The statement by Carson Kressley, “It 's really important to share the idea that being different might feel like a problem at the time, but ultimately diversity is a strength”, describes that being different is often difficult but it is not something to be ashamed of. Authors use the idea of being different to write compelling essays that drive readers to think about real issues within one’s self or in society. In the two essays, “Fish Cheeks” written by Amy Tan, and “Champion of the World” written by Maya Angelou, the authors describe their experience of being different than everyone else and how they try to handle the difficulties that come along with being a minority. Amy Tan is a daughter of two Chinese immigrants who grew up in Oakland, …show more content…
The purpose of Amy Tan’s essay was to show that even though she was ashamed when she was a child, she has now embraced and is proud of her Chinese heritage. For example, “She handed me an early gift. It was a miniskirt in beige tweed. ‘But inside you must always be Chinese. You must be proud you are different. Your only shame is to have shame’”(Tan 8-10). The miniskirt symbolizes the American culture and how Tan wanted to be American. The quote shows that by her mother giving her the miniskirt, she is telling Amy Tan that she can be American on the outside by the clothes she wears but will always be Chinese on the inside. Her mother tells her she should embrace her differences instead of being ashamed. In contrast, Angelou’s purpose is to give an inside look at African Americans’ struggles during the late 1930s. During the 1930s, there was racism, segregation and violent attacks against African Americans by whites in the United States, especially in the south. Angelou describes the abuse of African Americans with, “My race groaned. It was our people falling. It was another lynching, yet another Blackman hanging on a tree” (Angelou 16-17). She describes the struggles that African Americans faced and how they cling to Joe Louis as a representation of the African American population as he fights against the white contender. The two essays, both have unique purposes that were conveyed by Tan and
When reading two passages, one by M.F.K. Fisher on the French port of Marseilles and the other by Maya Angelou on the small town of Stamps, I noticed that the passages had some similarities but where entirely different in their effect and the handling of language resources. While Angelou and Fisher organized and constructed their passages similarly, the persona and rhetoric of the authors are opposite.
This piece of autobiographical works is one of the greatest pieces of literature and will continue to inspire young and old black Americans to this day be cause of her hard and racially tense background is what produced an eloquent piece of work that feels at times more fiction than non fiction
In “Champions of the World,” is the nineteenth chapter in I Know Why the Caged Bird sings, is written by Maya Angelou. In this chapter, she talks about a African American community in the late 1930s in Arkansas, that are gathered one night in a store to listen to a boxing match which consists of African American professional boxer Joe Louis and his opponent that night was Primo Carnera, a white boxer from Italy. This fight is more than a physical fight for the African community. Joe Louis is seen as a hero in the African community because he is the one that represents the African community; their fate depends on Joe Louis victory. There is segregation happening during this time and the Jim Crow laws which impacted this area. People were feeling
During the late 1950's and early 60's, a movement arose called the Civil Rights Movement. The Civil Rights Movement made great strides in ending racial segregation and inequality. One of the greatest and most influential figures in the Civil Rights Movement was Maya Angelou. She has lived an eventful life, working as a poet, author, teacher, playwright, actor, a strong mother, and an influential human rights activist. The stories she wrote about her experience have made the people who read them feel strong and motivated. Her influential poems and stories and her activism in human rights had a role in changing the world, in terms of ending racial segregation and the progression of the Women's Rights Movement.
In an interview with Voice of America, she said that her identity as an Asian American “definitely play[s] into all of the reasons why [she] write[s] and why [she] continues to write” (Byrd). That is evident throughout this poem which is about a facet of the Asian American narrative, the fetishization of Asian American women, that is not always discussed. Women from every background deal with catcalling and other forms of casual sexual harassment which is what makes this poem relatable, but Asian American women must face this unique brand of intertwined racism and sexism in their daily lives. “To the Man Who Shouted ‘I Like Pork Fried Rice’ at Me on the Street” is not the solution to this problem, but it is a powerful piece of literature that demonstrates no one is simply a
`Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl' and `I Know Why the Caged Bird
In an expressive voice, Ms. Angelou paints a memorable picture of a small black community anticipating graduation day fifty-five years ago. She describes the children as trembling "visibly with anticipation" and the teachers being "respectful of the now quiet and aging seniors." Although it is autobiographical, an omniscient voice in the first six paragraphs describes how "they" - the black children in Stamps - felt and acted before the omniscient voice changes to a limited omniscient narration in the seventh paragraph. Her eloquent voice skillfully builds the tension as she demonstrates bigotry destroying innocence.
Maya Angelou celebrates the strength of a young Black woman using imagery, characterization, and symbolism to share her highly personal experiences. Marguerite faces hardships like refusal for service because of her race, a longing for parental affection, and even sexual abuse and rape. Maya ultimately overcomes the oppression given to her race and to her femininity. Once believing she was and ugly caged, she is now the beautiful and free bird clothed with strength.
"I had decided that St. Louis was a foreign country. In my mind I had only stayed there for a few weeks. As quickly as I understood that I had not reached my home, I sneaked away to Robin's Hood's Forest and the caves of Alley Oop where all reality was unreal and even that changed my day. I carried the same shield that I had used in Stamps: 'I didn't come to stay.'"
In Maya Angelou’s Champion of the World and Amy Tan’s Fish Cheeks both convey their struggles with identity. Both authors are from minority cultures, and describe the same harsh pressures from the dominant culture. They share situations of being outcasts, coming from different racial backgrounds and trying to triumph over these obstacles. Tan and Angelou speak about the differences between their childhood selves and white Americans. Tan talks about the anxiety of a teenage girl who feels embarrassed about her Chinese culture, and who wants to fit in with American society. Angelou’s explains the racial tension and hostility between African and white Americans.
The novel’s young protagonist first loses her sense of self during early childhood as a result of her constant self-comparison to White people. In this autobiography, Angelou refers to herself by her full name, Marguerite Ann Johnson. Maya (in the novel Marguerite Johnson) first shows her discontent of her skin when she puts on her silk Easter dress hoping to resemble a movie star and “look like one of the sweet little white girls who were everybody’s dream of what was right in the world” (Angelou 2). To her, the vision of this magnificent movie star would only
“Champion of the World” Review “Champion of the World” by Maya Angelou is a true story of Joe Louis becoming champion of the world. Angelou describes how the fight took place through figurative language and strong, powerful words. Angelou switches from first person point of view to dialogue from the radio announcer and listeners to show the reader thoughts and feelings of people in the story. Maya Angelou captures the audience from the beginning of the story and makes them want to read until the end. One way the Angelou grabs the attention of the reader is by using figurative language.
She says “Champion of the world. A black boy… He was the strongest man in the world”. At the end of her story, she adds “It would not do for a black man and his family to be caught on a lonely country road on a night when Joe Louis had proud that we were the strongest people in the world”. It means that by employing the irony device Angelou wants to tangibly convey her readers the fact that how African Americans are vulnerable: able to become world champions but not able to walk a country road at night, which can be considered as sarcasm. In addition, Angelou attempts to illustrate how the outcome of the fight influences the pride of her race. In order to bring this meaning to life, she tries to show that the assumption of African Americans in the store is “If Joe lost we were back in slavery…” and there was an ideological belief about the fight outcome among those people, “God Himself hated us”. Every sentence written in the opening paragraphs create a clear picture of an event of crucial importance for the people of Stamps, Arkansas who come across as an extended family sticking together to listen to the only radio for miles . With the help of these sentences, she clearly contributes to her readers to see how poor and deprived these people are. She uses the strategy of building up suspense in her account
Society creates the thought of what makes an ideal woman; however, Maya Angelou shows us what truly makes an authentic woman in her poem, “Phenomenal Woman.” The word “Phenomenal” is defined as something that is magnificent, remarkable, breathtaking, as well as extraordinary. This poem illustrates confidence and beauty from within, instead of the conventional view that society tends to have, which only focuses on the appearance. She shows how to acknowledge womanhood. One is able to appreciate the poem, even further, by analyzing many of the poetry elements that Maya Angelou illustrates, such as imagery, tone, and diction.
It is said that when we look in the mirror, we see our reflection; but what is it that we really see? Some people look through the glass and see a totally different person. All across the world identity is an issue that many women have. Woman today must be skinny, tall, thick, fair skinned and have long hair in order to be considered beautiful. Maya Angelou feels otherwise, as she gives women another way to look at themselves through her poem "Phenomenal Woman".