Analyzing The Essay 'Graduation' By Maya Angelou

“I remember the amazing progress, comparable with that of no other group or race which the Negro has achieved in less than a century of freedom…I recall the immortal message of the Negro National Anthem.”

“You can not do it. You are not good enough.” How often have these words torn down a person’s self esteem and confidence. How often have these words stood in the way of a person’s success, paralyzing that person in fear or disappointment. Maya Angelou knew this feeling well in her story, “Graduation Day.” The excitement and pride of graduating is taken away by one man’s words. These words lead the audience to believe that they are worthless. However, repressive words only possess power when allowed.

Angelou feels dismayed about the situation and says “It was awful to be a Negro and have no control over my life.” (par. 47) In the last few paragraphs of the essay, Angelou describes how everyone sang the Negro national anthem and how they all came together and she says “We were on top again. As always, again. We survived.”

We should all be dead.” (Angelou, pp. 184). “Hadn’t he got the message? There was no “nobler in the mind” for Negros because the world didn’t think we had minds, and they let us know it.” (Angelou, p.

Although, Angelou’s academic accomplishments were confronted by stereotypical opinions of African Americans, her hope was renewed by hearing a familiar song and made the audience feel honored to be an African American. For instance, Angelou’s took pride in her academic accomplishments and on her upcoming graduation. Initially, Angelou writes using emotion to convey her excitement about her graduation by going into details that was used to make this day special. Her dress was unique because it was hand sewn by her mother with patience and pride.

We couldn’t be, so the question was a waste of time.” cite “I marveled that Henry could go through with the speech as if we had a choice.” Henry’s words begin to sink in, and Maya Angelou’s pride changes. The change starts when Henry reestablishes hope and meaning back to the Negro population. He reveals how their culture and race fight for liberty, through the Negro national anthem.

Maya Angelou was one of the greatest writers of all time. Born in 1914, she wrote both about her personal life and the struggles of being an African American. Maya lived the struggle and the raw emotions she fills flow through her writings. Graduation is just one of her writings. In this short story she tells about the life of a young black girl graduating from 8th grade from the rural segregated town of Stamps, Arkansas.

As always, again” (Angelou 184). At the conclusion of Henry Reed‘s graduation speech Angelou writes, “I was a proud member of the wonderful, beautiful Negro race” (184). Although these were examples of experiences that helped racial pride in Angelou, Mrs. Flower’s provides the first

Illustrated as an “economically deprived women of color who succeeded in spite of oppression, Angelou represents the “revitalization...and revisioning” of the “American Dream” for African Americans (Dobris,1) Prior to Angelou’s “Harlem Hopscotch”, African Americans were overwhelmed with “shame, guilt, and negativity” from diverse prejudice races and as a result began influencing the regretful black society “to reject parts of their identity” (Dobris,

Maya Angelou channels different emotions throughout her story. At first, she seemed excited about her rite of passage and being proud of her African-American community. Until she hears Mr. Donleavy; the guest speaker stereotypical remarks. After Dunleavy leaves the graduation ceremony, Marguerite’s attitude changes. The Patho is revealed when she states, "It was awful to be a Negro and had no control over my life....listen to charges brought against my color with no chance of defense."

The words a person speaks depends on the individual’s character. Words create either a positive or negative atmosphere. Most people base their self-worth off of the opinions of others. A person’s word choice can influence another person’s future. When an individual hears discouraging comments about themselves, their confidence lowers, however, when a person hears uplifting and encouraging compliments, their confidence rises. These ideas appear multiple times throughout Maya Angelou’s, “Graduation Day”. The story refers to a young girl graduating the eighth grade. Maya Angelou encountered many people who challenged her personal growth because of the words spoken to her. Although common belief states words have no power, words have the power to influence an audience.

" A light is supposed to help you see your way; it brightens not just your day, but your path." These were the words spoken by Dr. Maya Angelou, a well-known American poet, an actress, a singer; overall, "a jack of all trades." During Angelou's visit to the Glide Memorial church in San Francisco, she taught the importance of inspiring others and "shining your light" on them despite your differences. Regardless of your ethnicity, sexuality, gender, religion or age; you should treat everyone with kindness and with the upmost respect. She teaches this lesson to her audience by reflecting on the hardships throughout her life; all while managing to come out being victorious and being an inspiration to people throughout her literary work and her

Good morning, Mrs. Mueller, Sister Joan, faculty, honored guests, parents, friends, and graduates. Welcome to Xavier College Preparatory’s 70th Commencement. We are gathered today, in this Jubilee Year of Mercy, not just to celebrate and commemorate the past four years, but to thank God for the blessing that is our lives. But, being grateful towards God isn’t encompassed in a prayer that functions as a precursor to our ceremony. Rather, it involves the realization that God has been working within our lives every day. So by thanking God, we are thanking our parents ,who have loved, cherished and supported us in our journey, and the faculty and staff, who have formed and sustained our growth as young women of excellence.

There is Edward walking towards me I can hear him say “it’s not you”. Does he not want me to be his fourth person,as he come closer I see a tear come down his face. I put my basket down and I smile at him. He comes towards me and put his arms around me and cries on my shoulder and I finally remember what our loved felt like. Our love was deep but quiet, it was a grateful love and it was irreplaceable. And I will never take it for granted he is exactly how I remember handsome. He looks at me like he has never seen me before. Did he forget what i look like, am i wearing off on his hear?

In America, freed slaves dreamed of freedom and equality for their children after emancipation, but their hopes slowly died due to Jim Crow laws. Their eyes and ears forced them to forget how their children's lives should be, but their hearts refused. A handful of their children that grew up with false hope of freedom started to write about the effect of the broken promise of emancipation on African Americans. Paul Dunbar was one those children, born to freed slave parents; he experienced first-hand what it meant to have false freedom. Dunbar used the pain and loneliness he endured growing up in the late twentieth century to write many of his poems including “Sympathy.” A generation later, Dunbar would inspire Maya Angelou, an African American poet, to develop a love for literature and language. Maya Angelou even used the last line of “Sympathy” to title her famous book, I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings. Despite Angelou being born a generation after Dunbar, Angelou also faced similar oppression and segregation. However, Angelou had a community that protected and made her feel she belonged, despite living in a country full of danger towards African Americans. Both authors explore the ideas of racism, oppression, and freedom as African Americans. Dunbar's poem emphasizes his lonely and powerless fight for freedom, while Angelou, in her story, “Champion of the World” emphasizes the unity of her community, and a hero that empowered her community,