The Meanest Influence Essay Example

people suffer as a result of segregation in Stamps. In addition, she recalls her childhood perception of white people as intangible beings, describing them as "not real human beings" due to their sporadic appearances and lack of interaction with her community (25).

Maya's view of white people is greatly influenced by the segregation in Stamps, Arkansas. The presence of extravagant items adds to the belief that they will appear in heaven. Racism is the main reason for the segregation between races as white people deemed themselves superior to African Americans.

Throughout the book, racism is a recurring theme that significantly influences Maya's upbringing. Maya illustrates the prevailing viewpoint in Stamps about the white population's prejudice when she declares, "People in Stamps used to say that the whites in our town were so prejudiced that a Negro couldn't buy vanilla ice cream. Except on July Fourth. Other days he had to be satisfied with chocolate" (49). This statement highlights the discriminatory treatment of Negroes in Stamps.

According to Maya, white people hold the belief that Negroes are inferior to whites to such an extent that they deny them basic pleasures such as white-colored and vanilla-flavored ice cream. The denial of such everyday delicacies suggests that African Americans in places like Stamps face significant obstacles to success. Maya also describes the oppressive treatment that Negroes have faced for many years, using the example of the Joe Lewis championship boxing match to illustrate the dire situation with the phrase: "This might be the end of the world."

Maya elaborates on the potential consequences of Joe's defeat in the upcoming fight against Lewis. According to her, it would result in the validation of

all the accusations made against the African American race over the years. These accusations paint them as inferior humans, only slightly above apes. They accuse them of being stupid, ugly, lazy, dirty, unlucky, and most importantly, hated by God. They curse them to be hewers of wood and drawers of water forever. Maya states that such a defeat could undo all the progress made by the Negroes towards gaining respect.

Maya Angelou recounts how the fight is a significant moment in the history of the African American community, as racism is prevalent in the United States and takes on extreme forms of prejudice. In addition to facing racial discrimination during her childhood, Maya also experiences prejudice against her gender. Throughout her life, Maya encounters sexism, which is evident through others' opinions about her gender, as highlighted by her quote: "The judge had really made a gaff calling a Negro woman Mrs." (48).

During the trial, the defendant revealed that he had hidden in Mrs. Henderson's store. Upon asking for Mrs. Henderson and realizing she was a black woman, he felt ashamed. His embarrassment stemmed not only from showing respect to a black individual, but also from demonstrating respect towards a black woman, as stated by the judge.

Black women face a unique and compounded form of discrimination as they are perceived to be at the bottom of the hierarchy due to their gender and race. The challenges that black women encounter are exemplified by the quote, "The Black female is assaulted in her tender years by all those common forces of nature at the same time that she is caught in the tripartite crossfire of masculine prejudice,

white illogical hate and Black lack of power" (272). This highlights how black women confront several obstacles including discrimination based on both gender and race. Despite these challenges, adult black women exhibit resilience; however, their strength often elicits surprise, aversion, and even hostility.

Despite facing various obstacles, black women can still persist and achieve success despite prevalent prejudice. Maya Angelou is a prime example of someone who faced the difficulties of growing up in a society plagued by segregation, racism, and sexism but managed to overcome these hurdles and become a renowned writer. Today, Maya Angelou resides in a world that is more accommodating to equality thanks to the decline of segregation and advancements made for women.