The essay written by Maya Angelou I enjoyed tremendously. While reading you begin to feel the initial excitement she is experiencing while preparing for graduation. When the Maya wrote " The children in Stamps trembled visibly with anticipation". It allowed you to actually feel the excitement of the children. The excitement becomes tarnished when a local politician making use of the graduation ceremony for his own purposes for the election. In his speech he made the student feel worthless, especially when he began mentioning what he was doing for the white schools across town providing new art teacher and microscopes, chemistry labs. He was given the white student every chance to become the next scientist, Dr’s and lawyers. When he mentioned what he would do for the black student of Stamp, basically it was labor intense work. Of course the stereotype for young blacks men is to become the next Jessie Owens or a famous football player. It was obvious that Donlevy didn’t’ have the student of Layfayette County Training school best interest. They were expected to have jobs as maids, carpentry, farmer, washwomen, and handymen. Never given the black student the opportunity to reach for more.
This story is definitely about persevering an striving for more. Not allowing anyone to tell you what you can do, but know what you are truly capable of accomplishing. If you can believe it, you can achieve anything.
When I read the story I was somewhat confused about exactly what the white man was talking about in his speech-I knew it was very negative, but didnt understand the specifics. Your summary cleared things up for me
ReplyDeleteThe descriptions are definitely vivid here and you have chosen a good quote to illustrate that. What was her initial reaction to the politician? What changed that?
ReplyDelete