Overcoming The Barriers In Maya Angelou's Life

had her feeling many different emotions leading to her big day. “I had taken to smiling more

In Maya Angelou’s “Graduation” she spoke about a fictional character named Marguerite Johnson and her eighth-grade graduation. Marguerite was always kinda of lost and selfish at times, and never look at how others seen things. But as the story goes on Marguerite starts to find herself and understand others. “Graduation” isn’t just about how Marguerite pass on to the next grade but how she has grown from a lost girl to a young intelligence woman. In this story the reader is going to follower her on this surprising journey.

Maya Angelou was a strong African-American women who made an influential impact on the Civil Rights Movement, in bother her actions, and her literature. Her life experiences and courage helped others, and made her work influential.

When thinking of a historical figure, many imagine a president, king, or general that lead a country to greatness, but never realized some could be the ones who influence the minds of society. Although not thought of as anything, writers and poets hold the key to shaping the society’s mindset without even knowing it. Being a civil rights activist, social activist, and role model for women makes Maya Angelou a historical figure who has made a huge impact in American society and in American history.

In reading the passage “Encounter with Martin Luther King Jr.”, it shows a very important moment in Maya Angelou’s life. In the passage, Maya Angelou does not include much of diction or sensory details. Even though these two characteristics are missing, she has a strong grip on characterization of both Martin Luther King Jr. and herself while the dialogue is also well written.

Maya Angelou philosophy and teachings are timeless. There is a lesson to be learned in her more than 30 published works and her lessons taught as a professor and lecturer. More important she lived what she preached. She had a strong belief in humanity as a whole, in the human spirit and in the African American community. She fought tirelessly to change extinguish racism, prejudice and discrimination during a time when she herself as a black woman experienced its effects. The hardships that she faced during her lifetime and eventually overcame were done with a positive grace which became an inspiration to people around the world. Through her written words and inspirational speeches she was able to lead people in a positive directions . She moved forward as a beacon that showed love and wisdom. Angelou wanted to teach her audience truth about the hardships in life but also show them that there was great value in seeing the joy that life can bring and that there is a need to appreciate those who surround

“Today, Michelle and I join millions around the world in remembering one of the brightest lights of our time – a brilliant writer, a fierce friend, and a truly phenomenal woman.” (Online - White House). This memorial statement, by Barack Obama in 2014, encompasses how many felt towards Maya Angelou, one of the most influential writers and voices of her generation. Over the course of her lifetime, Maya Angelou was awarded over 50 honorary degrees and received the highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Angelou’s personal admiration and self-love that is reflected in her poetic works, specifically, “Phenomenal Woman,” is credited to the overcoming of her traumatic childhood and her work in activism.

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).

Her life was not an easy one but she overcame adversity and created some of the most beautiful pieces of literature, as well as poetry, of the 20th century. Her works prove that you may come from a horrible background but you are able to become someone worth something in the eyes of society. Maya Angelou wanted equality for all and therefor fought alongside Martin Luther King Jr. in the Civil Right Movement of the 60’s. Mr. King dies on her birthday and she was devastated… in an interview she stated that his sense of fairplay as well as his eye for what justice should have been is something he instilled in her.

Maya Angelou's book describes in great detail the events of her forming years and her emotions throughout. It begins in the perspective of her eight year old self experiencing her first loss. Angelou’s parents divorce and her move to stamps. This novel continues on to tell of Angelou's biggest troma. The book finishes after she graduates high school and gives birth to her first son. Essentially Maya Angelou describes the most relevant decade of her life. Which, overall was full of ups and downs but most importantly success.

The German philosopher Nietzsche once said, “That which does not kill us, make us stronger”, and in many instances this is exactly the case. In most every instance of tragedy or hardship, the people affected must either yield to or rise above their situation, and in rising above, develop or display extraordinary and exemplary traits uniquely fitted to dealing with that situation. As a result, without adversity, these talents would be left unused. There are instances in which people crack under the pressure or sink to the expectations of their situation, but, depending on the character of the person involved, they may take the situation and use it to better themselves. It is a unique opportunity to utilize or develop traits that often remain

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

The story is about fighting for justice it is given by Maya Angelou a very powerful speech she uses rhetoric to get her points across to the audience. She begins and sets her platform by using ethos. Where she talks about her best friend Coretta Scott kings and her deeds. For example how she believed that nonviolence protesting achieves more than violence protesting. Throughout her lifetime she experienced both and she believed religiously in non-violent protest achieves more. "She also believed that standing together without throwing bricks or burning down buildings sends a powerful enough message then acting to violence. She believed in none protest could heal a nation with a history of slavery" which is a quite a powerful message (American

during this story it shows a young black lady that awaits with pride and anticipation her graduation day. once the day finally arrives, her dreams and expectations are shattered by the speech that Mr.Donleavy, a White, gave to the year of 1940. He was direct in causing the message of the graduate’s slim probabilities of getting a rigorous career that wasn't athletic . Maya Angelou declared that “It was brutal to be young and already trained to take a seat quietly and hear charges against my color with no likelihood of defense.” Donleavy gets the graduates to assume and have doubts. “His words fell like bricks…”(pg 128) however he doesn't finish the graduation. Ultimately the scholars still had pride at the top of the day and still acknowledge their own goals and self-worth notwithstanding social standards. he's unsuccessful as a result of they're “were on top again” (133). In the story Henry Reed comes back with encouraging words that facilitate the complete audience to become alive and want they were on prime once more. what's notably effective is that the extreme distinction between Maya’s language before and

How would you feel if you realized that your thoughts and personal views have been misconstrued to hide you from the harsh realities of this world? Could you imagine what it’s like to have your very innocence ripped from you without any preconceived notion? Both Andre Lorde and Maya Angelou know the feeling of these experiences first hand. Through the essays “The Fourth Of July” written by Andre Lorde and “Sister Flowers” written by Maya Angelou, the authors depict a specific event that altered their perceptions of society. Though the essays are quite different, the authors both characterize on the tragic experiences they had as children and how it lead them to a certain revelation.