The excerpt from Maya AngelouÆs I Know Why The Cages Bird Sings, ôGraduation in Stampsö, demonstrates how racism and prejudice can manifest anger, hatred and undermine motivation in people against whom it is directed. However, the primary theme is showing how through perseverance, hard work, hope and resiliency individuals can overcome the obstacles of racism and prejudice, discovering new sources of strength within.
In ôGraduation from Stampsö, Angelou spends the first half of the story of her graduation from eighth grade describing the excitement, anticipation and general euphoria gripping the black community and school children who ôhad come down with graduation epidemicö (333). We see how, much like whites and blacks in society, the student population resembles a microcosm of society. The children represent a hierarchy of power and privilege, with different classes comprised of graduating students, students about to move into their graduation class, or students lower on the ladder. Above all is AngelouÆs graduating class who represent ôthe nobilityö in this microcosmic social structure (333).
Despite the anticipation of graduation and despite the sense of admiration, pride and accomplishment felt by the black children and black community, the society outside of this community exhibits a large measure of racism and prejudice. However, we often see how this racism and prejudice is internalized by those it is directed at, making them feel somehow less important or valid than the dominant culture. As Angelou notes of graduation with no small amount of sarcasm, ôOh it was important, all right. Whitefolks would attend the ceremonyö (334). We also see that black children often suffer from teachers who are less qualified than their white counterparts, something that makes their accomplishment in academics even more admirable for both students and teachers. As Angelou says of the significance of her
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