I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

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Recommended: Ethics in sports

The Prevalence Of Inequality

I openly admit that I really couldn’t care less when it comes to the topic that seems to be incredibly influential to our culture. I am, of course, referring to sports. Sports has always been a part of my life in some form, because of my family ties to the Dallas Cowboys. The Jimenez family are huge Dallas Cowboys fans. I really have never understood the meaning of sports, looking with an innate sense of bewilderment whenever people ask me, “Why don’t you like sports?” It’s just never had any sort of profound impact on me. That being said, I can still somewhat appreciate sports, because it gives us an excuse to be with the people we love most. Some of my family talk about sports the way I talk with such fervent passion the way I talk about film and stage. However, I can become involved and concerned when it comes to the various controversial issues when it comes to sports. I am indifferent about sports itself, but I vehemently care about the overabundance of issues sports face. Inequality, for example.
Take a look at Maya Angelou’s autobiography entitled, “I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings” The apprehensive atmosphere was set, everybody at a local general store just sitting anxiously over the outcome of the boxing match. “I ain’t worried ‘bout this fight. Joe’s gonna whip that cracker like it’s open season.” (Angelou 484) Angelou already presents a vivid representation of how much it matters that Joe Louis wins. The commentator stated that the contender keeps raining the blows on Louis. “My race groaned. It was our people falling. It was another lynching, yet another Black man hanging on a tree. One more woman ambushed and raped. A Black boy whipped and maimed. It was hounds on the trail of a man runn...

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...ely does sell. The women who are willing to show a little skin are the ones that are the most recognizable and even though they may have the athletic skills, they only gain popularity by how they look and not necessarily by the skill they have. Women can be just as strong, confident, and skillful, as their male counterparts. Even striving to be the face of the sport. For example, Venus and Serena Williams changed the face of Tennis. Women through inspiration, dedication, and hard work raised the bar of what true excellence should be. “How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes!” (Maya Angelou).

Bibliography
Angelou, Maya. (1969). I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. New York. Random House
Rodriguez, Ana. Female athletes still face inequality. The Daily Sundial. http://sundial.csun.edu/2013/09/female-athletes-still-face-inequality/

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