Alicia Keys

Alicia Keys at the 2013 ARIA Music Awards(Wikipedia) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alicia_Keys#/media/File:AliciaKeys2013.jpg"We have the potential to help people out of poverty, out of disease, out of slavery and out of conflict. Too often, we turn the other way because we think there's nothing we can do" (Alicia Keys). As a society we tend to hold celebrities in the highest pedestal, celebrities such as Kardashian family, we've repeated over and over that they do not deserve their fame, fortune, or their recognition, yet we still idolize them; however, some celebrities make it their goal to make a difference, one of them being the one and only Alicia Keys. Born and raised in Manhattan, Alicia Augello Cook, later known as Alicia Keys, was welcomed into the world on January 25, 1981. Keys was nurtured by her mother, Terri Augello, who struggled to make ends meet as a paralegal/actress and a single mother due to Keys' father Craig Cook being out of the picture. Even at a young age, Keys had a knack for music, which her mother picked up on. Though the family was in poverty, Augello wanted her daughter to continue music lessons, specifically piano, no matter how much it took, spurring Keys' deep love for music from then on. Keys attended the Professional Performing Arts School in Manhattan when she was 12, a school meant for juniors and seniors in high school. At 16 she graduated as the valedictorian of her class and was soon discovered by Columbia Records. Today she is signed with a different company, is famous for her hit singles, and is a judge on The Voice, but it is not only her larger than life personality that drawing fans, but also her kind heart. A hero is someone who is sometimes stubborn and is empathetic towards others: so stubborn that they know what they want, that they won't be discouraged or led off of the path that they've decided on, and empathetic towards others in understanding and being motivated to help those in need. There are many influential people, but no one quite like Alicia Keys has drawn such attention. She possesses a certain charisma, where she won't stand up for anything she doesn't believe in, or for anything that doesn't fit her ideals. She also, like many other celebrities, has turned to charities and organizations spreading a message of unity for the greater good.

With her stubbornness, determination, love for music and confidence in her own self image, Keys has been able to create a legacy. In an interview for a Newsmakers article, the star was quoted saying, "I've had a deep love for music since I was four. Music came before everything, everything, everything. It just meant more than anything ever meant. I would risk everything for it. I'd mess around and get kicked out of school for it or kicked out of my Momma's house for it. There was nothing that was more important to me" (Newsmakers). This quote shows truly how much she wanted to become a performer. When she was young, she fell in love with music after her mother noticed she had a gift. Just like that it, Keys knew music was what she wanted to pursue. She mentions she would get kicked out of school and her mother's house; this shows the depth of her seriousness and infatuation with music. Keys has always had a personal style and sound; determined not to stray from her original rooting, Keys refused to become a doll for Columbia Records to shape. "I felt that they wanted me to be a clone of Mariah [Carey] or Whitney [Houston], and I couldn't do that. I'm not the sequined dress type, or the high-heeled type, or the all-cleavage type" (New York Times). In this quote, Keys is referring to her former label who, in return for signing on, wanted her to become something she was not. Not only did they want her to change her image, but also her music--the sole reason why Keys signed with them in the first place. She wanted to create music that was unique to her, but the company pushed the star to go into different waters, something Keys was not totally comfortable with. So Keys broke off, joining another label because she believed Arista Records respected her views and values more. Keys' early decisions shaped her into the person she is today. She protested against being used as a thing to be bent to someone else's will, and when she put her mind to something, such as music, she never gave up, never backed down.

Alicia Keys is a name known around the world; using this fact to her advantage, Keys is able to band together communities for a better cause by enlisting some help from her fans and social media. Keys is known for her active work is separate organizations. To a normal person, devoting time into one organization, let alone one thing, is hard enough, but twelve, that's a feat Keys was willing to take on. "Keys says she will encourage her fans to support 12 specific groups... Keys is donating $1 million of her own money, to be divided among the 12 groups, and she hopes that her fans will make their own donations directly to the charities" (New York Times). Keys has fans across the globe; considering how dedicated they are, it would be no surprise that they also support what she does. Her donation encourages others to donate too, and her words influence others to take the lead in doing something right. She is able to give a voice to those who cannot speak for themselves, hopefully improving their lives by enlisting the help of those more fortunate. One specific organization out of the twelve hits home, reminding Keys of what it was like to fight for her dreams. "Hoping to promote her message that anyone could achieve their dreams if they believed in themselves and worked hard, Keys teamed up with the WE Network for another cause" (Contemporary Musicians). Like herself, Keys wanted others to know they can become whatever they want to be, if they just follow their dreams and work hard. The "for another" in the last sentence implies Keys has already joined several causes, which is rather an understatement. Keys wants to help others, and that is evident from all the time she has devoted to the things she cares about. This is not just a ploy to attract fame, this is a real woman fighting for real causes in a time when the people need it most. A hero does not always have to save kittens from trees or invent a cure to a seemingly incurable disease; it can be something as simple as putting effort into something worthwhile.

Although she is a celebrity, Keys knows what she wants. Whether it is something about her career with music or the issues we face, Keys is obviously making an impact on others. She inspires people to follow through with their dreams. To always be yourself, to believe, to make the world a better place--Keys has done all these things and she isn't stopping any time soon, still having a long way to go. Keys will always be fighting for a better world where we are treated equally, where AIDS is tackled, and where the population becomes motivated to do things that seem out of their reach. Keys inspires people to do this, to have these thoughts, and her influence on the masses will only grow stronger as the world's need for help grows as well. People need hope, they need someone to rely on, and Alicia Keys is undoubtedly someone to put trust in for a better future.

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