Maya Angelou s Graduation Day - 862 Words

The words a person speaks depends on the individual’s character. Words create either a positive or negative atmosphere. Most people base their self-worth off of the opinions of others. A person’s word choice can influence another person’s future. When an individual hears discouraging comments about themselves, their confidence lowers, however, when a person hears uplifting and encouraging compliments, their confidence rises. These ideas appear multiple times throughout Maya Angelou’s, â€Å"Graduation Day†. The story refers to a young girl graduating the eighth grade. Maya Angelou encountered many people who challenged her personal growth because of the words spoken to her. Although common belief states words have no power, words have the power to influence an audience. Words spoken from a kind hearted soul motivate an audience and direct them towards a healthy existence. Pastor Sneed, Angelou’s hometown pastor, had the opportunity to speak t he Sunday prior to Angelou’s eighth grade graduation. Pastor Sneed’s sermon involved the simple message, â€Å"Let your light so shine that men will see your good works and praise your Father. Who is in Heaven† (Angelou, 2014, p. 183). Pastor Sneed’s sermon reached out to more than the graduating class. His choice of words provided incentive to live for God to the entire fellowship. Although Pastor Sneed intended his message for the graduates, the words the pastor spoke were powerful enough to reach the entire fellowship. Angelou receivesShow MoreRelatedMaya Angelou s Graduation Day1038 Words   |  5 Pagesthe words that lends significance to the inspirational speeches and songs held so dearly in the hearts of many. Due to their significant daily presence, words hold an immense power. In Maya Angelou’s â€Å"Graduation Day,† she carefully describes the intense negative power one man’s words have on an entire community. Angelou also illustrates a very emotional positive power that a boy’s words have in lifting the congregation’s spirits up. Words are depicted as powerful because when used in certain way, theyRead MoreFrederick Douglass And Maya Angelou Essay1624 Words   |  7 PagesFrederick Douglass and Maya Angelou both tell experiences where they were oppressed and demeaned just because of the color of their skin. Frederick Douglass’ â€Å"Learning to Read and Write† tells the account of how Douglass, a young slave, not only overcomes the depriving laws and norms of the time but also the smarts he used to be able to learn to read and write. Douglass had somehow convinced his mistress to commence reading lessons, which quickly ended due to her husband s views of African AmericansRead MoreI Know Why The Caged Bird Sings1555 Words   |  7 Pages At the time of Marguerite Johnson better known as Maya Angelou s death on the 28th of May 2014, she was an Activist, acclaimed American poet, storyteller and autobiographer. However, all her accomplishments were born out of abuse, violence, neglect and pain, that she wrote about in her autobiographical novel, I know why the caged bird sings which was published in 1969. In the book, she wrote not only about the conflicts that plagued her for much of her life but also how the roleRead MoreMy Target Accomplishment At The Gray Zones Of Transitioning Can Challenge1353 Words   |  6 Pageson how is it that you can do to better and prosper pass this situation. The process of transitioning is more of a mental challenge than physical it pushes you beyond what you expect of yourself. My target accomplishment was to obtain my bachelor s degree at a four-year institution that would create the onset of my career path of becoming a productive entrepreneur. Within the role of an entrepreneur which is a career that is formulated on transitioning not only through the financial developmentsRead MoreI Know Why The Caged Bird Sings1386 Words   |  6 Pageswritten by Maya Angelou as she grew up in the mid-20th century, where being a black girl and facing racial issues in society, had to overcome many problems that show the larger issue of the time period. I chose this book over the other nineteen memoirs because of the strong recommendations I received from my fellow class mates, and because of my interest in racial issues during the terrible times of segregation. Life was not fair, and Maya Angelou had to face a lot during the 30’s and 40’s in orderRead MoreBlack Stereotypes in Literature821 Words   |  3 Pagesstereotype. For example, it is often typic ally said that lawyers are deceitful, females tend to be less aggressive than males, all African Americans are extremely virtuous at basketball, and the list is simply endless. Stereotypes are often heard every day and everywhere, at any given moment. They are usually very widespread and used so frequently that they have seemed to become a natural behavior for human beings; and it is a part of our everyday life. At times we can find ourselves in situations whereRead MoreMichael Jackson Sang The Famous Line, If You Wan Na Make The World A Better Place1495 Words   |  6 Pagesbetter place, take a look at yourself and make a change.† Fast forward to a modern-day 2016 filled with political unrest, poverty, and waning human rights, Michael Jackson’s message of self-reflection eventually translating into social change finds its relevancy today, despite the song s thirty-years-old tenure. It introduces the notion that all individuals in society are essentially human, even in spite of humanity s tendency to demonize other belief systems. Even Saint Mother Theresa agreed withRead More The Acts of Racism In The 20th Century Essay909 Words   |  4 Pagesnbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Langston Hughes and Maya Angelou were very well known authors of the early 20th century. Most of their writings were concerned with racism and equality. During that time period there was much evidence that African Americans had been treated unfairly, unjustly, and as if they had been beneath the whites. Segregation of schools, churches, bathrooms, and stores were only a few of the many things wrong with this ere. Racism was very apparent in the two short stories â€Å"Graduation† and â€Å"One Friday Morning†Read MoreI Know Why the Caged Bird Sings - Maya Angelou6502 Words   |  27 PagesAnalysis: Chapters 1–5 The lines from the poem Maya cannot finish, â€Å"What are you looking at me for? I didn’t come to stay . . .† capture two of the most significant issues she struggles with in her childhood and young adulthood: feeling ugly and awkward and never feeling attached to one place. First, Maya imagines that though people judge her unfairly by her awkward looks, they will be surprised one day when her true self emerges. At the time, she hopes that she will emerge as if in a fairy-taleRead MoreAnalysis Of Sherman Alexie s Indian Education 1330 Words   |  6 Pagesothers. I was introduced to a short story called â€Å"Indian Education† by Sherman Alexie about a boy named Junior and the struggles he faced throughout school because he was Native American. I was also introduced to another short story called â€Å"Graduation† by Maya Angelou about a young woman named Marguerite Johnson who was proud of her background being â€Å"Negro† even if it included som e unfairness. Throughout history discrimination against one because of their background has led to many disagreements and act