Maya Angelou Poems

During the 1900s, there were many famous authors who wrote about African Americans and Civil Rights. This was what was going on during this time period. Segregation and discrimination towards blacks was increasing. Two famous authors were Langston Hughes and Maya Angelou. Langston Hughes wrote the poem “I, Too, Sing America.” Maya Angelou wrote the poem “Still, I rise.” These two poems both have their own meaning but are still similar in many ways.

Not only did she already have postpartum depression, but she is basically trapped in this house for a whole summer with nothing to do so she can heal. Not following the instructions given to her by her doctor and being confined in this area has caused some sort of mental build up. The wallpaper driving her crazy, suffering a mental illness, and having such an isolated lifestyle in a house isolated from the main villages has put thoughts into her head that she believes, like being the woman in the wall. That was the effect; the cause of all of this is simply because she wanted something to do after having her whole life changed for a few months, so she went to the

June Jordan, a poet who is famous for her positive blaze of justice, writes poetry while advocating a command for universal equity, which appeals to people from various areas of the world. Jordan’s poetry speaks of American issues as well as international issues, such as African countries that are oppressed by their neighbouring countries. One of Jordans poems, ‘A Poem About My Rights’ serves as a resentment against the world’s oppression, however it also serves as a mandate for change. This essay aims to discuss the meaning of the poem, “A Poem About My Rights” as well as to analyse the ideologies which it contains, through giving a short background of the poet, June Jordan’s, life and the underlying story of the poem, as well as discussing the text in depth. A brief overview of Jordans technique in spoken poetry will also be noted.

Zora Neale Hurston’s book, “The Gilded Six-Bits” is an important piece of literature due to its impact on the world during the Harlem Renaissance era. It is considered a brilliant piece of modernist literature due to Hurston staying true to her background and roots as a black woman from the south, in which segregation was still a huge issue. The reason why it is considered a piece of modernist literature is because she wasn’t afraid to write in the black vernacular which was considered uneducated as blacks were progressing in arts, literature, and the music was alive. The story is filled with many different themes and issues that people can relate to such as money, deceit, and for people who have a big heart forgiveness and reconciliation.

Hurston gained fame much fame during the Harlem Renaissance, she was writer who cherish the literature arts. Although Zora Neale Hurston received a lot of criticism when she was alive. Her literary works are today still getting recognition that she deserved. She was trying to fight for black culture rights and feminism. She was able to use her writing skills through her time to influence other African American writers.

When I said that I could sit where I wanted she was so ticked at me. At the end of sixth grade she had a sleepover with a couple other friends. I told my mom I didn’t want to go because I couldn’t take anymore of it so I didn’t go. Her mom picked up that something going wrong between us and texted my mom about it. I cried and cried and cried.

June Jordan’s poem, “Poem about my rights” is about a woman who is describing her experiences and the unremittent concern for basic human rights for males and females. It is a personal and emotional poem about her view of the world and how change is needed. Although majority of the poem is written about how Jordan’s basic rights were not given, the poem also includes sections at which the reader sees the need for equal basic rights for both male and female is needed. This essay will comprise of my response to the poem, both as a poem and an oral performance. Throughout the poem Jordan uses repetition and in the oral performance uses her voice to enhance her message and feelings.

Pastan stated in an interview that she stopped writing for about ten years, because she could not be the perfect wife and mother that she was expected to be and also commit herself to her poetry (Brown, 3). She considers herself “a product of the ‘50s – what I called the perfectly polished floor syndrome. I had to have a homemade desert on the table for my husband every night” (Brown 3). Such experiences reflected her poetry, significantly. Pastan uses many poetic devices, such as metaphors.

Well when I was about 8 she died, she was raped and murdered, the judge let them live, only putting them in prison for 5 years. They were now out and living their stupid lives. My father got worse... He would always bring me down. After

Women have no rights and were under the mercy of her family. Both women look alike but with different situation. They wanted to have the word women to spread out and being heard that women are capable of doing everything a man can do. Two stories make the reader see that they wanted someone to feel them or probably to survive from what they were living with. “The Story of an Hour “ when Mrs.Malled confirm her about the death she goes to her room quite with no one follow her sitting on a armchair in front of an open window thinking that is it true or fiction what happened in order to get out from the shock.