry I was and that I’d never do it again. For the rest of the year. I did all my work, and saved having fun for recess.

Window Poem

Ahead of me I see the tops of homes surrounding my own.
I see the street lights when they're on and when they're off.
To My left, my television sits. Waiting for me to play a movie or video game.
As I look out today, a house is burning to the ground.
Sometimes I yearn to see more, always end up seeing the same thing.
The sun is setting, leaving an orange glow across the other homes.
I can barely see the field in the distance.
I can almost make out the form of a calf, waiting all alone for it's mother.

Smile For The Camera

- My brother Michael and I take the most pictures of our family and friends group. He thinks he's the best but I'm better.
- I'm missing in a lot of photo's because I am never around to be in them, and if I am around I'm taking the picture because I hate when other people take pictures.
- At my house all of our pictures are in photo books, except a few that are in frames. But thats only a select few of them
- No photo's are not important, photo's make people hold on to the past. The past is gone, and the future hasn't happened yet. I like to focus on the now. Not saying there is anything wrong with keeping photo's but photos just aren't important to me personally.
- The most interesting photo I've seen of my family was of my father when he was really young! He was very slim like me with a flat top. That was wild for me to see because he was so big. It's crazy to think my dad was such a handsome guy.
- I wish I had a picture with my nephew T.J.

About The Author

Robert Bernard Calloway III was born in St. Louis, Missouri. His life started a little differently than most kids life. He was raised as a Jehovahs Witness up until he was about 13 years old. That's when his father passed away and he had a fallout with religion of all kinds. He had a rough teenage life in and out of trouble but now he's writing best selling children's books. His inspiration to write children's books was the fact that when he was a kid he didn't read very much because he never found the book's as interesting as video games. So now he writes books about video games or at least video game themed. Other than writing books his off time hobbies include basketball, gaming, and drawing.

Childhood Post

1. My most powerful memory I can remember is from when I was really young, I was in Pre-K. The memory wasn't anything crazy or sad. It was just me, looking up at the clear blue sky. That's all. I looked at the sky and thought about the world (the world I knew as a Pre-K age child), and how big it must be.

2. The most important person to me during most of my childhood was my little brother Kobe. Throughout all the troubles we went through as kids we were always there for each other. You didn't see one without the other. Kobe made me strive to be better, so we can always be close. Whenever we planned to do something in our futures, we planned to do them together. Kobe always pushed me to be a better person, and he still does.

3. If I could go back to be a child for a day, I'm going back to 2008. That was my golden year. Everything was perfect. I got my first computer with internet, Lil Wayne was on fire, actually all the music was good, my dad was alive and healthy. Life was perfect. 

4. That friend was me, all my friends in elementary school, and middle school up to the end of 7th grade, were way more popular than me. But the person I kind of left behind was my friend Jordan. When we first met in elementary school, we hated each other. At least we thought we did. We were only in 2nd grade. I moved in 3rd grade but came back in the middle of 5th. When I moved back, we still weren't super fond of one another. But soon enough we became best friends. He was the only person that my dad actually liked. And we both had interest in FPS's (First Person Shooters) and Anime. We always argued over if Call Of Duty was better than Gears of War, or if Bleach was better than Naruto. We were the perfect pair of best friends. I remember one time we tried to get high, but his grandpa caught us. It was wild. Luckily his grandpa didn't tell my mom. 

5. The funnest nights I can remember with my family was when my dad would go to Block Buster and let us check out video games, then we'd stay up all night taking turns playing. And some nights we'd play Madden. That was the family game, everyone went at it in that. Me and Kobe couldn't hang with our big brothers and dad, but it was nice to be included in family nights.

6. The "cartoons" (anime) I remember from my childhood are Dragon Ball Z, and Naruto. Growing up Goku and Naruto, the main character from each show, taught me valuable lessons on respect, virtue, and the importance of protecting your friends and family. I can say without a doubt that if they made a movie on either one of these shows, I would NOT go see it. Dragon Ball Z already had a movie based off it and it was terrible.

7. The action that makes me the most nostalgic for my childhood is playing old video games. Growing up I had all the consoles from the original Playstation and Xbox, all the way up to the Xbox One which I have currently. Growing up gaming was my life, actually it still is. To this day I play video games just about everyday.

8. I always got along with my family. I was a sweetheart as a child, conflict with my family wasn't something I wanted. I wanted to protect my family from those outside of our family. I loved being with my family on Christmas night. All my cousins and siblings joined at my grandmas house to open presents, eat, and sing the 12 days of Christmas. Now looking back, I miss Christmas at Grandmothers house. Things change though.

9. As a child I was never content with what I knew. I always had to ask questions. Looking back, I'm glad I only knew the things I knew. Now I just wish I could forget the harsh realities of life, forget all the mistakes I've made, and forget the mistakes others have made towards me.

10. My 7th birthday party. All my friends from the neighborhood were at my house! That was unusual because my dad didn't usually like the neighborhood kids in our house. But I guess since it was my birthday he had a slight change of heart, or my mom did some sweet talking to him. That birthday party was fun. We watched the Scooby-Doo Movie and had cake and typical birthday stuff.

11. I'd go straight back to being 9 years old. Life was perfect, my dad was alive, my brothers lived with me, we'd just got internet and our Mac. We had an Xbox 360 at the time. I had so many friends. If I could go back then with the mindset I have now, I wouldn't. I'd want to completely have my little kid mind so I could really enjoy it and just be a kid again.

12. Growing up I was a healthy kid for the most part, only problem I really came across was asthma. Wasn't the worst asthma but I had to take an inhaler (as needed). The only time I had a real injury was when I broke my wrist, in two places. I was simply playing kickball when I fell over a kid! I landed right on my wrist. I thought it just hurt, so I went home and two days later my mom asked yet again did it hurt, I told her yeah and she took me to the doctor and it was indeed broken.

13. I didn't have a favorite toy, I was to busy playing games.

14. The only book that I really read at a young age was "No More Dead Dogs." Only reason I remember that book is because of the main characters name. It's Wallace Wallace. I thought that was super cool, I wanted my name to be Calloway Calloway, or Robert Robert. I was actually jealous of this characters name.

15. My favorite game growing up was Jet Set Radio Future, a video game as you might've guessed. I was obsessed with this game. It was about a gang of roller blading teens called the GG's fighting against a corrupt government or business owner or something like that. It was cool because they skated around and did graffiti on everything. It was stunning to see as a kid. I actually started rollerblading because of that game. I don't anymore because I just don't. But it was fun to do as a kid.

16. I didn't have a nemesis. I was above that level.

17. As a kid I loved duck and noodles, literally would eat it whenever I could. The only thing I used to eat as a kid that I refuse to eat now is a Three Musketeers bar. They are gross.

18. I'd rather not answer.

19. I did not accomplish much as a child. I don't feel that I've had a "greatest childhood accomplishment."

20. When I was uncomfortable as a child, or scared even, I always ran to my father. If he was gone to work or something, I'd go to my oldest brother Reggie Jr. Something about them being the man ain the house made me feel comfortable. Like no one could harm me if I was with them.

21. I'm still the same Robert B Calloway III. Goofy, fun loving, helpful, but at times mean as can be. The only difference is that now I can control the mean side of me a bit better now.

22. My opinion of my parents have stayed the same. I'm going to keep them to myself.

23. My most "interesting" relative is my deadbeat uncle. I hate that guy. So many times he's done some out of line stuff. I can't stand him. He fell down the steps once, it was pretty funny.

24. I was raised as a Jehovahs Witness.

25. I don't really know my heritage for the most part, what I've been told is my mom's side of the family originates from Haiti.

26. I moved around a lot for multiple different reasons, most of the time each house was on the same playing field as the last. Except for when I lived with my grandma, her house out did every house I've ever lived in.

27. My first real "away from home experience" was the night I went to juvenile. That was when life really started setting in. I realized I wasn't a little kid anymore. No more slaps on the wrist, life was changing right before my eyes. I was nervous honestly, I didn't know what to do. It made me even more nervous knowing that there wasn't anything I could do. Laying there in some jump suit that probably wasnt washed staring at the ceiling, I couldn't believe it.

28. Honestly there is no certain smell that sticks out in my head.

29. My favorite dinner as a kid was my moms pork chops, mashed potatoes, and whatever else she had with it. As long as it had pork chops and mashed potatoes I was happy.

30. Okay, I opened my brothers birthday present and got grounded for it. It had my name on it. So even though there is some more background info I'm not sharing, it still had my name on it. And My Mom mad me sit in the bathroom all day, like I was a dog or something. Luckily it wasnt for long. I had to sit in there and write "I will not steal" over, and over, and over again.

31. I don't remember what age I was exactly I know I was pretty young, around five or six years old.

32. As a kid, I wanted to be a lawyer. More specifically, a high paid lawyer.

33. I pictured it a lot better than it is. I pictured my family together, I'd have my own car, everything would be perfect.

34. My older brother, Michael Jordan Calloway. He always supported me on everything, he pushed me to be the best at whatever I wanted to be the best at. He still wants to see me go farther than he has.

35. I was in a cabin, looking out the window into a forest type area. There is a woman standing out there. All of a sudden she's right in front of me and she throws me out the window and chases me out while I'm flying through the air. The dream never makes it past that point.

36. One thing I disliked about my childhood was that my dad made me cut my hair all the time, and I hated having short hair.

37. Toy Story was my movie, no movie could touch toy story. I always wanted a woody action figure. I still want one now that I'm thinking about it.

38. I collected video games, all types. Well I guess it was a family thing. Collecting items wasn't my thing. I was too irresponsible.

39. "If you carry your childhood with you, you never become older" I like that because everyone usually has good childhood moments, but we have to let go and focus on the now. The past is gone, and the future hasn't happened yet.

Movie Quotes

"Sooner or later, different scares people." (The Accountant)
"I spent my life recognizing my lucky breaks after they were gone." (The Accountant)
"You can't put a price on being able to live with yourself" (13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers Of Benghazi)
"You can die for your country, I'm gonna live for mine." (The Lone Survivor)

Family

The screams wouldn't stop. I hoped it was Kayla, she'd gone missing out of nowhere. I slowly approached the small house and pushed the door opened. Right when the door opened it smelled worse than any thing I have ever smelled in my life. It was too dark to see, so I turned my phone's flashlight on. I instantly regretted it. There were bodies, and body parts spread around the home. I felt so light headed, confused by what I was seeing. I couldn't wrap around my head around the fact that this is what had been happening, less than a mile from my house. I guess that's one of the perks of living in the country, your next door neighbors aren't really you next door neighbors. They're close enough to kind of see, but far enough that they can't bother you. 

I head the screams again, it sounded more and more like Kayla. It had to be coming from the basement, that's where all the cliche murders happen right? I wanted to turn around and search somewhere else, but I couldn't risk it actually being her. So I slowly walked down towards the basement, flashlight on, heart pumping so fast I could barely breath. I kept my head on a swivel watching for anyone, or anything, that wanted to try to get the jump on me. Only place that I failed to keep an eye on was behind me. I was pushed down the old wooden stairs. I tried to look at who pushed me, but I couldn't focus my eye sight. All I could see was a figure standing above me. Everything was coming into focus. It was my older brother Michael.

To be continued. . .

2000's Photo

Klev's Independence Square Before and After the Revolution (2014)

This picture really jumped out and grabbed at me. One reason is just because that beautiful place has turned to a wasteland that looks like it straight out of a video game. I'm trying to put myself in their shoes, how scared innocent bystanders were, or how serious the Ukrainian revolutionaries were about removing their president. 

This also makes me think of America. Obviously not us currently, but what we could become. I'm very concerned with the future of this nation. My foster dad, who was in the armed forces, and I have many conversations about Americas current state and what the future may hold. We don't always agree, but one thing we have agreed on is the fact that there is a large chance that there will be World War III. I didn't believe him for at first, but once he told me his reasons, I fell in to his conspiracy. America, Russia, and China all wanting power, America not being, or at least coming off as, tough as we used to be. Everything was adding up. Not to mention our "presidential candidates" who we both think are unfit to become president. 

All in all, this photo for me is a reminder. A reminder that tells me loud and clearly that not everything stays the same. Bad times come, and they do not give a warning. 

Juliette's Story

Juliette Maya Crow born July 8th, 1957 in Jacksonville, Mississippi. She works at Dave's Country Mart as a store clerk in the mornings, but in the evenings she's at home, sewing together clothes. All she's wanted to do is become a successful fashion designer. Her husband Mr. Jim Crow, disagreed. He felt that she should stay at home, and take care of little Elliot. Their year old baby. At this point in time, being a woman wasn't easy as it is today. That couldn't stop Juliette, she continued chasing her dreams. No matter how many times she was rejected, she just kept trying she was not giving up.

Jim grew tired of not having a stay home wife and divorced Juliette and left her with the baby. She couldn't understand how that got him any closer to a stay home wife, but she still pushed on. When she went for an interview, Elliot came too. Where ever she went, Elliot was right by her side. She called him her "guardian angel." Soon enough, Juliette became very successful, with her baby clothing line.

"Inspired By Hopper"

There he was, Alfonso Colombo. The head of the Colombo Mafia, known for helping support local businesses, and less known for their drug smuggling, and hunting down local business owners when it's time to pay up. I ain't ever had a problem with the Colombo Mafia until they double crossed me and tried to take me out the cut. See the Colombo Mafia used to split the city with the Madaki Mob, my family. I guess those Italian pricks got a little greedy. Now after all the hunting I did, I find Alfonso Colombo in a diner. A diner out of all places. It didn't make any difference to me. If he was here, there, anywhere, I'd find him and I'd kill him for what he'd done. This was the moment I'd been waiting for. I was done searching, done hunting. This was the man who'd hired goons to have me killed.

"How's the coffee Alfonso?" He turned and when we met eyes, his almost bulged out his head. He tried to get up and run but he was getting to old to be able to escape from me. I slammed hit to the ground with just enough force to subdue him but not to knock him out. I needed answers.

"Why the hell did you set me up!? We were supposed to own this city, together!" I yelled at him

"You really thought I'd share the city with likes of some nigger! This was never a plan to split it with you. Having you with us made taking over the city much easier."

Thinking about it, I should've seen this coming. My uncle always told me that in times like this there are no friends. Only associates. Also, that I should never let my guard down. I didn't listen. After my uncle was murdered, the Colombo Mafia said they wanted us to rule the city with them. To stop all the senseless killing. At the time it sounded so right, so real. Look where that got me. I became enraged.

"You mean to tell me all this, all the killing I had to do to get this city was for nothing?" I said.

"That's exactly what I mean boy. What are you gonna do kill me here? Everyone's gonna know it was you, and they'll hunt you and your loved ones down."

What he didn't understand was that he killed the ones I loved.

"That is what I'm going to do. And when they come looking for me. I wont run. I'm gonna kill them to, boy." With a single shot, I ended Alfonso Colombo's life. This isn't the end, I know that. I'm gonna have to fight. Fight to get my city back. And I'll do it, no matter how long it takes.

Art/Therapy

I can say without a doubt that art is a type of therapy. I personally use it as a therapeutic escape whenever I'm upset or down, arts always calming. Art has always been a part of my life. Growing up in a very musically and artistically talented family, everyone had to have some type of talent. So instead of an instrument, I picked up a pencil and started drawing. I like more graffiti type art, or even anime/manga. I also like photography. I wan't to pursue a career in some art field, mostly photography and travel the world for inspiration. I'd want to be a photographer because I feel that pictures say a lot about people. Sometimes more than anything a person could say about someone, or even their self. Even the way the picture is taken could tell you something about the photographer. Pictures really are worth 1000 words.

Artist Profile: Henry Tanner

Tanner was born June 21, 1859 in Pittsburgh, PA. Son of Benjamin Tucker Tanner who was a bishop, and Sarah Turner. Brother to Halle Tanner Dillon Johnson. He loved art since he was 13 and would draw and paint as much as he could. His father was not as enthusiastic as he was, he objected to it. That didn't stop Tanner, he ended up attending PA of the Fine Arts. Tanner became successful in the art world becoming critically admired by the mid 1890's, with "The Banjo Lesson" as one of his most famous paintings. In 1890
Tanner married Jessie Macauley Olssen, a white American singer and continued with his art. Tanner used mostly oil paint for his paintings and was associated with the realism and Harlem Renaissance movements. Tanner was found dead May 25th, 1937 in his home in Paris.

Artist Inspired Poem

Mama says it's good that I learn to play the banjo
She said most colored boys don't get the chance
And that I should be thankful
I didn't like it at first
It was hard and I couldn't get the hang of it
Mama wouldn't let me quit
So I didn't
That's why I am who I am
The Banjo Player

We thankful poor

O we thankful poor

We don't have much

We have all we need

Seconds are a blessing

The don't come often

When they do it's a feast

How thankful we are

We thankful poor

O we thankful poor

6 Word Memoir

"Kanye's ego cant touch my ego."

Famous First and Last Lines

"You better not never tell nobody but God."

"This line opens the novel The Color Purple, published in 1982 by author Alice Walker, who was born in Georgia on 9 February 1944. Through letters written back and forth to one another, the novel traces the story of two poor, African-American sisters who are separated, one married off to an older, misogynistic neighbor and the other called to serve as a missionary in Africa. The main character Celie also writes letters to God because she has no one else to share her shameful secrets and her deepest feelings with. " - Mrs. Frayser

The Color Purple was written by Alice Walker. Walker has multiple "best-sellers" and her work has been translated into over a dozen languages.

I've never actually read The Color Purple, but I have seen the movie multiple times in my life. Actually, I watched it not too long ago at my sisters house. I don't have much to say about the film other than it's a good film. It tells a good story, and was acted out very well. I might read the book and try to compare it to the movie.


"Maybe I will go to Paris. Who knows? But I'll sure as hell never go back to Texas again."

This is the ending line to The Final Country, published in 2001 by author James Crumley. Milo Milodragovitch owns a bar and does some private investigating to help a lady named Molly get justice for her sister who was raped and murdered. 

This is also a book I've never read, but now that I've read the synopsis, I actually want to read this. It seems like it would be a page turner for me, and I don't think a lot of books are.

"Don't quote me on that.."

"My greatest pain in life is knowing that I will never be able to see myself perform live."
"George Bush doesn't care about black people."
"Nobody can tell me where I can and can't go."
"Creative output, you know, is just pain. I'm going to be cliche for a minute and say that great art comes from pain."
-Kanye West

"People don't realize what's really going on in this country. There are a lot things that are going on that are unjust. People aren't being held accountable for. And that's something that needs to change. That's something that this country stands for freedom, liberty and justice for all. And it's not happening for all right now." - Colin Kaepernick 

"You gotta risk it to get the biscuit." - Jimmy Butler

"Writers As Readers"

1. When I read, I like it to be quite. I don't have to be by myself I just can't be around to much noise because I get distracted very easily. I also like to listen to classical music while I read. Something about it helps me focus on my book.

4. Going to my local library, to check out books, movies, and albums with my father back when I was in middle school.

5. There have been a couple books I've read recently that I can recall that I couldn't stop reading, and that was Trafficked written by Kim Purcell, If I Grow Up and Boot Camp written by Todd Strasser, and We Were Here by Matt De La Pena.

13. When I was a little kid I would love to try to write short stories about this superhero named Michael Andrew or Andrew Michaels, can't remember which one. So I wouldn't doubt the possibility of me attempting to write a book later on in life. I've been through a lot, so I'd probably try to write a realistic fiction about some kid who has been through some things I've been through, and some of the things I've seen others go through.

Caged Bird

I don't know why the world is the way that it is.
I wish I could change it all
Only for the better
I feel as if I'm a caged bird
Singing for freedom
Only to give it to others
Others that need it
Need it to survive

"You May Say I'm A Dreamer"

Dreams for my Future -

Over my life I've a lot of different dreams I tried to pursue like being a lawyer, a guitarist, fashion designer, multiple things. My mom always said its better to be the "Jack-of-all-Trades" than to be really good at one thing, she said I was "opening doors" for myself. Which I think is true, but being seventeen years old I realized that I need to find something to try to focus on and I need to find it soon. I think I've found it, or them. I either want to own my own auto and body shop, or become a photographer. It'd be nice to do both. I really just want to have a career that involves art. Anything really, I usually just go with the flow, but I've really been pushing the flow to go towards art because art has been a big part of my life since I was born. Everyone in my family is artistic, usually in a more musical fashion. That's never been my thing though, I couldn't really find an instrument that I could sit down and learn, but drawing and painting is not something you need to "learn." You can draw something that may look like trash to someone else, but if you like it, then its good. Drawing/painting can't be determined by someone else, only you. Same for photography, you can take a picture and it may come out terrible to others but if you like it, well it's the same as before, it's good.

Maya Angelou Questions

2. “The Universal Human Power To Triumph Over Adversity” -

I know 100% without a doubt that I have that ability. I recently had to show it, over these last two years I thought I had no way out. I didn’t have any of the opportunities I have now, but I made a way. I’ve been under the microscope of certain people for a long time, and I’m just now escaping from under it. I had to keep my head on straight and focus on what’s important, and that was getting out from under their microscope. I started getting into more positive things like sports, art, and reading. That made the time fly by, and it made it easier for me to stay out of trouble.

3. “Giving bad dreams too much power” -

I don’t think talking about your bad dreams give them any power at all, unless you give it

to them. I think in all honestly that talking about bad dreams takes away more power than it’ll ever give to them. Letting the memory of that dream stay inside you, could do more damage to you than speaking out about it. Speaking out releases the power things (in this case bad dreams) have over you.

4. “Dreams tell the truth about us” -

I think dreams tell us more about ourselves more than other people, it’s just that most people just try to brush dreams off, because they’re dreams. I feel that dreams come from the subconscious and that our mind might be trying to tell us something bigger. Even if the dream doesn’t make that much sense on the base of it, if you look a little deeper you might find out something about yourself that you’d never thought about.

5. “Living Silent Like Angelou” -

There is no way I could live like this, I have to speak my mind. I hate holding my tongue, and doing it for almost five years? I couldn’t do it. On the other hand, sometimes I wish I could live like that. I think by listening more than talking, you’ll learn a lot more about the world around you, or the world period. If you speak more and talk less, you’ll learn more about yourself. So I think it better to have a mix, because you don’t want to know all about the world without knowing yourself, but you don’t want to know yourself and nothing else.

7. “Remembering the Past” -

I can remember a few things in my life, but I just try not to think about them. Not because the memories are bad, I do have some bad ones, but it’s because I try to live in the “now”. The past is gone, and the future doesn’t exist. People waste too much time, regretting things or trying to plan too far ahead, and by the time they know it, it’s their time to go. I don’t wanna go out regretting anything, like thinking I didn’t live life to the fullest because I was too worried about the past of the future. Only thing that is important is what’s happening now.

Kids From The Breakout (Dream Thread)

The faint sound of people bustling inside the strange house attracted my attention instantly. I didn't know what was going on, but I was too interested to not go and look. I peered through the window and seen nothing at all. The sounds didn't stop. With the new "breakout" going around, I knew better than to go into any house unprepared. I'm always prepared. I went in ready for anything, but what I found threw my off guard. Two young children, sitting, waiting actually. They told me their story of how they have to stay here and fight for what they have. They asked to come with me, even though I didn't have a lot, I didn't care. I had enough to help the people nobody wants to help or be around. And together we'll survive.

Superman (Color Collage)

It was so tall, unlike I, who was so short.
My heart was racing, I was nervous all the way through the line
I wanted to quit, but my eldest brother wouldn't let me live it down
So I stuck with it, and there I was
Looking up at this ride that touched the clouds
Was it really to late to quit

I stuck with it
Couldn't let my brother down
We strapped in and we were ready to take off.
Why did I agree to that
I could hear the screams of others from a mile away
It was too late

We started moving towards the clouds
I thought I could see over the mountains
It really was the end
I regretted doing this
Who makes something go this high
Why me
We dropped

My brothers, including the eldest, screamed along side of me
Brothers till the end
Then we stopped
I wasn't dead
I wasn't scared
I wanted to do it again
So I did
Over and over

The Light (Color Story)

I couldn't see a thing, not even my own hand, right there in my face. The world, or the room, or cell, whatever I was in was completely black. Not a pinch of light could be seen. I tried to find a door, but there wasn't one, either the room was too large, or I wasn't in a room period. I felt like I was losing my mind. Then, a bright white light, lit up the entire room. I was home, but something was off.

My room was filled with people. Sick people. How come I didn't notice them before? These people were at the bottom of bottoms, all looked pale, yellow, purple because of how sick they were. Constant moaning and groaning. I wish the lights were back off. I think I'm going to be sick. In a flash, they're gone. Now I was really thrown off, this had to be a dream or something.

I tried to stand, but I couldn't move. I looked down to see my tan carpet swallowing me whole, I started to panic. I let out a huge scream, and next thing I know my older brother is waking me up. I looked around, everything was normal. No sick people, no hungry carpets, just me and my brother.

I started explaining the nightmare to him, but he kept shaking me, telling me to get up. It was like he couldn't hear me. When I stood up, I felt light. As if I was empty. I turned around and went it to shock. I was looking my brother, continuously shake me trying to wake me up. I didn't understand. I went to the bathroom to look at myself, and everything looked like it should've except my eyes. Instead of being the light brown they usually were. My eyes were a deep wine red. My heart was beating faster than ever, even though I wasn't hyperventilating. I tried to walk out, the white light was back, I tried to run through it but I ended up somewhere else. Somewhere that felt like home. It was home. I am home.

Paint Chip Poetry

Haiku:

I really hate this

I want to flutter bye

I really hate this

Haiku 2:

Irresistible

Kiss On A Gloomy Tuesday

I want to go home

Purple Midnight:

In the darkness of the purple midnight

I saw her

Though she was dressed in rococco violet

I saw her so clearly

Purple thrush

A very good rush

Every thing is purple

Every thing but her

She is bright

Unlike the purple midnight

Missing:

(S)o far gone

(E)ven when we're right here

(A)lways too early or too late

(S)o far gone

(R)arely in the picture when I should be

(A)lways too out of it

(Y)eezus is in the building

GHOST:

It creeps around in the dark night

Waiting to strike

You can't prepare for the attack

No matter how hard you try

This demon always wins

It's name is one we all no.

Depression

The Ghost

"Ode To Microsoft"

Rah Rah Calloway

Mrs. Frayser

Creative Writing

30 August 2016

Ode to Microsoft

Thanks Microsoft for all the memories you have created for me. They’re memories that will live with me forever. Because of you all, I had an amazing childhood, filled with excitement and heartfelt moments. Thanks Microsoft for making the Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox One. Your company is one of the living memories I have of my father. The man who bought me my first Xbox.

We actually owned our Xbox before I can even remember. We were a competitive bunch, my father would face-off against my older brothers Michael and Reggie Jr. in Madden. The old Madden’s of course. Since I was only in early elementary School I couldn’t keep up with them, so many time when I challenged on of them, they lower the quarter to 2 minutes, and destroy me. My sister would tell me how if I didn’t really understand or wasn’t the best in a game, she’d find me up at night playing the game, trying to master it. This was over ten years ago!

My love for Xbox and the memories it brought to me doesn’t stop there. All through elementary school I played games like, Ultimate Alliance 1 & 2, Spiderman, Guitar Hero 1, 2, & Legends of Rock. Everyday after school I was in it to win it. Never did I ever beat my dad in Madden though. He asked me not to long before he passed what I wanted to do when he got out of the hospital, and I told him that I wanted to play him in a single game of Madden. He said that we could, too bad it never happened. I always call it ‘The Forgotten Game.’ It hurts to think about still but it honestly one of the most vivid memories I have of my father. He always connected with me through video games. Racing games, fighting games, RPG’s (Role Playing Games), everything that wasn’t to gory. I remember one day when my dad picked me and my little brother Kobe up from school. When we went outside he told us to look in the trunk. I was pretty confused, but when the trunk came open, it all made sense. My father had bought me new guitars for Guitar Hero, new Xbox controllers, new games, everything. I was so happy, we got to go home and play games for the rest of the day. All in all, I feel that video games helped my dad bond with my brothers and I more than anything else. My dad worked a lot but that didn’t stop him from playing with us sometimes. Really, I’d catch him playing by himself sometimes. My dad was a beast at Madden 08 (That sounds so old now that made 18 is going to come out next year). I have to Thank you Microsoft (and EA sports) for all the memories you brought to me and my family, because of you I have good memories about my father and my brothers.

I am Rah Rah Calloway

Rah Rah Calloway

I Am…

• Ferguson, Springfield, Sparta, and Raymore all mixed into one.
• Chophouse, the best (and only) steakhouse I’ve been too. Located in Tuscaloosa Alabama.
• The new generation of rap music, like Lil Uzi, 21 Savage, and Lil Boat.
• The high definition graphics of 2k16, Black Ops 3, GTA 5, and Need For Speed on the Xbox One. My favorite pass time or in other words, the reason for my poor time management.
• “Blonde”, Frank Ocean’s newest album. The album that has a song that fits each and every one of my moods.
• A diverse sense a fashion. Jordans during the week. Stacey Adams on the weekends.
• The son of Reginald Duane Calloway Sr. Who is the brother of Robert Calloway Jr. Son of Robert Lee Calloway Sr. Whom I’m named after.
• An aspiring Photographer, Fashion Designer, and Artist.
• First Baptist Church. The loudest black church I could’ve ever went to as a child. The church I also got baptized at.
• Orange Crush Soda. Not nearly my favorite but somehow I always end up drinking it.
• A very big procrastinator, better late than never.
• A early bird, been that way since I went to Ferguson Middle School. Used to wake up with my mom at 5 in the morning.
• Known as the “weird” one of my siblings, I’d say that I’m just more artistic.
• The conspiracy theories about the Illuminati that my brother introduced me to.
• The foster son of Matt & Alicia Hoss, and have been for 5 Months.
• Skywalker, the name my basketball coach in Sparta gave me because of his high hopes of my being able to dunk even though I’m not 6’0ft yet.