Maya Angelou Response Essay Example

school, Lafayette County Training School distinguishes itself by having neither lawn, nor hedges, nor tennis court, nor climbing ivy. ” Regardless of a lack of nice facilities and equipment, Angelou’s community remains content. Moreover, they all come down with the “graduation epidemic. ”

Angelou goes into great detail about the various preparations and altered attitudes of the populace. Those who were years removed from their own day of glorious release were anxious to help with preparations. ” Children are described as trembling “with visible anticipation” and the teachers have become “respectful of the now quiet and aging seniors. ” This illustrates the immense pride and unity that is induced by the graduation ceremony. Angelou also provides an elegant self-analysis of her own rank and importance within Stamps. In terms of intellectual ability, it is clear that Angelou is better achieved than the majority, for she stands at nearly the top of her class.

In addition, Angelou holds great aspirations for her future; she does not let society’s low expectations keep her from excelling. With imagery, Angelou emphasizes the appearance of the graduates and their reaction to Donleavy’s racism. She transmits this using a variety of techniques; the most common trope being similes. However, Angelou also utilizes other devices such as metaphors and personification. Before the graduation ceremony, Angelou uses visual imagery to vividly accentuate the appearance of her and the other graduates.

They are “the real nobility;” Angelou is “a walking model of all the various styles of fine hand sewing” and “looks like a sunbeam. ” They are all dignifiedly dressed. During the ceremony, Angelou uses imagery to intensify the reaction to Donleavy’s speech via personifying the

resulting ugliness as “an uninvited guest who wouldn’t leave. ” “The man’s words fell like bricks around the auditorium. ” At first, the blacks are dicouraged by Donleavy humiliating them; but after Read’s speech, the blissful atmosphere returns.

“The depths had been icy and dark, but now a bright sun spoke to our souls. The “white man” could not dishearten this strong, ambitious group. Despite the perspective of cynical, white higher-ups, Angelou conveys her aspiration for young blacks to uphold their pride and ambition through her narrative structure, selection of detail, and use of imagery. Angelou’s experience with racism is only one among a plethora of others; however as Angelou has revealed, the “Negro” race can be a strong, unshakable unit. Ultimately, discrimination will never be completely destroyed; though like in America, it can be fought and suppressed with effort. As Patrick Henry said, “Give me liberty of give me death. ”