Reaction Paper # 2—After reading this week’s notes “Reading Fiction” and “Graduation” by Maya Angelou, complete reaction paper 2 as described below. Discussed in the notes this week are 6 elements of fiction: Tone, Plot, Characterization, Setting, Theme and Point of View. Choose one element (other than POV) and reflect on how Angelou uses it in her writing. Give specific examples and quotes from the text to show how she uses the element and its effect on the story. Be sure to quote correctly (using quotation marks and providing paragraph #s). Remember that reaction papers should be 1-2 pages, double-spaced. Below is a brief sample of how to discuss one of the elements with examples from the text. The example discusses the use of point of view in the story: Maya Angelou’s story “Graduation,” is told from first-person point of view, told through the main character, Marguerite Johnson. Although it is not yet clear who the narrator is within the first 5 paragraphs, in paragraph 6 Angelou writes, “In the Store I was the person of the moment.” Thus, we are introduced to the narrator of the story. The rest of the story uses pronouns such as we, me, my which solidifies the narrator’s point of view. Hearing the story unfold from first-person POV gives credibility to the theme of the story. Maguerite Johnson is one of the graduates excited to be graduating, and is present at every point of the story—from the events leading up to the day, the events during the ceremony, and her feelings about what has occurred. In paragraph 7, she tells us, “My class was wearing buttery-yellow piqué dresses, and Momma launched out mine.” She goes on to describe the expert way her mother crafted her dress. It is clear from all of her descriptions that she, her family and the community looked toward the day with great anticipation, even though as the narrator states, “I was only twelve years old and merely graduating from the eighth grade” (paragraph 8). She goes on to explain that many teachers in the Arkansas Negro schools had the same diploma but were able to teach. This shows that at the time, an eighth-grade graduation was quite an achievement which could lead to possible (anticipated) professions… (continued) Reading Fiction Fiction creates imaginary worlds by telling stories written in prose (ordinary, unrhymed language) about realistic characters, set in physical environments, and with attention to descriptive detail. Works of fiction ​narrate, ​or tell stories. Narrative is not specific to fiction or to any other literary genre. Telling stories pervades almost every aspect of our daily lives. We learn very early on how to recognize and tell stories, and we rely heavily on narrative to organize and make sense of our experience. Even in our sleep, we tell stories in the form of dreams. It is impossible to imagine our lives without these narratives; in fact, every culture uses them to order a ...

1. Reaction Paper # 2—After reading this week’s notes “Reading
Fiction” and “Graduation” by Maya
Angelou, complete reaction paper 2 as described below.
Discussed in the notes this week are 6 elements of fiction:
Tone, Plot, Characterization, Setting, Theme
and Point of View. Choose one element (other than POV) and
reflect on how Angelou uses it in her
writing. Give specific examples and quotes from the text to
show how she uses the element and its
effect on the story. Be sure to quote correctly (using quotation
marks and providing paragraph #s).
Remember that reaction papers should be 1-2 pages, double-
spaced.
Below is a brief sample of how to discuss one of the elements
with examples from the text. The example
discusses the use of point of view in the story:
Maya Angelou’s story “Graduation,” is told from first-person
point of view, told through the
main character, Marguerite Johnson. Although it is not yet clear
who the narrator is within the first 5
paragraphs, in paragraph 6 Angelou writes, “In the Store I was

2. the person of the moment.” Thus, we are
introduced to the narrator of the story. The rest of the story uses
pronouns such as we, me, my which
solidifies the narrator’s point of view.
Hearing the story unfold from first-person POV gives
credibility to the theme of the story.
Maguerite Johnson is one of the graduates excited to be
graduating, and is present at every point of the
story—from the events leading up to the day, the events during
the ceremony, and her feelings about
what has occurred.
In paragraph 7, she tells us, “My class was wearing buttery-
yellow piqué dresses, and Momma
launched out mine.” She goes on to describe the expert way her
mother crafted her dress. It is clear
from all of her descriptions that she, her family and the
community looked toward the day with great
anticipation, even though as the narrator states, “I was only
twelve years old and merely graduating
from the eighth grade” (paragraph 8). She goes on to explain
that many teachers in the Arkansas Negro
schools had the same diploma but were able to teach. This
shows that at the time, an eighth-grade

3. graduation was quite an achievement which could lead to
possible (anticipated) professions…
(continued)
Reading Fiction
Fiction creates imaginary worlds by telling stories written in
prose (ordinary, unrhymed
language) about realistic characters, set in physical
environments, and with attention to
descriptive detail.
Works of fiction narrate, or tell stories. Narrative is not specific
to fiction or to any other
literary genre. Telling stories pervades almost every aspect of
our daily lives. We learn
very early on how to recognize and tell stories, and we rely
heavily on narrative to
organize and make sense of our experience. Even in our sleep,
we tell stories in the
form of dreams. It is impossible to imagine our lives without
these narratives; in fact,
every culture uses them to order and make sense of lived
experience. Of course,
narrative fiction is not meant to recount actual events, though it
may refer to real events
or real people. Rather than relate actual experiences, fiction
uses narrative to shape
imaginary ones.
Works of fiction cannot be reduced simply to a listing of their

4. narrative elements any
more than paintings can be reduced to technical aspects of
drawing. However, it is
important to explore methods of fiction to enhance our
understanding of a work of
fiction.
Elements of Fiction
Tone the tone of a piece of writing is its general character or
attitude, which might be
cheerful or depressive, sarcastic or sincere, comical or
mournful, praising or critical, and
so on. For instance, an editorial in a newspaper that described
its subject as "not even
having the guts to do the job himself," has a tone that is both
informal and critical.
The tone of a piece of writing depends on a confluence of
different factors, including:
● The connotation of the words used: Are they positive or
negative? What
associations do the words bring to mind?
● The diction, or word choice: Are there lots of thou's and
thine's? Does the
writer use slang? Are the words long and technical, or short and
childish?
● The use of figurative language: Is there a lot of metaphor,
hyperbole, or

5. alliteration? Does the language sound lofty and poetic?
https://www.litcharts.com/literary-devices-and-
terms/connotation
https://www.litcharts.com/literary-devices-and-terms/diction
https://www.litcharts.com/literary-devices-and-terms/figurative-
language
● The mood: How does the language make you feel as the
reader? This can
reveal a lot about the tone of the piece.
All of these things work together to determine the tone of a
piece of writing.
Plot is a literary term used to describe the events that make up a
story, or the main part
of a story. These events relate to each other in a pattern or a
sequence. The structure
of a novel depends on the organization of events in the plot of
the story.
There are five main elements in a plot.
● Exposition or Introduction--This is the beginning of the story,
where characters
and setting are established. The conflict or main problem is
introduced as well
● Rising Action--Rising action occurs when a series of events
build up to the
conflict. The main characters are established by the time the
rising action of a

6. plot occurs, and at the same time, events begin to get
complicated. It is during
this part of a story that excitement, tension, or crisis is
encountered.
● Climax—In the climax, or the main point of the plot, there is
a turning point of the
story. This is meant to be the moment of highest interest and
emotion, leaving
the reader wondering what is going to happen next.
● Falling Action--Falling action, or the winding up of the story,
occurs when events
and complications begin to resolve. The result of the actions of
the main
characters are put forward.
● Resolution--resolution, or the conclusion, is the end of a
story, which may occur
with either a happy or a tragic ending.
The plot is what forms a memory in readers’ minds, allowing
them to think about the
book and even making them want to read it again. By
identifying and understanding the
plot, the reader is able to understand the message being
conveyed by the author, and
the explicit or implicit moral of the story.
Characterization
Characterization is the process by which the writer reveals the
personality of a
character. Characterization is revealed through direct
characterization and indirect
characterization. Direct characterization is when the author tells

7. the audience what the
personality of the character is (shy, arrogant, patient, for
example). Indirect
characterization shows things that reveal the personality of a
character such as the
character’s speech, thoughts, effect on others, actions, the way a
character looks and
https://www.litcharts.com/literary-devices-and-terms/mood
https://literarydevices.net/exposition/
https://literarydevices.net/introduction/
https://literarydevices.net/setting/
https://literarydevices.net/conflict/
https://literarydevices.net/rising-action/
https://literarydevices.net/falling-action/
https://literarydevices.net/resolution/
https://literarydevices.net/conclusion/
https://literarydevices.net/moral/
https://literarydevices.net/moral/
dresses. Characterization cannot easily be separated from the
other elements of fiction,
as it depends heavily on tone, plot, theme, setting, etc.
One obvious difference between the short stories we will be
reading and novels is that
story writers develop characters rapidly and limit the number of
developed characters.
Many short stories have only one round character; the other
characters are frequently
flat. A character is said to be "flat" if it is one-dimensional or
lacking in complexity.
Typically, flat characters can be easily and accurately described
using a single word
(like "bully") or one short sentence (like "A naive and idealistic

8. school teacher with a
fragile heart of gold"). The important thing about flat characters
is that they never
transcend or break with the formula that defines them. A
character is said to be "round"
if they are lifelike or complex. Round characters typically have
fully fleshed-out and
multifaceted personalities, backgrounds, desires, and
motivations. A round character
will have multiple facets to their personality. It would be
difficult to describe a round
character using an adjective or a single sentence. Like real
people, they're complicated,
and sometimes their desires and motivations are contradictory.
For more explanation
on round and flat characters, click on the video link below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOODHYmpJ6k
Setting--Setting is where and when a story or scene takes place.
The where can be a
real place like the city of New York, or it can be an imagined
location, like Middle Earth
in J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. Similarly, the when
can be a real time period
(past or present) or imagined (the future). Other aspects that
determine a setting include
landscape, architecture, time of day, social context, and
weather. Unlike novels, short
stories usually work themselves out in a restricted geographical
setting--in a single
place within a short period of time. Any consideration of a
setting should include the
historical time when a story takes place and the social situation
set in the story, as well
as the physical location of the events.

9. Theme--A theme is a universal idea, lesson, or message
explored throughout a work of
literature. One key characteristic of literary themes is their
universality, which is to say
that themes are ideas that not only apply to the specific
characters and events of a story
or play, but also express broader truths about human experience
that readers can apply
to their own lives. For instance, John Steinbeck's The Grapes of
Wrath (about a family
of tenant farmers who are displaced from their land in
Oklahoma) is a book whose
themes might be said to include the inhumanity of capitalism, as
well as the vitality and
necessity of family and friendship.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOODHYmpJ6k
https://www.litcharts.com/lit/the-grapes-of-wrath
Every work of literature—whether it's an essay, a novel, a
poem, or something
else—has at least one theme. Therefore, when analyzing a given
work, it's always
possible to discuss what the work is "about" on two separate
levels: the more concrete
level of the plot (i.e., what literally happens in the work), as
well as the more abstract
level of the theme (i.e., the concepts that the work deals with).
Understanding the
themes of a work is vital to understanding the work's
significance.
Writers often use symbols to emphasize or hint at a work's
underlying themes. Spotting

10. symbolism at work in a text can help you know where to look
for its main themes.
Broadly defined, a symbol is anything that represents another
thing. In literature, a
symbol is often a tangible thing—an object, person, place, or
action—that represents
something intangible. Symbols might occur once or twice in a
book or play to represent
an emotion, and in that case aren't necessarily related to a
theme. However, if you start
to see clusters of similar symbols appearing in a story, this may
mean that the symbols
are part of an overarching motif, in which case they very likely
are related to a theme.In
the Lord of the Rings, the One Ring is a symbol for power,
selfishness, and greed.
Everyone wants it and many characters are willing to kill for it.
Some begin with good
intentions, but ultimately the Ring corrupts them and bends
them to its will. The
symbolism of the story implies that power seduces, corrupts,
controls, and destroys
people who are attached to it, just as the Ring does to its
owners.
Point of View--
Point of view (POV) is what the character or narrator telling the
story can see
(his or her perspective). The author chooses “who” is to tell the
story by
determining the point of view. Depending on who the narrator
is, he/she will be
standing at one point and seeing the action. This viewpoint will
give the narrator

11. a partial or whole view of events as they happen. Many stories
have the
protagonist (the main character) telling the story, while in
others, the narrator
may be another character or an outside viewer, a narrator who is
not in the
story at all. The narrator should not be confused with the
author, who is the
writer of the story and whose opinions may not be those written
into the
narrative.
Although there are several possibilities for POV in a narrative,
generally, the brevity of the short story makes the first-person
or
limited omniscient narrations the most frequently used points of
view
for these works.
Types of Point of View:
https://www.litcharts.com/literary-devices-and-terms/plot
https://literaryterms.net/character-flashcards/
https://literaryterms.net/story/
https://literaryterms.net/action/
https://literaryterms.net/protagonist/
https://literaryterms.net/narrative/

12. ● First person: First person POV means that the story is told
from the
perspective of a narrator who speaks in the first person (I, we,
my,
our).As a result we are seeing events through the eyes of the
character
telling the story.
● Third person: With third-person point of view, the narrator is
describing
what’s seen, but as a spectator. If the narrator is a character in
the story,
then we are reading what he or she observes as the story
unfolds. This
narrator has three possible perspectives.
1. Limited – In limited third-person, the narrator sees only
what’s in
front of him/her, a spectator of events as they unfold and unable
to
read any other character’s mind.
2. Omniscient – An omniscient narrator sees all, much as an all
knowing god of some kind. He or she sees what each character
is
doing and can see into each character’s mind. This is common
with

13. an external character, who is standing above, watching the
action
below (think of a person with a crystal ball, peering in).
3. Limited Omniscient – The limited omniscient third-person
narrator
can only see into one character’s mind. He/she might see other
events happening, but only knows the reasons of one character’s
actions in the story.
● Second person: In second person POV, the narrator is
speaking to YOU.
This isn’t very common in fiction, unless the narrator is trying
to talk to
the reader personally. We see second-person point of view
mostly in
poems, speeches, instructional writing, and persuasive articles.
Point of view is important in a story because it helps the reader
understand
characters’ feelings and actions. Each character will have his or
her own
perspective, so whoever is telling the story will impact the
reader’s opinion of
other characters and events.

14. https://literaryterms.net/character/
74 Chapter 2 Education and Learning
k n e w c o u l d w r i t e , I w o u l d t e l l h i m I c o u l d w r
i t e a s w e l l a s h e . T h e
n e x t w o r d w o u l d b e , " 1 d o n ' t b e l i e v e y o u . L e
t m e s e e y o u t r y i t . " I
w o u l d t h e n m a k e t h e l e t t e r s w h i c h I h a d b e e n
s o f o r t u n a t e a s t o
l e a r n , a n d a s k h i m t o b e a t t h a t . I n t h i s w a y I g
o t a g o o d m a n y l e s -
s o n s i n w r i t i n g , w h i c h i t i s q u i t e p o s s i b l e I s
h o u l d n e v e r h a v e g o t -
t e n i n a n y o t h e r w a y . D u r i n g t h i s t i m e , m y c o
p y - b o o k w a s t h e
b o a r d f e n c e , b r i c k w a l l , a n d p a v e m e n t ; m y p
e n a n d i n k w a s a
l u m p o f c h a l k . W i t h t h e s e , I l e a r n e d m a i n l y h
o w t o w r i t e . I t h e n
c o m m e n c e d a n d c o n t i n u e d c o p y i n g t h e I t a l i
c s i n W e b s t e r ' s S p e l l i n g
B o o k , u n t i l I c o u l d m a k e t h e m a l l w i t h o u t l o
o k i n g o n t h e b o o k . B y
t h i s t i m e , m y l i t t l e M a s t e r T h o m a s h a d g o n e
t o s c h o o l , a n d
l e a r n e d h o w t o w r i t e , a n d h a d w r i t t e n o v e r a n
u m b e r o f c o p y -
b o o k s . T h e s e h a d b e e n b r o u g h t h o m e , a n d s h
o w n t o s o m e o f o u r
n e a r n e i g h b o r s , a n d t h e n l a i d a s i d e . M y m i s t
r e s s u s e d t o g o t o
c l a s s m e e t i n g a t t h e W i l k S t r e e t m e e t i n g h o u
s e e v e r y M o n d a y a f -

15. t e r n o o n , a n d l e a v e m e t o t a k e c a r e o f t h e h o u s
e . W h e n l e f t t h u s , I
u s e d t o s p e n d t h e t i m e i n w r i t i n g i n t h e s p a c e
s l e f t i n M a s t e r
T h o m a s ' s c o p y - b o o k , c o p y i n g w h a t h e h a d w
r i t t e n . I c o n t i n u e d t o
d o t h i s u n t i l I c o u l d w r i t e a h a n d v e r y s i m i l a r
t o t h a t o f M a s t e r
T h o m a s . T h u s , a f t e r a l o n g , t e d i o u s e f f o r t f
o r y e a r s , I f i n a l l y s u c -
c e e d e d i n l e a r n i n g h o w t o w r i t e .
1845
Graduation
M a y a A n g e l o u
T h e c h i l d r e n i n S t a m p s ' t r e m b l e d v i s i b l y w i
t h a n t i c i p a t i o n . S o m e i
a d u l t s w e r e e x c i t e d t o o , b u t t o b e c e r t a i n t h e
w h o l e y o u n g p o p u -
l a t i o n h a d c o m e d o w n w i t h g r a d u a t i o n e p i d e
m i c . L a r g e c l a s s e s
w e r e g r a d u a t i n g f r o m b o t h t h e g r a m m a r s c h
o o l a n d t h e h i g h
s c h o o l . E v e n t h o s e w h o w e r e y e a r s r e m o v e d
f r o m t h e i r o w n d a y
o f g l o r i o u s r e l e a s e w e r e a n x i o u s t o h e l p w i t
h p r e p a r a t i o n s a s a
'A rural, segregated town in Arkansas.
Graduation Maya Angelou 75
k i n d o f d r y r u n . T h e j u n i o r s t u d e n t s w h o w e r
e m o v i n g i n t o t h e

16. v a c a t i n g c l a s s e s ' c h a i r s w e r e t r a d i t i o n - b o
u n d t o s h o w t h e i r t a l e n t s
f o r l e a d e r s h i p a n d m a n a g e m e n t . T h e y s t r u t t
e d t h r o u g h t h e s c h o o l
a n d a r o u n d t h e c a m p u s e x e r t i n g p r e s s u r e o n
t h e l o w e r g r a d e s .
T h e i r a u t h o r i t y w a s s o n e w t h a t o c c a s i o n a l l
y i f t h e y p r e s s e d a l i t -
t l e t o o h a r d i t h a d t o b e o v e r l o o k e d . A f t e r a l l
, n e x t t e r m w a s c o m -
i n g , a n d i t n e v e r h u r t a s i x t h g r a d e r t o h a v e a
p l a y s i s t e r i n t h e
e i g h t h g r a d e , o r a t e n t h - y e a r s t u d e n t t o b e a
b l e t o c a l l a t w e l f t h
g r a d e r B u b b a . S o a l l w a s e n d u r e d i n a s p i r i t o
f s h a r e d u n d e r -
s t a n d i n g . B u t t h e g r a d u a t i n g c l a s s e s t h e m s
e l v e s w e r e t h e n o b i l i t y .
L i k e t r a v e l e r s w i t h e x o t i c d e s t i n a t i o n s o n t
h e i r m i n d s , t h e g r a d u -
a t e s w e r e r e m a r k a b l y f o r g e t f u l . T h e y c a m e
t o s c h o o l w i t h o u t t h e i r
b o o k s , o r t a b l e t s o r e v e n p e n c i l s . V o l u n t e e
r s f e l l o v e r t h e m s e l v e s
t o s e c u r e r e p l a c e m e n t s f o r t h e m i s s i n g e q u i
p m e n t . W h e n a c -
c e p t e d , t h e w i l l i n g w o r k e r s m i g h t o r m i g h t n
o t b e t h a n k e d , a n d i t
w a s o f n o i m p o r t a n c e t o t h e p r e g r a d u a t i o n r i
t e s . E v e n t e a c h e r s
w e r e r e s p e c t f u l o f t h e n o w q u i e t a n d a g i n g s e
n i o r s , a n d t e n d e d t o
s p e a k t o t h e m , i f n o t a s e q u a l s , a s b e i n g o n l y
s l i g h t l y l o w e r t h a n
t h e m s e l v e s . A f t e r t e s t s w e r e r e t u r n e d a n d g
r a d e s g i v e n , t h e s t u -

17. d e n t b o d y , w h i c h a c t e d l i k e a n e x t e n d e d f a m
i l y , k n e w w h o d i d
w e l l , w h o e x c e l l e d , a n d w h a t p i t e o u s o n e s h
a d f a i l e d .
U n l i k e t h e w h i t e h i g h s c h o o l , L a f a y e t t e C o
u n t y T r a i n i n g
S c h o o l d i s t i n g u i s h e d i t s e l f b y h a v i n g n e i t h
e r l a w n , n o r h e d g e s ,
n o r t e n n i s c o u r t , n o r c l i m b i n g i v y . I t s t w o b
u i l d i n g s ( m a i n c l a s s -
r o o m s , t h e g r a d e s c h o o l a n d h o m e e c o n o m i c
s ) w e r e s e t o n a d i r t
h i l l w i t h n o f e n c e t o l i m i t e i t h e r i t s b o u n d a r
i e s o r t h o s e o f b o r d e r -
i n g f a r m s . T h e r e w a s a l a r g e e x p a n s e t o t h e l e
f t o f t h e s c h o o l
w h i c h w a s u s e d a l t e r n a t e l y a s a b a s e b a l l d i a
m o n d o r b a s k e t b a l l
c o u r t . R u s t y h o o p s o n s w a y i n g p o l e s r e p r e s
e n t e d t h e p e r m a n e n t
r e c r e a t i o n a l e q u i p m e n t , a l t h o u g h b a t s a n d
b a l l s c o u l d b e b o r -
r o w e d f r o m t h e R E . t e a c h e r i f t h e b o r r o w e r w
a s q u a l i f i e d a n d i f
t h e d i a m o n d w a s n ' t o c c u p i e d .
O v e r t h i s r o c k y a r e a r e l i e v e d b y a f e w s h a d y t
a l l p e r s i m m o n
t r e e s t h e g r a d u a t i n g c l a s s w a l k e d . T h e g i r l s
o f t e n h e l d h a n d s a n d
n o l o n g e r b o t h e r e d t o s p e a k t o t h e l o w e r s t u d
e n t s . T h e r e w a s a
s a d n e s s a b o u t t h e m , a s i f t h i s o l d w o r l d w a s n
o t t h e i r h o m e a n d
t h e y w e r e b o u n d f o r h i g h e r g r o u n d . T h e b o y s

18. , o n t h e o t h e r h a n d ,
h a d b e c o m e m o r e f r i e n d l y , m o r e o u t g o i n g .
A d e c i d e d c h a n g e
76 Chapter 2 Education and Learning
f r o m t h e c l o s e d a t t i t u d e t h e y p r o j e c t e d w h i
l e s t u d y i n g f o r f i n a l s .
N o w t h e y s e e m e d n o t r e a d y t o g i v e u p t h e o l d s
c h o o l , t h e f a m i l -
i a r p a t h s a n d c l a s s r o o m s . O n l y a s m a l l p e r c e
n t a g e w o u l d b e c o n -
t i n u i n g o n t o c o l l e g e — o n e o f t h e S o u t h ' s A &
M ( a g r i c u l t u r a l a n d
m e c h a n i c a l ) s c h o o l s , w h i c h t r a i n e d N e g r o
y o u t h s t o b e c a r p e n -
t e r s , f a r m e r s , h a n d y m e n , m a s o n s , m a i d s , c
o o k s a n d b a b y n u r s e s .
T h e i r f u t u r e r o d e h e a v i l y o n t h e i r s h o u l d e r
s , a n d b l i n d e d t h e m t o
t h e c o l l e c t i v e j o y t h a t h a d p e r v a d e d t h e l i v e
s o f t h e b o y s a n d g i r l s
i n t h e g r a m m a r s c h o o l g r a d u a t i n g c l a s s .
P a r e n t s w h o c o u l d a f f o r d i t h a d o r d e r e d n e w
s h o e s a n d r e a d y - 4
m a d e c l o t h e s f o r t h e m s e l v e s f r o m S e a r s a n d
R o e b u c k o r M o n t -
g o m e r y W a r d . T h e y a l s o e n g a g e d t h e b e s t s e
a m s t r e s s e s t o m a k e
t h e f l o a t i n g g r a d u a t i n g d r e s s e s a n d t o c u t d
o w n s e c o n d h a n d
p a n t s w h i c h w o u l d b e p r e s s e d t o a m i l i t a r y s l
i c k n e s s f o r t h e i m -

19. p o r t a n t e v e n t .
O h , i t w a s i m p o r t a n t , a l l r i g h t . W h i t e f o l k s
w o u l d a t t e n d t h e 5
c e r e m o n y , a n d t w o o r t h r e e w o u l d s p e a k o f G
o d a n d h o m e , a n d
t h e S o u t h e r n w a y o f l i f e , a n d M r s . P a r s o n s , t
h e p r i n c i p a l ' s w i f e ,
w o u l d p l a y t h e g r a d u a t i o n m a r c h w h i l e t h e l
o w e r - g r a d e g r a d u -
a t e s p a r a d e d d o w n t h e a i s l e s a n d t o o k t h e i r s
e a t s b e l o w t h e p l a t -
f o r m . T h e h i g h s c h o o l s e n i o r s w o u l d w a i t i n
e m p t y c l a s s r o o m s t o
m a k e t h e i r d r a m a t i c e n t r a n c e .
I n t h e S t o r e I w a s t h e p e r s o n o f t h e m o m e n t . T
h e b i r t h d a y g i r l , e
T h e c e n t e r . B a i l e y h a d g r a d u a t e d t h e y e a r b e
f o r e , a l t h o u g h t o d o
s o h e h a d h a d t o f o r f e i t a l l p l e a s u r e s t o m a k e
u p f o r h i s t i m e l o s t
i n B a t o n R o u g e .
M y c l a s s w a s w e a r i n g b u t t e r - y e l l o w p i q u e d
r e s s e s , a n d M o m m a 7
l a u n c h e d o u t o n m i n e . S h e s m o c k e d t h e y o k e
i n t o t i n y c r i s s c r o s s -
i n g p u c k e r s , t h e n s h i r r e d t h e r e s t o f t h e b o d i
c e . H e r d a r k f i n g e r s
d u c k e d i n a n d o u t o f t h e l e m o n y c l o t h a s s h e e
m b r o i d e r e d r a i s e d
d a i s i e s a r o u n d t h e h e m . B e f o r e s h e c o n s i d e r
e d h e r s e l f f i n i s h e d
s h e h a d a d d e d a c r o c h e t e d c u f f o n t h e p u f f s l e
e v e s , a n d a p o i n t

20. c r o c h e t e d c o l l a r .
I w a s g o i n g t o b e l o v e l y . A w a l k i n g m o d e l o f a
l l t h e v a r i o u s s
s t y l e s o f f i n e h a n d s e w i n g a n d i t d i d n ' t w o r r
y m e t h a t I w a s o n l y
t w e l v e y e a r s o l d a n d m e r e l y g r a d u a t i n g f r o
m t h e e i g h t h g r a d e .
B e s i d e s , m a n y t e a c h e r s i n A r k a n s a s N e g r o s
c h o o l s h a d o n l y t h a t
d i p l o m a a n d w e r e l i c e n s e d t o i m p a r t w i s d o m
.
Graduation Maya Angelou 77
T h e d a y s h a d b e c o m e l o n g e r a n d m o r e n o t i c e
a b l e . T h e f a d e d
b e i g e o f f o r m e r t i m e s h a d b e e n r e p l a c e d w i t
h s t r o n g a n d s u r e c o l -
o r s . I b e g a n t o s e e m y c l a s s m a t e s ' c l o t h e s , t
h e i r s k i n t o n e s , a n d t h e
d u s t t h a t w a v e d o f f p u s s y w i l l o w s . C l o u d s t
h a t l a z e d a c r o s s t h e
s k y w e r e o b j e c t s o f g r e a t c o n c e r n t o m e . T h e
i r s h i f t i e r s h a p e s m i g h t
h a v e h e l d a m e s s a g e t h a t i n m y n e w h a p p i n e s
s a n d w i t h a l i t t l e
b i t o f t i m e I ' d s o o n d e c i p h e r . D u r i n g t h a t p e
r i o d I l o o k e d a t t h e
a r c h o f h e a v e n s o r e l i g i o u s l y m y n e c k k e p t a
s t e a d y a c h e . I h a d
t a k e n t o s m i l i n g m o r e o f t e n , a n d m y j a w s h u r
t f r o m t h e u n a c c u s -
t o m e d a c t i v i t y . B e t w e e n t h e t w o p h y s i c a l s o
r e s p o t s , I s u p p o s e I
c o u l d h a v e b e e n u n c o m f o r t a b l e , b u t t h a t w a

21. s n o t t h e c a s e . A s a
m e m b e r o f t h e w i n n i n g t e a m ( t h e g r a d u a t i n g
c l a s s o f 1 9 4 0 ) I h a d
o u t d i s t a n c e d u n p l e a s a n t s e n s a t i o n s b y m i l
e s . I w a s h e a d e d f o r t h e
f r e e d o m o f o p e n f i e l d s .
Y o u t h a n d s o c i a l a p p r o v a l a l l i e d t h e m s e l v e
s w i t h m e a n d w e
t r a m m e l e d m e m o r i e s o f s l i g h t s a n d i n s u l t s .
T h e w i n d o f o u r s w i f t
p a s s a g e r e m o d e l e d m y f e a t u r e s . L o s t t e a r s
w e r e p o u n d e d t o m u d
a n d t h e n t o d u s t . Y e a r s o f w i t h d r a w a l w e r e b
r u s h e d a s i d e a n d l e f t
b e h i n d , a s h a n g i n g r o p e s o f p a r a s i t i c m o s s .
M y w o r k a l o n e h a d a w a r d e d m e a t o p p l a c e a n d
I w a s g o i n g
t o b e o n e o f t h e f i r s t c a l l e d i n t h e g r a d u a t i n g
c e r e m o n i e s . O n t h e
c l a s s r o o m b l a c k b o a r d , a s w e l l a s o n t h e b u l l
e t i n b o a r d i n t h e a u -
d i t o r i u m , t h e r e w e r e b l u e s t a r s a n d w h i t e s t
a r s a n d r e d s t a r s . N o
a b s e n c e s , n o t a r d i n e s s e s , a n d m y a c a d e m i c
w o r k w a s a m o n g t h e
b e s t o f t h e y e a r . I c o u l d s a y t h e p r e a m b l e t o t
h e C o n s t i t u t i o n e v e n
f a s t e r t h a n B a i l e y . W e t i m e d o u r s e l v e s o f t e
n : " W e t h e p e o p l e -
o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s i n o r d e r t o f o r m a m o r e p e
r f e c t u n i o n . . . . " I h a d
m e m o r i z e d t h e P r e s i d e n t s o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t
e s f r o m W a s h i n g t o n
t o R o o s e v e l t i n c h r o n o l o g i c a l a s w e l l a s a l p

22. h a b e t i c a l o r d e r .
M y h a i r p l e a s e d m e t o o . G r a d u a l l y t h e b l a c k
m a s s h a d l e n g t h -
e n e d a n d t h i c k e n e d , s o t h a t i t k e p t a t l a s t t o i
t s b r a i d e d p a t t e r n ,
a n d I d i d n ' t h a v e t o y a n k m y s c a l p o f f w h e n I t
r i e d t o c o m b i t .
L o u i s e a n d I h a d r e h e a r s e d t h e e x e r c i s e s u n t
i l w e t i r e d o u t
o u r s e l v e s . H e n r y R e e d w a s c l a s s v a l e d i c t o r
i a n . H e w a s a s m a l l ,
v e r y b l a c k b o y w i t h h o o d e d e y e s , a l o n g , b r o
a d n o s e a n d a n o d d l y
s h a p e d h e a d . I h a d a d m i r e d h i m f o r y e a r s b e c
a u s e e a c h t e r m h e
a n d I v i e d f o r t h e b e s t g r a d e s i n o u r c l a s s . M o
s t o f t e n h e b e s t e d
m e , b u t i n s t e a d o f b e i n g d i s a p p o i n t e d I w a s p
l e a s e d t h a t w e
78 Chapter 2 Education and Learning
s h a r e d t o p p l a c e s b e t w e e n u s . L i k e m a n y S o u
t h e r n B l a c k c h i l d r e n ,
h e l i v e d w i t h h i s g r a n d m o t h e r , w h o w a s a s s t
r i c t a s M o m m a a n d
a s k i n d a s s h e k n e w h o w t o b e . H e w a s c o u r t e o
u s , r e s p e c t f u l a n d
s o f t - s p o k e n t o e l d e r s , b u t o n t h e p l a y g r o u n
d h e c h o s e t o p l a y t h e
r o u g h e s t g a m e s . I a d m i r e d h i m . A n y o n e , I r e
c k o n e d , s u f f i c i e n t l y

23. a f r a i d o r s u f f i c i e n t l y d u l l c o u l d b e p o l i t e .
B u t t o b e a b l e t o o p e r a t e
a t a t o p l e v e l w i t h b o t h a d u l t s a n d c h i l d r e n w
a s a d m i r a b l e .
H i s v a l e d i c t o r y s p e e c h w a s e n t i t l e d " T o B e
o r N o t t o B e . " T h e
r i g i d t e n t h - g r a d e t e a c h e r h a d h e l p e d h i m w r
i t e i t . H e ' d b e e n
w o r k i n g o n t h e d r a m a t i c s t r e s s e s f o r m o n t h s
.
T h e w e e k s u n t i l g r a d u a t i o n w e r e f i l l e d w i t h
h e a d y a c t i v i t i e s .
A g r o u p o f s m a l l c h i l d r e n w e r e t o b e p r e s e n t
e d i n a p l a y a b o u t
b u t t e r c u p s a n d d a i s i e s a n d b u n n y r a b b i t s . T
h e y c o u l d b e h e a r d
t h r o u g h o u t t h e b u i l d i n g p r a c t i c i n g t h e i r h o
p s a n d t h e i r l i t t l e s o n g s
t h a t s o u n d e d l i k e s i l v e r b e l l s . T h e o l d e r g i r
l s ( n o n - g r a d u a t e s , o f
c o u r s e ) w e r e a s s i g n e d t h e t a s k o f m a k i n g r e f
r e s h m e n t s f o r t h e
n i g h t ' s f e s t i v i t i e s . A t a n g y s c e n t o f g i n g e r ,
c i n n a m o n , n u t m e g a n d
c h o c o l a t e w a f t e d a r o u n d t h e h o m e e c o n o m i
c s b u i l d i n g a s t h e
b u d d i n g c o o k s m a d e s a m p l e s f o r t h e m s e l v e
s a n d t h e i r t e a c h e r s .
I n e v e r y c o r n e r o f t h e w o r k s h o p , a x e s a n d s a
w s s p l i t f r e s h
t i m b e r a s t h e w o o d s h o p b o y s m a d e s e t s a n d s t
a g e s c e n e r y . O n l y
t h e g r a d u a t e s w e r e l e f t o u t o f t h e g e n e r a l b u

24. s t l e . W e w e r e f r e e t o
s i t i n t h e l i b r a r y a t t h e b a c k o f t h e b u i l d i n g o
r l o o k i n q u i t e d e -
t a c h e d l y , n a t u r a l l y , o n t h e m e a s u r e s b e i n g
t a k e n f o r o u r e v e n t .
E v e n t h e m i n i s t e r p r e a c h e d o n g r a d u a t i o n t h
e S u n d a y b e f o r e .
H i s s u b j e c t w a s , " L e t y o u r l i g h t s o s h i n e t h a
t m e n w i l l s e e y o u r
g o o d w o r k s a n d p r a i s e y o u r F a t h e r , W h o i s i n
H e a v e n . " A l t h o u g h
t h e s e r m o n w a s p u r p o r t e d t o b e a d d r e s s e d t o
u s , h e u s e d t h e o c c a -
s i o n t o s p e a k t o b a c k s l i d e r s , g a m b l e r s a n d g
e n e r a l n e ' e r - d o - w e l l s .
B u t s i n c e h e h a d c a l l e d o u r n a m e s a t t h e b e g i
n n i n g o f t h e s e r v i c e
w e w e r e m o l l i f i e d .
A m o n g N e g r o e s t h e t r a d i t i o n w a s t o g i v e p r e
s e n t s t o c h i l d r e n
g o i n g o n l y f r o m o n e g r a d e t o a n o t h e r . H o w m
u c h m o r e i m p o r t a n t
t h i s w a s w h e n t h e p e r s o n w a s g r a d u a t i n g a t t
h e t o p o f t h e c l a s s .
U n c l e W i l l i e a n d M o m m a h a d s e n t a w a y f o r a
M i c k e y M o u s e w a t c h
l i k e B a i l e y ' s . L o u i s e g a v e m e f o u r e m b r o i d e
r e d h a n d k e r c h i e f s . ( I
g a v e h e r c r o c h e t e d d o i l i e s . ) M r s . S n e e d , t h
e m i n i s t e r ' s w i f e , m a d e
Graduation Maya Angelou 79
m e a n u n d e r s h i r t t o w e a r f o r g r a d u a t i o n , a n d

25. n e a r l y e v e r y c u s -
t o m e r g a v e m e a n i c k e l o r m a y b e e v e n a d i m e w
i t h t h e i n -
s t r u c t i o n , " K e e p o n m o v i n g t o h i g h e r g r o u n
d , " o r s o m e s u c h
e n c o u r a g e m e n t .
A m a z i n g l y t h e g r e a t d a y f i n a l l y d a w n e d a n d
I w a s o u t o f b e d
b e f o r e I k n e w i t . I t h r e w o p e n t h e b a c k d o o r t o
s e e i t m o r e c l e a r l y ,
b u t M o m m a s a i d , " S i s t e r , c o m e a w a y f r o m t h
a t d o o r a n d p u t y o u r
r o b e o n . "
I h o p e d t h e m e m o r y o f t h a t m o r n i n g w o u l d n e
v e r l e a v e m e .
S u n l i g h t w a s i t s e l f y o u n g , a n d t h e d a y h a d n
o n e o f t h e i n s i s t e n c e
m a t u r i t y w o u l d b r i n g i t i n a f e w h o u r s . I n m y r
o b e a n d b a r e f o o t i n
t h e b a c k y a r d , u n d e r c o v e r o f g o i n g t o s e e a b
o u t m y n e w b e a n s , I
g a v e m y s e l f u p t o t h e g e n t l e w a r m t h a n d t h a n
k e d G o d t h a t n o
m a t t e r w h a t e v i l I h a d d o n e i n m y l i f e H e h a d a
l l o w e d m e t o l i v e
t o s e e t h i s d a y . S o m e w h e r e i n m y f a t a l i s m I h
a d e x p e c t e d t o d i e ,
a c c i d e n t a l l y , a n d n e v e r h a v e t h e c h a n c e t o w
a l k u p t h e s t a i r s i n
t h e a u d i t o r i u m a n d g r a c e f u l l y r e c e i v e m y h a
r d - e a r n e d d i p l o m a .
O u t o f G o d ' s m e r c i f u l b o s o m I h a d w o n r e p r i e
v e .

26. B a i l e y c a m e o u t i n h i s r o b e a n d g a v e m e a b o x
w r a p p e d i n
C h r i s t m a s p a p e r . H e s a i d h e h a d s a v e d h i s m o
n e y f o r m o n t h s
t o p a y f o r i t . I t f e l t l i k e a b o x o f c h o c o l a t e s , b
u t I k n e w B a i l e y
w o u l d n ' t s a v e m o n e y t o b u y c a n d y w h e n w e h a
d a l l w e c o u l d
w a n t u n d e r o u r n o s e s .
H e w a s a s p r o u d o f t h e g i f t a s I . I t w a s a s o f t - l
e a t h e r - b o u n d -
c o p y o f a c o l l e c t i o n o f p o e m s b y E d g a r A l l a n
P o e , o r , a s B a i l e y a n d
I c a l l e d h i m , " E a p . " I t u r n e d t o " A n n a b e l L e e
" a n d w e w a l k e d u p
a n d d o w n t h e g a r d e n r o w s , t h e c o o l d i r t b e t w
e e n o u r t o e s , r e c i t -
i n g t h e b e a u t i f u l l y s a d l i n e s .
M o m m a m a d e a S u n d a y b r e a k f a s t a l t h o u g h i t
w a s o n l y F r i -
d a y A f t e r w e f i n i s h e d t h e b l e s s i n g , I o p e n e d
m y e y e s t o f i n d t h e
w a t c h o n m y p l a t e . I t w a s a d r e a m o f a d a y E v e r
y t h i n g w e n t
s m o o t h l y a n d t o m y c r e d i t . I d i d n ' t h a v e t o b e
r e m i n d e d o r s c o l d e d
f o r a n y t h i n g . N e a r e v e n i n g I w a s t o o j i t t e r y
t o a t t e n d t o c h o r e s , s o
B a i l e y v o l u n t e e r e d t o d o a l l b e f o r e h i s b a t h .
D a y s b e f o r e , w e h a d m a d e a s i g n f o r t h e S t o r e
, a n d a s w e
t u r n e d o u t t h e l i g h t s M o m m a h u n g t h e c a r d b
o a r d o v e r t h e d o o r -

27. k n o b . I t r e a d c l e a r l y : C L O S E D . G R A D U A T I
O N .
8 0 Chapter 2 Education and Learning
M y d r e s s f i t t e d p e r f e c t l y a n d e v e r y o n e s a i d
t h a t I l o o k e d l i k e a
s u n b e a m i n i t . O n t h e h i l l , g o i n g t o w a r d t h e s
c h o o l . B a i l e y w a l k e d
b e h i n d w i t h U n c l e W i l U e , w h o m u t t e r e d , " G
o o n , J u . " H e w a n t e d
h i m t o w a l k a h e a d w i t h u s b e c a u s e i t e m b a r r a
s s e d h i m t o h a v e t o
w a l k s o s l o w l y . B a i l e y s a i d h e ' d l e t t h e l a d i e
s w a l k t o g e t h e r , a n d
t h e m e n w o u l d b r i n g u p t h e r e a r . W e a l l l a u g h
e d , n i c e l y .
L i t t l e c h i l d r e n d a s h e d b y o u t o f t h e d a r k l i k e
f i r e f l i e s . T h e i r
c r e p e - p a p e r d r e s s e s a n d b u t t e r f l y w i n g s w e
r e n o t m a d e f o r r u n -
n i n g a n d w e h e a r d m o r e t h a n o n e r i p , d r y l y , a
n d t h e r e g r e t f u l " u h
u h " t h a t f o l l o w e d .
T h e s c h o o l b l a z e d w i t h o u t g a i e t y . T h e w i n d
o w s s e e m e d c o l d
a n d u n f r i e n d l y f r o m t h e l o w e r h i l l . A s e n s e o
f i l l - f a t e d t i m i n g c r e p t
o v e r m e , a n d i f M o m m a h a d n ' t r e a c h e d f o r m y
h a n d I w o u l d h a v e
d r i f t e d b a c k t o B a i l e y a n d U n c l e W i l l i e , a n d
p o s s i b l y b e y o n d . S h e

28. m a d e a f e w s l o w j o k e s a b o u t m y f e e t g e t t i n g c
o l d , a n d t u g g e d m e
a l o n g t o t h e n o w - s t r a n g e b u i l d i n g .
A r o u n d t h e f r o n t s t e p s , a s s u r a n c e c a m e b a c
k . T h e r e w e r e m y
f e l l o w " g r e a t s , " t h e g r a d u a t i n g c l a s s . H a i r
b r u s h e d b a c k , l e g s o i l e d ,
n e w d r e s s e s a n d p r e s s e d p l e a t s , f r e s h p o c k e
t h a n d k e r c h i e f s a n d
l i t t l e h a n d b a g s , a l l h o m e s e w n . O h , w e w e r e
u p t o s n u f f , a l l r i g h t .
I j o i n e d m y c o m r a d e s a n d d i d n ' t e v e n s e e m y f
a m i l y g o i n t o f i n d
s e a t s i n t h e c r o w d e d a u d i t o r i u m .
T h e s c h o o l b a n d s t r u c k u p a m a r c h a n d a l l c l a
s s e s f i l e d i n a s
h a d b e e n r e h e a r s e d . W e s t o o d i n f r o n t o f o u r
s e a t s , a s a s s i g n e d ,
a n d o n a s i g n a l f r o m t h e c h o i r d i r e c t o r , w e s a
t . N o s o o n e r h a d t h i s
b e e n a c c o m p l i s h e d t h a n t h e b a n d s t a r t e d t o p
l a y t h e n a t i o n a l a n -
t h e m . W e r o s e a g a i n a n d s a n g t h e s o n g , a f t e r
w h i c h w e r e c i t e d t h e
p l e d g e o f a l l e g i a n c e . W e r e m a i n e d s t a n d i n
g f o r a b r i e f m i n u t e b e -
f o r e t h e c h o i r d i r e c t o r a n d t h e p r i n c i p a l s i g
n a l e d t o u s , r a t h e r d e s -
p e r a t e l y I t h o u g h t , t o t a k e o u r s e a t s . T h e c o
m m a n d w a s s o
u n u s u a l t h a t o u r c a r e f u l l y r e h e a r s e d a n d s m
o o t h - r u n n i n g m a -
c h i n e w a s t h r o w n o f f . F o r a f u l l m i n u t e w e f u
m b l e d f o r o u r c h a i r s

29. a n d b u m p e d i n t o e a c h o t h e r a w k w a r d l y H a b i
t s c h a n g e o r s o l i d -
i f y u n d e r p r e s s u r e , s o i n o u r s t a t e o f n e r v o u s
t e n s i o n w e h a d b e e n
r e a d y t o f o l l o w o u r u s u a l a s s e m b l y p a t t e r n :
t h e A m e r i c a n n a -
t i o n a l a n t h e m , t h e n t h e p l e d g e o f a l l e g i a n c
e , t h e n t h e s o n g e v e r y
B l a c k p e r s o n I k n e w c a l l e d t h e N e g r o N a t i o n
a l A n t h e m . A l l d o n e
Graduation Maya Angelou 81
i n t h e s a m e k e y , w i t h t h e s a m e p a s s i o n a n d m o
s t o f t e n s t a n d i n g
o n t h e s a m e f o o t .
F i n d i n g m y s e a t a t l a s t , 1 w a s o v e r c o m e w i t h
a p r e s e n t i m e n t
o f w o r s e t h i n g s t o c o m e . S o m e t h i n g u n r e h e a
r s e d , u n p l a n n e d , w a s
g o i n g t o h a p p e n , a n d w e w e r e g o i n g t o b e m a d
e t o l o o k b a d . I d i s -
t i n c t l y r e m e m b e r b e i n g e x p l i c i t i n t h e c h o i
c e o f p r o n o u n . I t w a s
" w e , " t h e g r a d u a t i n g c l a s s , t h e u n i t , t h a t c o
n c e r n e d m e t h e n .
T h e p r i n c i p a l w e l c o m e d " p a r e n t s a n d f r i e n
d s " a n d a s k e d t h e
B a p t i s t m i n i s t e r t o l e a d u s i n p r a y e r . H i s i n v
o c a t i o n w a s b r i e f a n d
p u n c h y , a n d f o r a s e c o n d I t h o u g h t w e w e r e g e
t t i n g o n t h e h i g h
r o a d t o r i g h t a c t i o n . W h e n t h e p r i n c i p a l c a m
e b a c k t o t h e d a i s ,

30. h o w e v e r , h i s v o i c e h a d c h a n g e d . S o u n d s a l w
a y s a f f e c t e d m e p r o -
f o u n d l y a n d t h e p r i n c i p a l ' s v o i c e w a s o n e o f
m y f a v o r i t e s . D u r i n g
a s s e m b l y i t m e l t e d a n d l o w e d w e a k l y i n t o t h
e a u d i e n c e . I t h a d
n o t b e e n i n m y p l a n t o l i s t e n t o h i m , b u t m y c u
r i o s i t y w a s p i q u e d
a n d I s t r a i g h t e n e d u p t o g i v e h i m m y a t t e n t i o
n .
H e w a s t a l k i n g a b o u t B o o k e r T . W a s h i n g t o n
, o u r " l a t e g r e a t
l e a d e r , " w h o s a i d w e c a n b e a s c l o s e a s t h e f i n
g e r s o n t h e h a n d ,
e t c T h e n h e s a i d a f e w v a g u e t h i n g s a b o u t f r i e
n d s h i p a n d t h e
f r i e n d s h i p o f k i n d l y p e o p l e t o t h o s e l e s s f o r
t u n a t e t h a n t h e m -
s e l v e s . W i t h t h a t h i s v o i c e n e a r l y f a d e d , t h i
n , a w a y . L i k e a r i v e r d i -
m i n i s h i n g t o a s t r e a m a n d t h e n t o a t r i c k l e . B
u t h e c l e a r e d h i s
t h r o a t a n d s a i d , " O u r s p e a k e r t o n i g h t , w h o i
s a l s o o u r f r i e n d ,
c a m e f r o m T e x a r k a n a t o d e l i v e r t h e c o m m e n
c e m e n t a d d r e s s , b u t
d u e t o t h e i r r e g u l a r i t y o f t h e t r a i n s c h e d u l e
, h e ' s g o i n g t o , a s t h e y
s a y , ' s p e a k a n d r u n . ' " H e s a i d t h a t w e u n d e r s
t o o d a n d w a n t e d t h e
m a n t o k n o w t h a t w e w e r e m o s t g r a t e f u l f o r t h
e t i m e h e w a s a b l e
t o g i v e u s a n d t h e n s o m e t h i n g a b o u t h o w w e w
e r e w i l l i n g a l w a y s
t o a d j u s t t o a n o t h e r ' s p r o g r a m , a n d w i t h o u t

31. m o r e a d o — " I g i v e
y o u M r . E d w a r d D o n l e a v y . "
N o t o n e b u t t w o w h i t e m e n c a m e t h r o u g h t h e d
o o r o f f - s t a g e .
T h e s h o r t e r o n e w a l k e d t o t h e s p e a k e r ' s p l a t
f o r m , a n d t h e t a l l o n e
m o v e d t o t h e c e n t e r s e a t a n d s a t d o w n . B u t t h
a t w a s o u r p r i n c i p a l ' s
s e a t , a n d a l r e a d y o c c u p i e d . T h e d i s l o d g e d g
e n t l e m a n b o u n c e d
a r o u n d f o r a l o n g b r e a t h o r t w o b e f o r e t h e B a
p t i s t m i n i s t e r g a v e
h i m h i s c h a i r , t h e n w i t h m o r e d i g n i t y t h a n t h
e s i t u a t i o n d e s e r v e d ,
t h e m i n i s t e r w a l k e d o f f t h e s t a g e .
82 Chapter 2 Education and Learning
D o n l e a v y l o o k e d a t t h e a u d i e n c e o n c e ( o n r e
f l e c t i o n , I ' m s u r e 34
t h a t h e w a n t e d o n l y t o r e a s s u r e h i m s e l f t h a t
w e w e r e r e a l l y t h e r e ) ,
a d j u s t e d h i s g l a s s e s a n d b e g a n t o r e a d f r o m a
s h e a f o f p a p e r s .
H e w a s g l a d " t o b e h e r e a n d t o s e e t h e w o r k g o i
n g o n j u s t a s 35
i t w a s i n t h e o t h e r s c h o o l s . "
A t t h e f i r s t " A m e n " f r o m t h e a u d i e n c e I w i l l e
d t h e o f f e n d e r t o 36
i m m e d i a t e d e a t h b y c h o k i n g o n t h e w o r d . B u t
A m e n s a n d Y e s , s i r ' s

32. b e g a n t o f a l l a r o u n d t h e r o o m l i k e r a i n t h r o u
g h a r a g g e d u m b r e l l a .
H e t o l d u s o f t h e w o n d e r f u l c h a n g e s w e c h i l d
r e n i n S t a m p s 37
h a d i n s t o r e . T h e C e n t r a l S c h o o l ( n a t u r a l l y ,
t h e w h i t e s c h o o l w a s
C e n t r a l ) h a d a l r e a d y b e e n g r a n t e d i m p r o v e
m e n t s t h a t w o u l d b e
i n u s e i n t h e f a l l . A w e l l - k n o w n a r t i s t w a s c o
m i n g f r o m L i t t l e R o c k
t o t e a c h a r t t o t h e m . T h e y w e r e g o i n g t o h a v e t
h e n e w e s t m i c r o -
s c o p e s a n d c h e m i s t r y e q u i p m e n t f o r t h e l a b
o r a t o r y . M r . D o n l e a v y
d i d n ' t l e a v e u s l o n g i n t h e d a r k o v e r w h o m a d
e t h e s e i m p r o v e -
m e n t s a v a i l a b l e t o C e n t r a l H i g h . N o r w e r e w
e t o b e i g n o r e d i n t h e
g e n e r a l b e t t e r m e n t s c h e m e h e h a d i n m i n d .
H e s a i d t h a t h e h a d p o i n t e d o u t t o p e o p l e a t a v
e r y h i g h l e v e l 38
t h a t o n e o f t h e f i r s t - l i n e f o o t b a l l t a c k l e r s a
t A r k a n s a s A g r i c u l t u r a l
a n c i M e c h a n i c a l C o l l e g e h a d g r a d u a t e d f r o
m g o o d o l d L a f a y e t t e
C o u n t y T r a i n i n g S c h o o l . H e r e f e w e r A m e n '
s w e r e h e a r d . T h o s e
f e w t h a t d i d b r e a k t h r o u g h l a y d u l l y i n t h e a i
r w i t h t h e h e a v i n e s s
o f b a b i t .
H e w e n t o n t o p r a i s e u s . H e w e n t o n t o s a y h o w
h e h a d b r a g g e d 39
t h a t " o n e o f t h e b e s t b a s k e t b a l l p l a y e r s a t F i

33. s k s a n k h i s f i r s t b a l l
r i g h t h e r e a t L a f a y e t t e C o u n t y T r a i n i n g S c h
o o l . "
T h e w h i t e k i d s w e r e g o i n g t o h a v e a c h a n c e t o
b e c o m e 40
G a l i l e o s a n d M a d a m e C u r i e s a n d E d i s o n s a n
d G a u g u i n s , a n d o u r
b o y s ( t h e g i r l s w e r e n ' t e v e n i n o n i t ) w o u l d t r
y t o b e J e s s e O w e n s e s
a n d J o e L o u i s e s .
O w e n s a n d t h e B r o w n B o m b e r w e r e g r e a t h e r
o e s i n o u r w o r l d , 4 1
b u t w h a t s c h o o l o f f i c i a l i n t h e w h i t e - g o d d o
m o f L i t t l e R o c k h a d
t h e r i g h t t o d e c i d e t h a t t h o s e t w o m e n m u s t b e
o u r o n l y h e r o e s ?
W h o d e c i d e d t h a t f o r H e n r y R e e d t o b e c o m e a
s c i e n t i s t h e h a d t o
w o r k l i k e G e o r g e W a s h i n g t o n C a r v e r , a s a b o
o t b l a c k , t o b u y a
l o u s y m i c r o s c o p e ? B a i l e y w a s o b v i o u s l y a l
w a y s g o i n g t o b e t o o
s m a l l t o b e a n a t h l e t e , s o w h i c h c o n c r e t e a n g
e l g l u e d t o w h a t
c o u n t y s e a t h a d d e c i d e d t h a t i f m y b r o t h e r w
a n t e d t o b e c o m e a
Graduation Maya Angelou 83
l a w y e r h e h a d t o f i r s t p a y p e n a n c e f o r h i s s k i
n b y p i c k i n g c o t t o n
a n d h o e i n g c o r n a n d s t u d y i n g c o r r e s p o n d e n
c e b o o k s a t n i g h t f o r
t w e n t y y e a r s ?

34. T h e m a n ' s d e a d w o r d s f e l l l i k e b r i c k s a r o u n
d t h e a u d i t o r i u m
a n d t o o m a n y s e t t l e d i n m y b e l l y C o n s t r a i n e
d b y h a r d - l e a r n e d
m a n n e r s I c o u l d n ' t l o o k b e h i n d m e , b u t t o m y
l e f t a n d r i g h t t h e
p r o u d g r a d u a t i n g c l a s s o f 1 9 4 0 h a d d r o p p e d
t h e i r h e a d s . E v e r y
g i r l i n m y r o w h a d f o u n d s o m e t h i n g n e w t o d o
w i t h h e r h a n d k e r -
c h i e f . S o m e f o l d e d t h e t i n y s q u a r e s i n t o l o v
e k n o t s , s o m e i n t o t r i -
a n g l e s , b u t m o s t w e r e w a d d i n g t h e m , t h e n p r
e s s i n g t h e m f l a t o n
t h e i r y e l l o w l a p s .
O n t h e d a i s , t h e a n c i e n t t r a g e d y w a s b e i n g r e
p l a y e d . P r o f e s -
s o r P a r s o n s s a t , a s c u l p t o r ' s r e j e c t , r i g i d . H
i s l a r g e , h e a v y b o d y
s e e m e d d e v o i d o f w i l l o r w i l l i n g n e s s , a n d h i
s e y e s s a i d h e w a s n o
l o n g e r w i t h u s . T h e o t h e r t e a c h e r s e x a m i n e
d t h e f l a g ( w h i c h w a s
d r a p e d s t a g e r i g h t ) o r t h e i r n o t e s , o r t h e w i n
d o w s w h i c h o p e n e d
o n o u r n o w - f a m o u s p l a y i n g d i a m o n d .
G r a d u a t i o n , t h e h u s h - h u s h m a g i c t i m e o f f r i
l l s a n d g i f t s a n d
c o n g r a t u l a t i o n s a n d d i p l o m a s , w a s f i n i s h e
d f o r m e b e f o r e m y n a m e
w a s c a l l e d . T h e a c c o m p l i s h m e n t w a s n o t h i n
g . T h e m e t i c u l o u s
m a p s , d r a w n i n t h r e e c o l o r s o f i n k , l e a r n i n g

35. a n d s p e l l i n g d e c a s y l -
l a b i c w o r d s , m e m o r i z i n g t h e w h o l e o f The
Rape ofLucrece—it w a s
f o r n o t h i n g . D o n l e a v y h a d e x p o s e d u s .
W e w e r e m a i d s a n d f a r m e r s , h a n d y m e n a n d w
a s h e r w o m e n ,
a n d a n y t h i n g h i g h e r t h a t w e a s p i r e d t o w a s f a
r c i c a l a n d p r e -
s u m p t u o u s .
T h e n I w i s h e d t h a t G a b r i e l P r o s s e r a n d N a t T
u r n e r h a d k i l l e d
a l l w h i t e f o l k s i n t h e i r b e d s a n d t h a t A b r a h a
m L i n c o l n h a d b e e n
a s s a s s i n a t e d b e f o r e t h e s i g n i n g o f t h e E m a n
c i p a t i o n P r o c l a m a t i o n ,
a n d t h a t H a r r i e t T u b m a n h a d b e e n k i l l e d b y t
h a t b l o w o n h e r
h e a d a n d C h r i s t o p h e r C o l u m b u s h a d d r o w n e
d i n t h e Santa Maria.
I t w a s a w f u l t o b e a N e g r o a n d h a v e n o c o n t r o l
o v e r m y l i f e . I t
w a s b r u t a l t o b e y o u n g a n d a l r e a d y t r a i n e d t o
s i t q u i e t l y a n d l i s -
t e n t o c h a r g e s b r o u g h t a g a i n s t m y c o l o r w i t h
n o c h a n c e o f d e -
f e n s e . W e s h o u l d a l l b e d e a d . I t h o u g h t I s h o u
l d l i k e t o s e e u s a l l
d e a d , o n e o n t o p o f t h e o t h e r . A p y r a m i d o f f l e
s h w i t h t h e w h i t e -
f o l k s o n t h e b o t t o m , a s t h e b r o a d b a s e , t h e n t
h e I n d i a n s w i t h t h e i r
s i l l y t o m a h a w k s a n d t e e p e e s a n d w i g w a m s a
n d t r e a t i e s , t h e

36. 84 Chapter 2 Education and Learning
N e g r o e s w i t h t h e i r m o p s a n d r e c i p e s a n d c o t
t o n s a c k s a n d s p i r i -
t u a l s s t i c k i n g o u t o f t h e i r m o u t h s . T h e D u t c
h c h i l d r e n s h o u l d a l l
s t u m b l e i n t h e i r w o o d e n s h o e s a n d b r e a k t h e
i r n e c k s . T h e F r e n c h
s h o u l d c h o k e t o d e a t h o n t h e L o u i s i a n a P u r c
h a s e ( 1 8 0 3 ) w h i l e s i l k -
w o r m s a t e a l l t h e C h i n e s e w i t h t h e i r s t u p i d p
i g t a i l s . A s a s p e c i e s ,
w e w e r e a n a b o m i n a t i o n . A l l o f u s .
D o n l e a v y w a s r u n n i n g f o r e l e c t i o n , a n d a s s
u r e d o u r p a r e n t s
t h a t i f h e w o n w e c o u l d c o u n t o n h a v i n g t h e o n
l y c o l o r e d p a v e d
p l a y i n g f i e l d i n t h a t p a r t o f A r k a n s a s . A l s o
— h e n e v e r l o o k e d u p
t o a c k n o w l e d g e t h e g r u n t s o f a c c e p t a n c e — a
l s o , w e w e r e b o u n d t o
g e t s o m e n e w e q u i p m e n t f o r t h e h o m e e c o n o
m i c s b u i l d i n g a n d
t h e w o r k s h o p .
H e f i n i s h e d , a n d s i n c e t h e r e w a s n o n e e d t o g i
v e a n y m o r e
t h a n t h e m o s t p e r f u n c t o r y t h a n k - y o u ' s , h e n
o d d e d t o t h e m e n o n
t h e s t a g e , a n d t h e t a l l w h i t e m a n w h o w a s n e v
e r i n t r o d u c e d
j o i n e d h i m a t t h e d o o r . T h e y l e f t w i t h t h e a t t i

37. t u d e t h a t n o w t h e y
w e r e o f f t o s o m e t h i n g r e a l l y i m p o r t a n t . ( T h
e g r a d u a t i o n c e r e -
m o n i e s a t L a f a y e t t e C o u n t y T r a i n i n g S c h o o
l h a d b e e n a m e r e
p r e l i m i n a r y . )
T h e u g l i n e s s t h e y l e f t w a s p a l p a b l e . A n u n i n
v i t e d g u e s t w h o
w o u l d n ' t l e a v e . T h e c h o i r w a s s u m m o n e d a n
d s a n g a m o d e r n
a r r a n g e m e n t o f " O n w a r d , C h r i s t i a n S o l d i e
r s , " w i t h n e w w o r d s
p e r t a i n i n g t o g r a d u a t e s s e e k i n g t h e i r p l a c e
i n t h e w o r l d . B u t i t
d i d n ' t w o r k . E l o u i s e , t h e d a u g h t e r o f t h e B a
p t i s t m i n i s t e r , r e c i t e d
" I n v i c t u s , " a n d I c o u l d h a v e c r i e d a t t h e i m p
e r t i n e n c e o f " I a m t h e
m a s t e r o f m y f a t e , 1 a m t h e c a p t a i n o f m y s o u l
. "
M y n a m e h a d l o s t i t s r i n g o f f a m i l i a r i t y a n d I
h a d t o b e
n u d g e d t o g o a n d r e c e i v e m y d i p l o m a . A l l m y
p r e p a r a t i o n s h a d
f l e d . I n e i t h e r m a r c h e d u p t o t h e s t a g e l i k e a c
o n q u e r i n g A m a z o n ,
n o r d i d I l o o k i n t h e a u d i e n c e f o r B a i l e y ' s n o
d o f a p p r o v a l . M a r -
g u e r i t e J o h n s o n , ^ 1 h e a r d t h e n a m e a g a i n , m
y h o n o r s w e r e r e a d ,
t h e r e w e r e n o i s e s i n t h e a u d i e n c e o f a p p r e c i
a t i o n , a n d I t o o k m y
p l a c e o n t h e s t a g e a s r e h e a r s e d .

38. I t h o u g h t a b o u t c o l o r s I h a t e d : e c r u , p u c e , l a
v e n d e r , b e i g e a n d
b l a c k .
^Maya Angelou was born Marguerite Johnson in 1928; married
Tosh Angelou
(divorced 1952); took the name of Maya Angelou in her early
twenties.
Graduation Maya Angelou 85
T h e r e w a s s h u f f l i n g a n d r u s t l i n g a r o u n d m e
, t h e n H e n r y R e e d
w a s g i v i n g h i s v a l e d i c t o r y a d d r e s s , " T o B e o
r N o t t o B e . " H a d n ' t
h e h e a r d t h e w h i t e f o l k s ? W e c o u l d n ' t be, s o t
h e q u e s t i o n w a s a
w a s t e o f t i m e . H e n r y ' s v o i c e c a m e o u t c l e a r a
n d s t r o n g . I f e a r e d t o
l o o k a t h i m . H a d n ' t h e g o t t h e m e s s a g e ? T h e r
e w a s n o " n o b l e r i n
t h e m i n d " f o r N e g r o e s b e c a u s e t h e w o r l d d i d
n ' t t h i n k w e h a d
m i n d s , a n d t h e y l e t u s k n o w i t . " O u t r a g e o u s f
o r t u n e " ? N o w , t h a t
w a s a j o k e . W h e n t h e c e r e m o n y w a s o v e r I h a d
t o t e l l H e n r y R e e d
s o m e t h i n g s . T h a t i s , i f I s t i l l c a r e d . N o t " r u
b , " H e n r y , " e r a s e . "
" A h , t h e r e ' s t h e e r a s e . " U s .
H e n r y h a d b e e n a g o o d s t u d e n t i n e l o c u t i o n .
H i s v o i c e r o s e o n
t i d e s o f p r o m i s e a n d f e l l o n w a v e s o f w a r n i n
g s . T h e E n g l i s h
t e a c h e r h a d h e l p e d h i m t o c r e a t e a s e r m o n w i

39. n g i n g t h r o u g h H a m -
l e t ' s s o l i l o q u y . T o b e a m a n , a d o e r , a b u i l d e r
, a l e a d e r , o r t o b e a
t o o l , a n u n f u n n y j o k e , a c r u s h e r o f f u n k y t o a
d s t o o l s . I m a r v e l e d
t h a t H e n r y c o u l d g o t h r o u g h w i t h t h e s p e e c h
a s i f w e h a d a c h o i c e .
1 h a d b e e n l i s t e n i n g a n d s i l e n t l y r e b u t t i n g e
a c h s e n t e n c e w i t h
m y e y e s c l o s e d ; t h e n t h e r e w a s a h u s h , w h i c h
i n a n a u d i e n c e w a r n s
t h a t s o m e t h i n g u n p l a n n e d i s h a p p e n i n g . 1 l o
o k e d u p a n d s a w
H e n r y R e e d , t h e c o n s e r v a t i v e , t h e p r o p e r , t
h e A s t u d e n t , t u r n h i s
b a c k t o t h e a u d i e n c e a n d t u r n t o u s ( t h e p r o u d
g r a d u a t i n g c l a s s o f
1 9 4 0 ) a n d s i n g , n e a r l y s p e a k i n g ,
" L i f t e v ' r y v o i c e a n d s i n g ^
T i l l e a r t h a n d h e a v e n r i n g
R i n g w i t h t h e h a r m o n i e s o f L i b e r t y . . . "
I t w a s t h e p o e m w r i t t e n b y J a m e s W e l d o n J o h
n s o n . I t w a s t h e m u -
s i c c o m p o s e d b y J . R o s a m o n d J o h n s o n . I t w a
s t h e N e g r o N a t i o n a l
A n t h e m . O u t o f h a b i t w e w e r e s i n g i n g i t .
O u r m o t h e r s a n d f a t h e r s s t o o d i n t h e d a r k h a l
l a n d j o i n e d t h e
h y m n o f e n c o u r a g e m e n t . A k i n d e r g a r t e n t e a
c h e r l e d t h e s m a l l
c h i l d r e n o n t o t h e s t a g e a n d t h e b u t t e r c u p s a
n d d a i s i e s a n d b u n n y

40. r a b b i t s m a r k e d t i m e a n d t r i e d t o f o l l o w :
" S t o n y t h e r o a d w e t r o d
B i t t e r t h e c h a s t e n i n g r o d
F e l t i n t h e d a y s w h e n h o p e , u n b o r n , h a d d i e d
.
Y e t w i t h a s t e a d y b e a t
86 Chapter 2 Education and Learning
H a v e n o t o u r w e a r y f e e t
C o m e t o t h e p l a c e f o r w h i c h o u r f a t h e r s s i g h
e d ? "
E a c h c h i l d 1 k n e w h a d l e a r n e d t h a t s o n g w i t h
h i s A B C ' s a n d
a l o n g w i t h " J e s u s L o v e s M e T h i s 1 K n o w . " B u
t I p e r s o n a l l y h a d
n e v e r h e a r d i t b e f o r e . N e v e r h e a r d t h e w o r d s
, d e s p i t e t h e t h o u -
s a n d s o f t i m e s I h a d s u n g t h e m . N e v e r t h o u g h
t t h e y h a d a n y t h i n g
t o d o w i t h m e .
O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , t h e w o r d s o f P a t r i c k H e n r
y h a d m a d e s u c h
a n i m p r e s s i o n o n m e t h a t I h a d b e e n a b l e t o s t r
e t c h m y s e l f t a l l a n d
t r e m b l i n g a n d s a y , " I k n o w n o t w h a t c o u r s e o
t h e r s m a y t a k e , b u t
a s f o r m e , g i v e m e l i b e r t y o r g i v e m e d e a t h . "
A n d n o w I h e a r d , r e a l l y f o r t h e f i r s t t i m e :

41. " W e h a v e c o m e o v e r a w a y t h a t w i t h t e a r s
h a s b e e n w a t e r e d .
W e h a v e c o m e , t r e a d i n g o u r p a t h t h r o u g h
t h e b l o o d o f t h e s l a u g h t e r e d . "
W h i l e e c h o e s o f t h e s o n g s h i v e r e d i n t h e a i r ,
H e n r y R e e d
b o w e d h i s h e a d , s a i d " T h a n k y o u , " a n d r e t u r
n e d t o h i s p l a c e i n
t h e l i n e . T h e t e a r s t h a t s l i p p e d d o w n m a n y f a
c e s w e r e n o t w i p e d
a w a y i n s h a m e .
W e w e r e o n t o p a g a i n . A s a l w a y s , a g a i n . W e s
u r v i v e d . T h e
d e p t h s h a d b e e n i c y a n d d a r k , b u t n o w a b r i g h
t s u n s p o k e t o o u r
s o u l s . I w a s n o l o n g e r s i m p l y a m e m b e r o f t h e
p r o u d g r a d u a t i n g
c l a s s o f 1 9 4 0 ; 1 w a s a p r o u d m e m b e r o f t h e w o
n d e r f u l , b e a u t i f u l
N e g r o r a c e .
O h , B l a c k k n o w n a n d u n k n o w n p o e t s , h o w o f t
e n h a v e y o u r
a u c t i o n e d p a i n s s u s t a i n e d u s ? W h o w i l l c o m
p u t e t h e o n l y n i g h t s
m a d e l e s s l o n e l y b y y o u r s o n g s , o r t h e e m p t y
p o t s m a d e l e s s
t r a g i c b y y o u r t a l e s ?
I f w e w e r e a p e o p l e m u c h g i v e n t o r e v e a l i n g s
e c r e t s , w e m i g h t
r a i s e m o n u m e n t s a n d s a c r i f i c e t o t h e m e m o r
i e s o f o u r p o e t s , b u t
s l a v e r y c u r e d u s o f t h a t w e a k n e s s . I t m a y b e e

42. n o u g h , h o w e v e r , t o
h a v e i t s a i d t h a t w e s u r v i v e i n e x a c t r e l a t i o n
s h i p t o t h e d e d i c a t i o n
o f o u r p o e t s ( i n c l u d e p r e a c h e r s , m u s i c i a n s
a n d b l u e s s i n g e r s ) .
1970
" I Just Wanna Be Average" Mike Rose 87
"I J u s t W a n n a Be Average"
M i k e R o s e
S o m e p e o p l e w h o m a n a g e t o w r i t e t h e i r w a y o
u t o f t h e w o r k i n g
c l a s s d e s c r i b e t h e c l a s s r o o m a s a n o a s i s o f p
o s s i b i l i t y . I t b e c a m e
t h e i r i n t e l l e c t u a l p l a y g r o u n d , t h e i r c o m p e
t i t i v e a r e n a . G i v e n t h e
r i c h n e s s o f m y m e m o r i e s o f t h i s t i m e , i t ' s f u
n n y h o w s c a n t a r e
m y r e c o l l e c t i o n s o f s c h o o l . 1 r e m e m b e r t h e r
e d b r i c k b u i l d i n g o f
S t . R e g i n a ' s i t s e l f , a n d t h e t o p o g r a p h y o f t h
e p l a y g r o u n d : t h e
s w i n g s a n d b a s k e t b a l l c o u r t s a n d p e e l i n g b e
n c h e s . T h e r e a r e i m -
a g e s o f a f e w s t u d e n t s : E r w i n P e t s c h a u r , a m
u s c u l a r G e r m a n b o y
w i t h a s t r o n g a c c e n t ; D a v e S a n c h e z , w h o w a s
g o o d i n m a t h ; a n d
S h e i l a W i l k e s , e v e r y o n e ' s c u r l y - h a i r e d h e
a r t t h r o b . A n d t h e r e a r e
t w o n u n s : S i s t e r M o n i c a , t h e t h i r d - g r a d e t e
a c h e r w i t h b e a u t i f u l
h a n d s f o r w h o m I c a r r i e d a c a n d l e a n d w h o , t o

43. m y d i s m a y , h a d
w e d d e d h e r s e l f t o C h r i s t ; a n d S i s t e r B e a t r i
c e , a w o m a n t r u l y
c r a z e d , w h o w o u l d s w e e p i n t o c l a s s , e y e s w i
d e , t o t e l l u s a b o u t
t h e A p o c a l y p s e .
A l l t h e h o u r s i n c l a s s t e n d t o b l e n d i i i t o o n e l
o n g , v a g u e s t r e t c h
o f t i m e . W h a t I r e m e m b e r b e s t , s t r a n g e l y e n
o u g h , a r e t h e t w o
t h i n g s I c o u l d n ' t u n d e r s t a n d a n d o v e r t h e y e
a r s g r e w t o h a t e :
g r a m m a r l e s s o n s a n d m a t h e m a t i c s . I w o u l d s
i t t h e r e w a t c h i n g a
t e a c h e r d r a w h e r l o n g h o r i z o n t a l l i n e a n d h e
r s h o r t , o b l i q u e l i n e s
a n d b r e a k u p s e n t e n c e s a n d p u t a d j e c t i v e s h e
r e a n d a d v e r b s
t h e r e a n d j u s t n o t g e t i t , c o u l d n ' t s e e t h e r e a
s o n f o r i t , t u r n e d o f f
t o i t . 1 w o u l d h i d e b y s l u m p i n g d o w n i n m y s e a
t a n d p a g e
t h r o u g h m y r e a d e r , c a r r i e d a l o n g b y t h e f l o w
o f s e n t e n c e s i n a
s t o r y . S h e w o u l d t e s t u s , a n d I w o u l d d r e a d t h
a t , f o r I a l w a y s g o t
C s a n d D s . M a t h e m a t i c s w a s a b i t d i f f e r e n t .
F o r w h a t e v e r r e a s o n s ,
I d i d n ' t l e a r n e a r l y m a t h v e r y w e H , s o w h e n i t
c a m e t i m e f o r m o r e
c o m p l i c a t e d o p e r a t i o n s , I c o u l d n ' t k e e p u p
a n d s t a r t e d d a y d r e a m -
i n g t o a v o i d m y i n a d e q u a c y . T h i s w a s a s t r a t
e g y I w o u l d r e l y o n a s
1 g r e w o l d e n I f e l l f u r t h e r a n d f u r t h e r b e h i n

44. d . A m e m o r y : T h e
t e a c h e r i s f a c e l e s s a n d s e e m s v e r y f a r a w a y .
T h e v o i c e i s f a i n t a n d
i s d i s c u s s i n g a n e q u a t i o n w r i t t e n o n t h e b o a
r d . I t i s r a i n i n g , a n d I
a m w a t c h i n g t h e s t r e a m s o f w a t e r f o r m p a t t e
r n s o n t h e w i n d o w s .
M c G r a w - H i l l H i g h e r E d u c a t i o n
A D i v i s i o n of T h e M c G r a w - H i l l C o m p a n i e s
75 T H E M A T I C R E A D I N G S : A N A N T H O L O G
Y
Published by M c G r a w - H i l l , a business unit of The M c G
r a w - H i l l Companies, Inc., 1221
Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY, 10020. Copyright ©
2003 by T h e M c G r a w - H i l l
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
15 thematic readings : an anthology / McGraw-Hil l ,
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I S B N 0-07-246931-5 (softcover : acid-free paper)
I . College readers. 2. English language-Rhetoric-Problems,
exercises, etc. 3.
Report writing-Problems, exercises, etc. 1 Title: Seventy-five
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Contents
I n d e x o f R h e t o r i c a l M o d e s x v i i
P r e f a c e x x v
C h a p t e r 1
L A N G U A G E A N D
C O M M U N I C A T I O N 1
R i c h a r d R o d r i g u e z : "Aria" 3
"My m o t h e r ! My f a t h e r ! After English became my
primary
language I no longer knew what words to use in addressing
my parents."
M a x i n e H o n g K i n g s t o n : "Tongue Tied" 1 0
"During the first silent year, I spoke to no one at school, did not
ask before going to the lavatory, and flunked kindergarten."
G l o r i a A n z a l d u a : "How to Tame a Wild Tongue" 1 5
"For a people who are neither Spanish nor live in a country in
which Spanish is the first language; for a people who live in a
country in which English is the reigning tongue but who are
not Anglo; for people who cannot entirely identify with either
standard (formal, Castillian) Spanish nor standard English,
what recourse is left to them but to create their own
language?"
G l o r i a N a y l o r : "A Question of Language" 2 2

47. "Words themselves are innocuous; it is the consensus that gives
them true power."
V