Graduation

           Maya Angelou, an African America woman, was born in 1928, Marguerite Johnson in St. Louis, Missouri (50 Essays, Angelou, Graduation, pg. 20). Maya Angelou has shown her talent in many different occupations. Angelou has been an actor, poet, fiction writer, producer, dancer, director, playwright newspaper editor, and civil rights leader (50 Essays, Angelou, Graduation, pg. 20). Maya Angelou is well known for her writing (50 Essays, Angelou, Graduation, pg. 20). In fact, in 1969, Maya wrote an autobiographical book called, I Know Why the Bird Sings (50 Essays, Angelou, Graduation, pg. 20).

            In Angelou’s autobiography book I Know Why the Bird Sings, Angelou shows us how big of a deal it was for her, African Americans to graduate. Apparently, around the time of Maya Angelou’s graduation, the relationship between Americans and African Americans, they were not getting along to well. There were more opportunities given to whites, the whites were treated better. The whites were treated, as they were superior to non-whites. There was segregation involved, “Unlike the white high school, Lafayette County Training School…Its two buildings were set on a dirt hill…” (50 Essays, Angelou, Graduation, pg. 21) When Maya Angelou wrote this it was when segregation still exist. That is why it was extra special for an African American to graduate. Angelou wrote this to inform us about the trouble times she and her fellow African American classmates went through because they were black, and how they were looked down on because of their skin color.

            Edward Donleavy was one of the speakers at Maya Angelou’s graduation. On a very exciting day for Maya Angelou and her fellow African American classmates, they expected Edward Donleavy to say encouraging words because the students were moving into the next level of education. On the other hand, instead of Edward’s speech being encouraging it upset Maya. She felt that his speech was racist, “ The man’s dead words fell like bricks around the auditorium and too many settled in my belly.” (50 Essays, Angelou, Graduation, pg. 28), “It was awful to be a Negro and have no control over my life.” (50 Essays, Angelou, Graduation, pg. 29). Angelou explains how awful, angry she felt after hearing Edward Donleavy’s speech.

            However, Henry Reed did another speech. Henry Reed is an African American, giving his valedictory address (50 Essays, Angelou, Graduation, pg. 30). At this point, many were feeling angry, upset because of Edward Donleavy’s racist speech. Unexpectedly, Henry Reed turns the atmosphere upside down. Henry sang the “Negro National Anthem”. In the speech Henry worked hard to prepare, the words that came out of Henry’s mouth was surprisingly encouraging. At the end of Henry’s speech, Angelou stated, “We were on top again”, and “ I was a proud member of the wonderful, beautiful Negro race” (50 Essays, Angelou, Graduation, pg. 31).

            In final analysis, both Edward Donleavy and Henry Reed had strong impacts. In my opinion, because of Henry’s awesome speech many African Americans, including Maya Angelou, became a stronger, prouder African American.