Graduation

When I first began reading “Graduation” by Maya Angelou, I assumed that her experience in graduating was similar to that of most. Angelou’s emotions of anxiety and excitement described initially compared to those that I felt when I had graduated from the 8th grade myself. As I read further along, I started to realize that her graduating class’ experience was much different. Instead of being told that they would go on to do just about anything they put their minds to, they were told that they would only amount to what was expected of them. This “expectation” was brought about by racism and segregation.


In the beginning of the story, Angelou exudes a sense of self pride and accomplishment. It is only when the white man, Mr. Donleavy presents his speech, that she feels as if her efforts were in vein. After making reference to two black graduate students who became great athletes, the only black successful students mentioned, Angelou can’t help but feel insulted. She stated, “What school official in the white-goddom of Little Rock had the right to decide that those two men must be our only heroes?” (49) Why can’t a black student become a doctor or a scientist without having to work twice as hard for even less recognition? Angered and saddened, she goes on to explain her grief towards being black. She mentions “how awful it is to be a Negro and have no control over her life” and how difficult it is to hear “charges brought against her color with no chance of defense.” (50) Graduation, in her mind, was ruined.


Angelou only came to accept herself again and take pride in graduating when the class valedictorian, Henry Reed, finished his speech with the Negro National Anthem. As the auditorium filled with voices, tears streamed from her eyes. She realized that even battered and broken, the black race would continue to live on and strive for greatness because that’s what they were meant to do. She realized that she wasn’t alone, and that she wasn’t just a member of a proud graduating class. Angelou was someone who would fulfill her dreams no matter the judgment or obstacle.

This story was not only well written, but easily understood by most. Angelou’s vivid descriptions and word choice made it easier to distinguish between the way blacks and whites lived during the 1940s.