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Maya Angelou Graduation Summary

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Cody Fullerton Karen Clausen-Brown English 121 9 March 2018 Maya Angelou and Mah’Ria Pruitt-Martin: Black Students’ Similarity Throughout Time In “Graduation” by Maya Angelou, it shows Angelou’s experiences as a black student in the 1940s. In “The Problem We All Live With” by This American Life, Mah’Ria Pruitt-Martin’s experiences as a black during the 2000s was very similar to Angelou’s experiences. Angelou went to Lafayette Country Training School, which was the black school. Pruitt-Martin went to Normandy, which was the worst district in the area. She was trying to transfer to a better school. Both Maya Angelou and Mah’Ria Pruitt-Martin had bad high school experiences because their schools had little resources for education and people didn’t …show more content…

Angelou was talking about her achievements and said, “my work alone had awarded me a top place and I was going to be one of the first called in the graduation ceremonies” (Angelou 48). Being one of the first called up shows that she was one of the top performing students. She also said that she got “no absences, no tardinesses, and [that her] academic work was among the best of the year” (49). She is saying that her work was some the best. This shows her level of intelligence was high. Not only is she one of the smartest, but she also showed dedication to her education. Like Angelou, Pruitt-Martin also showed that she was intelligent. As Nikole Hannah Jones described, Pruitt-Martin “[was] a star student” (“The Problem”). This means that Pruitt-Martin was a high achieving, intelligent student. In the past, because of what kind of a student she was, “[Pruitt-Martin] was invited to a special breakfast. It was to celebrate kids who made the honor roll” (“The Problem”). This special event shows that Pruitt-Martin got very good grades and displays her level of intelligence. Angelou and Pruitt-Martin were intelligent students which broke the stereotypes that doubted their

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It is definitely effective because throughout our society people who have believed in the same Spirit as Coretta Scott King, have persevered in great length within the field in which they wish to walk upon. People such as Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela, and so on and so forth. Therefore Maya Angelou's speech about Coretta Scott kings pursuit of perfection through nonviolence actions is effective. The story is about fighting for justice it is given by Maya Angelou a very powerful speech she uses rhetoric to get her points across to the audience.

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She marks this time in the lives of seniors as being treated to having all things done for them as a tribute to their magnificence. Angelou describes the time as the, “Faded beige of former times”, then alluding to new bright outlooks in anticipation of discovering the life awaiting them. In this time of innocents she has conjured up many ideas as to how her life will be in the future. In her mind, she dreams of being on top of the world, feeling all the wrongs in life were removed in the act of her

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“Maya Angelou refuses to be denied.” 383 “I WOULD HAVE THE JOB. I WOULD BE A CONDUCTORETTE AND SLING A FULL MONEY CHANGER FROM MY BELT. I WOULD.” 384 Angelou

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The hardships that she faced during her lifetime and eventually overcame were done with a positive grace which became an inspiration to people around the world. Through her written words and inspirational speeches she was able to lead people in a positive directions . She moved forward as a beacon that showed love and wisdom. Angelou wanted to teach her audience truth about the hardships in life but also show them that there was great value in seeing the joy that life can bring and that there is a need to appreciate those who surround

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Maya Angelou said, “I believe that every person was born with a talent”. Her exquisite poems are filled with literary devices such as extended metaphors, similes, rhyming words, and vivid imagery. The modern day poet, Maya Angelou is comparable to William Shakespeare, who is considered as one of the most inspiring poets in history, having written 37 plays and 154 sonnets (Holt Elements of Literature). Today, Shakespeare is renowned because of his accomplishment of creating or popularizing the iambic pentameter style of 10 syllables per line. His writing is recognized as being rich, eloquent, and varied.

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However, in these times, graduating eighth grade was a huge deal. Not many minorities in this time period were able to obtain an education and those were able to obtain an education, didn’t always graduate eighth grade. This meant that graduating eighth grade at this time was a very important achievement and because of this, many people looked up to her and her class. Her and her class were highly respected for their accomplishment as well (Angelou

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In “Graduation”, Maya Angelou talks about her graduation experience in her class of 1940. Her essay is mostly based on how African Americans were treated back then. Angelou states that African American schools were ruled under white power. She said that it didn’t matter whether they were smart or not the boys were sent to work and women were to take care of the home duties. Angelou states that during her graduation ceremony white man came to her school to tell them how good the white schools were doing and what new material they were getting and to congratulate the few black athletes that were going to play football.

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I believe that one individual can be great at multiple things. The reason being is because Maya Angelou is a woman who has accomplished several things in her 86 years of life which is highly impressive. She’s a poet, an actress chef and countless more. She had numerous occupations and has succeeded in each and everyone despite the fact that she was experiencing racism and discrimination. For her hard work, determination, and passion she won the Tony Awards and the Pulitzer Prize for writing.

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Angelou, later on, became a writer, dancer, and poet. She went on to prove that no matter what skin color you may be, you can still go on to be successful. Throughout life, you should never judge a person because of how they look on the outside. You never know, that person could go on to be beyond than what you believed.

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Growing up in the 1930s as an African American was not a walk in the park. Angelou had to

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Being sexually abused at age eight was one of the first major events that greatly affected Angelou’s view of herself. She lost her childhood when everyone discovered what had happened. “I don't think she understood half of what she was saying herself, but, after all, girls have to giggle, and after being a woman for three years I was about to become a girl.” (154) Maya was never supposed to grow up as fast as she did and it did not help that she never had the guidance to get past what had happened to her. I, on the other hand, have always had guidance in my life.

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The Maya Angelou Public Charter school was build to insure students graduate and don’t have to live off welfare. They inspire students and demand responsibility of the

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It was the first time anyone had been invited to read a poem since John F. Kennedy invited Robert Frost in 1961. Angelou was the first African American and the first women honored in this way. Angelou felt that Clinton made the request because "he understood that I (Angelou) am the kind of person who really does bring people together.” (qtd, in Manegold, 1993) Her strong and influential poem reached millions of television viewers.

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The rock, the river, and the tree, used in the poem On the Pulse of the Morning by Maya Angelou read during the inauguration of President Bill Clinton, speak of times in which they have lived through. A time that was simpler, and more humble. However, these three objects in nature have seen many wars, and much hate between different races. They ask for a change that allows for people to come together and live humbly amongst one another.

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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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