Title Of Paper The Cages Of Maya Angelou Essays - Lecturers

Title of Paper : The Cages Of Maya Angelou Grade Received on Report : 85 The Cages Of Maya Angelou Maya Angelou wrote an amazing and entertaining autobiography titled I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, about her hard life growing up as a black girl from the South. Among the hardships are things known as "cages" as stated as a metaphor from Paul Dunbar's poem "Sympathy." "Cages" are things that keep people from succeeding in life and being everything they want to be. Some of Maya Angelou's cages include being black in the 1940's and her overbearing grandmother. For me a my major "cage" is my young age, this causes problems with adults. A major "cage" from Maya Angelou's youth was that she was black in a prejudice southern town. Maya has recounted in her book the times when she was discriminated against. When she was working for a white woman named Mrs. Viola Cullinan, Mrs. Cullinan started calling her Mary, "That's [Margaret] too long. She's Mary from now on."(pp.91) One of the most important aspects of a person is their name. It is a great insult for someone to change your name, without your consent, just because someone wanted too. If Maya was white Mrs. Cullinan would not have changed her name and she did it only because of her racist friends and attitudes. Even some of the white adults who supposedly supported her had hidden their racist messages in seemingly nice speeches. Maya conveys the words of Mr. Edward Donleavy, one of the people in the masquerade, "The white kids were going to have a chance to become Galileos and Madame Curies and Edisons and Gauguins, and our boys (the girls weren't ev! en in on it) would try to be Jesse Owenses and Joe Lousises."(pp.151) Maya was forced to listen to Mr. Donleavy's stereotypes of how white children could be thinkers and black children can only be athletes. What was supposed to be an encouraging speech, which Mr. Donleavy probably thought was sincere, turned out to be just another racist and stereotypical speech. Perhaps it was not so much Mr. Donleavy's fault, because he was trying to be nice, but more of his upbringing. Racism was the most prominent of Maya's "cages" and it is probably due to the society and ignorant ideas. The second major cage of Maya Angelou was that she has a very strict, religious, and overbearing grandmother. It is important that a child's guardian be caring and strict but that guardian should not be too strict. After coming back from Mrs. Flowers' house bringing Bailey some cookies, Maya is disciplined by momma, "I repeated, ?I said, Bailey by the way, Mrs. Flowers sent you-' [Momma responds] ?Thats what I thought you said. Go on and take off your dress. I'm going to get a switch."(pp.85) Maya's grandmother was punishing Maya for just using a common day phrase that seems to be a little harsh. Maya's grandmother was trying to raise her well but what she did could actually do the opposite of what was intended. Just when she was making progress getting out of her depression and taking a step forward with Mrs. Flowers, the punishment may have actually made Maya take a step back. Another thing that Momma does, to try to do help Maya but was actually doing the opposite! was when, "If they [feet] weren't clean enough for her, she took the switch and woke up the offender with a few aptly place burning reminders."(pp.21) A switching for dirty feet seems to be a little extreme. Again she was trying to do good but in turn may be doing the opposite by being too severe in punishing for a small offense. It is important to be clean, but a switching because of not being clean is just a little harsh. The punishment must fit the offense and this punishing could do more harm than good though it may not be momma's fault but that of her time and heritage. Maya's grandmother being too strict, even though she meant good, was a factor that keeps Maya from achieving. Maya Angelou was not the only person who has cages, I also also have them. My "cage" is a

Sample Recommendation Letter - Undergrad Student

Sample Recommendation Letter - Undergrad Student Undergraduate students are often asked to supply a recommendation letter when applying to a business program. Many students automatically think of academic recommendations when they come across this part of the application, but there are other types of recommendation letters that can make an impact on business school admissions committees. Sometimes the best letters offer insight into the students personality. Sample College Recommendation for an Undergraduate Applicant To Whom It May Concern: Carrie Youstis is an exceptional young lady. Most everyone knows of her intellectual acumen, lofty ambitions, dancing abilities, and kindness; indeed, she is a sort of legend in her small hometown of Southwest Plainsfield, NJ, but few know of the struggle Carrie endured during her middle years of high school. Carrie had a close friend, Kaya, whom she had met at summer camp. She and Kaya had grown very close during the first two years of high school.During the middle of tenth grade, Carrie received news that Kaya was suffering from a rare degenerative disease. It was terminal, Carrie was told but did not cry. She did not even take a moment to worry about how this might affect her. She simply called me, her principal, and asked if she could miss a few days of school, explaining to me the grave situation. I told her that, of course, she may miss school, provided that she make up her work.Then, before she hung up, Carrie asked me to pray on her friends behalf, and said, â€Å" I can go on without Kaya  ­ I have many friends and I will mourn but I have a wonderful life. Kaya is suffering so much, though, and when it’ s all over, that will be it for her. And she is her mother’ s only child. How will she go on?† I was so impressed that Carrie was thinking about everyone affected except herself: Kaya, Kaya’ s mother, but not CarrieYoustis. Such maturity. Carrie knew she had a wonderful life, a belief in God, but she felt for others so profoundly.Carrie visited Kaya often for several months, always bringing her cards and flowers and of course, good cheer. Kaya finally passed away that Spring, and Carrie made sure to visit the mother every week that following summer.You will read of Carries grades and scores and sports abilities, of her awards and accolades; I wanted to relate this episode, as it characterizes what this remarkable young lady is really all about. As she graduates high school, I and all of SouthwestPlainsfield are so sad to se e her go, but realize that she is destined to effect great things far beyond the narrow confines of a small town in New Jersey.Sincerely,Esti IturraldePrincipal, North SouthwestPlainsfield High School

Sports Communication Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Sports Communication - Essay Example release was effective since it was current and assessed the officiated events that occurred in the last two minutes of Game 3 of The Finals (NBA, 2015). The last two minutes of Game 3 of The Finals were significant since five points were at stake. However, the release only covered the officiated events. The release also notes the assessment could change upon the review of a new video angle. The design of the release was not attractive since it lacked any visual aids. It also featured long paragraphs. However, the release allows the audience to comment or respond through the NBA Communications Department. The above release was effective since it had a four-day notice to the beginning of the NFL Rookie Symposium. The release also defined and explained the meaning, history, significance, venue, participants, and duration of the NFL Rookie Symposium in details (NFL, 2015). The design of the release was equally attractive since it had a bold headline and short paragraphs. The release bears the NFL logo, a link for further information, and a visible release date. The head of the sports department issued the media release. The release defined the types, timing, and qualifications to sports scholarships in our school. The release sought to attract qualified students to apply for the scholarships. The head of the sports department issued the release at the end of previous academic year at the school’s sports office. The school’s administrator issued the media release. The release explained the termination of the basketball scholarship in our school. The release sought to inform qualified students and other interested parties of the unavailability of the scholarship in our school. The school’s administrator issued the release at the end of previous academic year at the school’s sports office. FIFA. (2015, June 18). Successful FIFA U-20 World Cup set for fitting finale. Retrieved from