Graduation

This was a really hard piece to relate to. She gets so excited for her graduation and being in that process myself, I can’t say that we have the same feelings. It is like the most important day for her and everyone in town goes nuts but nowadays graduations are so common. It’s still important today but we don’t get very excited. Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy but I have a sense of dread that comes with it. I have to start my life after this, I have to go to college and figure out how I’m going to live. That’s scary stuff. Times are so different now than they were then. I have all of those worries and she says that after graduation she will be free. She’s graduating from eighth grade, she doesn’t have worries yet. She says that teachers have the same degree as her and they are qualified to impart wisdom. It just is hard to relate to since things have changed so much since then.

            I think it is disappointing, however, that the white man comes and ruins it for everyone. He had no right to crash the graduation and make people feel down. It’s sad that Angelou goes on to say that she wishes she was dead, she wishes everyone were dead. But I’m not going to lie, I like that she says, “As a species, we were an abomination. All of us.” (pg. 616) I have agreed with statements like that for a long time. Humans do cruel things and in our minds we think it’s ok and that it’s right. We may be very smart and advanced, but that doesn’t mean we can go around and act like uncompassionate assholes.

            The best part of this passage is when the speaker gives his speech and then they sing the African American National Anthem and it gives everybody hope again.  It just reminds one how impactful  words can be and what they can mean to one person or to a group of people.