Maya Angelou Rhetoric

During the period of discrimination and the civil rights movement persistence was key. By resisting to all the discrimination the African Americans showed a sense of rebellion which helped the civil rights movement to advance. In “Letter From Birmingham Jail” by Martin Luther King Jr, Mlk defends his stand in the civil rights movement due to clergymen doubting his actions. In “Graduation” by Maya Angelou, Angelou shows differences between races and presents how her graduation was different due to the time period. “A Homemade Education” by Malcolm X shows how he expanded his knowledge while he was in jail by reading and using his time wisely. This paper will use the 3 reading to show persistence as an essential factor when it comes to hardships

Angelou, Maya. I know why the caged bird sings. New York: random house, 1970. Print.

Life is a long journey in which we are forced to experience something new everyday. We have days of strength, days of weakness, days of honesty, and days of deceit. We are not fully in control of the what happens to us, but we have the power to choose where to go next. We have the option to be happy, to be sad, to be a leader, or to be a follower. Choice is powerful, without choice we would not have change-for better or for worse. Everyday can significantly change because of a single choice. But every choice is not always available to everyone. There are barriers that stand in the way of each, some can be broken down easily, while others take more time and effort. Maya Angelou experienced and overcame more of these barriers than I could ever

“I think a hero is any person really intent on making this a better place for all people”,Maya Angelou. Two tragic heroes in history who fought to make the world a better place are Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King, Jr. With passion and determination they enhanced the life of many people. Tragically there efforts were halted when their lives were cut short.

Hip-hop artists such as Nicki Minaj and Kanye West’s musics were influenced by Maya Angelou’s poetries. Maya Angelou was an influential American author, dancer, poet, singer and also an actress. Her works explored the themes of economic, racial, and sexual oppression.

In my opinion, empathy takes some understanding of the situation that someone is going through. If we cannot understand the tragedies people face then we won't be able to empathize with them. Instead, we pity them for having to experience such a horrible life. Now days we say we understand people and their feeling, but we can never fully understand unless we go through the exact same situation. Authors like Maya Angelou can help shed some light on a terrible situation, but in the long run unless we face the same situation we will never be able to understand their pain.

The poems “On the Pulse of Morning” and “One Today” both illustrate the effects of cultural diversity among Americans in the 20th and early 21st centuries. Maya Angelou beautifully describes the importance of coming together despite our differences when she says, “So say the Asian, the Hispanic, the Jew The African, the Native American, the Sioux, The Catholic, the Muslim, the French, the Greek The Irish, the Rabbi, the Priest, the Sheik, The Gay, the Straight, the Preacher, The privileged, the homeless, the Teacher. They hear. They all hear The speaking of the Tree.” This describes how regardless of your race, religion, or sexuality, you have the right to freedom, peace, and security. Maya Angelou perfectly illustrates that we must come together,

Maya Angelou’s “Graduation” essay shares the epitome of racial pride in the 1940’s. Written from the point of view of Marguerite Johnson, a younger Maya Angelou, she describes the anxiety and preparation of her graduation from junior high into the proud Negro race. Angelou traces her maturation throughout the day by using her ever-changing use of juxtaposition, irony, and historical allusions.

a. Maya Angelou was an avid writer, speaker, activist and teacher. As a result of the many hardships that she suffered while growing up as a poor black woman in the south she has used her own experiences as the subject matter of her written work. In doing this she effectively shows how she was able to overcome her personal obstacles. Her autobiography “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1970) tells the story of her life and how she overcame and moved forward triumphantly in spite of her circumstances. She asks her readers to rise above their defeats, to not allow anyone to stop their dreams. In demonstrating how she succeeded she has been a role model for women of all cultures and races. The “Phenomenal Women” poem is a celebration

Angelou’s contribution to the Civil Rights Movement and her achievements as an activist were remarkable. While these achievements seem to be enough to last a lifetime, the Civil Rights Movement was only the beginning for Angelou. Angelou worked as an outspoken Civil Rights activist during the movement. But even after the Civil Rights Movement had ended, she continued to be a voice of humanity, speaking out against anything that harmed the human spirit. Angelou moved on to influence American society as a whole, from the 1970’s to the day she died, May 28, 2014. She was a multi-talented person as Toni Morrison, a friend and contemporary of Angelou, expressed: “She had 19 talents and used 10. And she was a real original.” (qtd, in Sherwell, 2014).

On April 4th of 1928 Maya Angelou was born Marguerite Johnson in St. Louis, Missouri. She was given the name “Maya” by her brother, Bailey. Both Maya and Bailey were sent to live with their grandmother in Stamps, Arkansas after her parents divorced.

Just like Douglass’ speech, Angelou’s poem greatly reflects discrimination and just how little people’s opinions about her do not mean anything. Maya Angelou one stated, “Up from a past that’s rooted in pain I rise.” (pg. 3) She mentions that even if she may come from a past layered in gut-wrenching pain, no matter what has been thrown at her, she will look beyond them. Angelou also mentions, “Bringing the gifts thay my ancestors gave, I am the dream and hope of the slave.” (pg. 3) She is able to bring freedom and equality to the African American people, even if the white Americans do not agree with it. She is the voice of her people and will not stop until discrimination is

Actress. Artist. Civil rights activist. Feminist. Poet. Maya Angelou was one of the greatest American writers of the 20th century. She discussed topics that most people never would have, with open arms. She truly was a woman of many talents and her work will last throughout the ages. Maya Angelou. A true renaissance woman who will be remembered… if we make her works part of the American school curriculum.

Making her way back to Los Angeles which black spokesman Bayard Rustin sought leadership advice from Maya in 1970. As well as being noticed as a Northern Coordinator for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Being honored by two presidents Ford and Carter, the Bicentennial Commission and the National Commission on Observance of the International Women 's Year. Maya 's humanistic topics grew greatly with recitation and songs, which was intended to a universal acceptance of human differences and celebration of similarities. Maya was mainly professed to one audience, “ Human beings we are more alike than we are unalike. That was one of the greatest lessons I learned.” [ Kevin Rogers, Biography.com] - Maya Angelou

Have you ever heard of Tupac cry, Maya Angelou was one, if not the only one who made him. Maya Angelou is one of the biggest voices of the 21st century. She does not talk, but she speaks, and she mostly speaks in the language of love. The reason? God. In the book “I know why the caged bird sings” young Maya grows up in a very religious town in Arkansas called stamps. Many adults were religious with a passion. One of the reasons was because Christianity helped them deal with adversity because this was in arkansas back in the 1960’s were racism was high and limited blacks right to public speech and freedom of expressing themselves. Maya was surrounded by religious people all the time so she was forced to partake in religious