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Grandmothers Victory Maya Angelou

740 Words3 Pages

Maya Angelou, one of the most influential African Americans, tells her story to reveal the humanity of their times. Segregation in her time was primal. She learned how to evolve during this time without doubting her character. Raised by her grandmother who had the largest influence in her life, Angelou learned how to accept the environment she was brought up in. In “Grandmothers Victory” Maya Angelou shows innocence, recognition, and bravery to exemplify a powerful message that shows the humanity of her time. The phrase “Powhitetrash,” (Angelou) is used throughout the story to show how they referred to the others. Young, and having the experience Maya had, she was innocent to what was going on around her. She was aware that she was different …show more content…

Maya’s innocence showed how as a young age nothing could be understood as to why she could not fight back and stand up for her family. “I was as clearly imprisoned behind the scene as the actors outside were confined to their roles” (Angelou,18). Her grandmother’s wise words after this event led her to become the women she is today. By reminding Maya to always have respect for all her elders, no matter what color, helped shaped Maya Angelou into the most influential world leaders for African Americans. As Maya grew up she was able to recognize and acknowledge more about why she was different and why she had to follow certain rules and have a certain lifestyle. Maya’s grandmother declared that whenever they referred to an adult they must address them as “Mister, Missus, Miss, Auntie, Cousin, Unk, Uncle, Buhbah, Sister, Brother, and a thousand other appellations indicating familial relationship and the lowliness of the addressor” (Angelou,16). “Lay hands on the sick and afflicted,” (Angelou,19) her grandmother told her as a principle that will never leave her. Her grandmother chose to take the highroad instead of falling down to their level. Her message was no matter what people do to you in life, never lose your character. Maya’s age frame was a time of

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Maya Angelou philosophy and teachings are timeless. There is a lesson to be learned in her more than 30 published works and her lessons taught as a professor and lecturer. More important she lived what she preached. She had a strong belief in humanity as a whole, in the human spirit and in the African American community. She fought tirelessly to change extinguish racism, prejudice and discrimination during a time when she herself as a black woman experienced its effects.

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"My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive, and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style" (Angelou 12). These quoted words came from a strong, wise minded, African American woman whose legacy still lives on. In this essay you will understand a lot about Maya Angelou's early life on how she became famous, her careers, how many awards she has received, and also how her legacy continues to have an impact on people. Maya was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on April 4, 1928 (Angelou 8). During Maya's growth she spent most of her days at the library attending Toussaint L'ouverture Grammar school (Angelou 8).

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On example of this critique can be seen in Maya’s meeting with Mrs. Bertha Flowers. Angelou presents the older black woman as a direct opposite of young Maya, stressing that Mrs. Flowers rules both her words and body. “She had the grace of control to appear warm in the coldest weather, and on the Arkansas summer days it seemed she had a private breeze which swirled around, cooling her” (Angelou 77). Mrs. Flowers makes Maya proud to be black, and claims that she is more beautiful and “just as refined as whitefolks in movies and books” (Angelou 79). Although Maya begins to respect and admire the black female body, the white body still provide her standard for beauty, and Angelou pokes fun at the literary writing that whitens Maya’s view of Bertha Flowers and

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In “Momma, the Dentist, and Me,” Maya Angelou describes Mommas’ struggle during racial segregation in a childhood memory and in a rare but glorious case is overcome. Angelou recalls when she and Momma, her grandmother, go to the dentist for a toothache severe enough that young Angelou contemplates death to feel relief from the excruciating pain. Angelou imagines her Momma’s actions in the dentist's office after being turned down heroically. Angelou demonstrates a small victory over racism with Momma’s actions as she stands valiantly against racial injustice. In order to strengthen her narrative, Angelou employs imagery, hyperbole, and tone effectively.

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