Book Report on I Know Why The Caged Birds Sing by Maya...

I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings is a novel by Maya Angelou, where she writes about her childhood and her experiences while growing up. This non-fiction novel illustrates Maya Angelou’s childhood, being tossed around by her parents, and having to experience different cultures. Maya struggles particularly in finding friends, she is reserved, and will only open up to Bailey, her brother. Maya moves a couple of times to different places, which may contribute to her not having friends. The novel revolves around Maya Angelou, Bailey, and her grandmother, evolving through life from being a child to a teenager. This novel is set in the â€Å"South†, in America. Maya Angelou describes what her life with her grandmother is like while constantly being discriminated against her race. She then found her father, and he leaves Maya and Bailey off to their mother’s house. There, the mother’s boyfriend rapes Maya. After suffering from psychological shock, Maya then moves b ack to her grandmother’s. As a teenager Maya gets nervous about her sexual identity and tries to discover it. Through these harsh times, the naà ¯ve and softhearted Maya grows to become a strong, independent woman. A major theme in this book is about God. Seen in, â€Å"If there is going to be hope and a hope of wholeness, is the unshaking need for an unshakeable God.† (23) Maya’s grandma is a firm believer of God, and since Maya moves in with her, she forces Maya to go to church every Sunday. Even through all the trials andShow MoreRelated Comparing In Search of Our Mothers Gardens and I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings1145 Words   |  5 PagesIn Search of Our Mothers Gardens and I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings      Ã‚  Ã‚   Alice Walker and Maya Angelou are two contemporary African-American writers.   Although almost a generation apart in age, both women display a remarkable similarity in their lives.   Each has written about her experiences growing up in the rural South, Ms. Walker through her essays and Ms. Angelou in her autobiographies.   Though they share similar backgrounds, each has a unique style which gives to us, the readersRead MoreSimilarities Between Alice Walker And Maya Angelou1074 Words   |  5 PagesAlice Walker and Maya Angelou are two contemporary African-American writers. Although almost a generation apart in age, both women display a remarkable similarity in their lives. Each has written about her experiences growing up in the rural South, Ms. Walker through her essays and Ms. Angelou in her autobiographies. Though they share similar backgrounds, each has a unique style that gives the readers, the gift of their exquisite humanity, with all of its frailt ies and strengths, joys and sorrowsRead MoreReflection for â€Å"I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings†2242 Words   |  9 Pagesfor â€Å"I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings† Abstract This essay consists of three sections. The first section, a brief synopsis of the book â€Å"I know why caged bird sings† is presented. At the second part, three insights after reading the book are introduced. That is, metaphor of caged bird, power of literacy, and power of silence. At the last section, discipline-specific knowledge that relevant to the main character of book is stated. Synopsis of the Text This autobiography is Maya Angelou’sRead More Quest for Self-Determination in I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings and Lakota Woman2704 Words   |  11 PagesSelf-Determination in I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings and Lakota Woman      Ã‚  Ã‚   During their growing up years, children struggle to find their personal place in society. It is difficult for children to find their place when they are given numerous advantages, but when a child is oppressed by their parents or grandparents, males in their life, and the dominant culture, the road to achieving self-identity is fraught with enormous obstacles to overcome. Maya Angelous I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings and MaryRead MoreMaya Angelou s I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings1382 Words   |  6 PagesIn Maya Angelou’s novel I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings the main character Maya Angelou struggles with her identity through out the novel. She first started to question her identity after Mr. Freeman raped her. Another time in the novel she questioned her identity was during the barbeque at the bathroom because she did not know which bathroom to use. The last time that she questioned her identity in the novel was when she questioned her sexual identity because sh e did not know if she was heterosexualRead More Censorship in the Classroom Essay2774 Words   |  12 Pagesconsidered controversial because of its statement about or use of these topics. What makes these and other areas so touchy in the classroom? Why do some parents and concerned community members want controversial materials out of the classroom? In this look at the language of censorship, we must first define censorship, who does the censoring, and why. These will be the first three spotlights for looking at the language of censorship. Then, we will look at how teachers, especially teachersRead MoreBook Report on Maya Angelous The Heart of a Woman1920 Words   |  8 PagesMaya Angelou’s The Heart of a Woman Maya Angelou chose to exercise her own quote, â€Å"There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you,† through her various autobiographies and poems. She did this so that readers may discover her extraordinary past and possibly even learn from it. Formerly known as Marguerite Johnson, Angelou was born on April 4, 1928 in St. Louis, Missouri and was raised in Stamps, Arkansas. She is an African American female author, poet, playwright, and actressRead MoreI Know Why the Caged Bird Sings - Maya Angelou6502 Words   |  27 PagesAnalysis: Chapters 1–5 The lines from the poem Maya cannot finish, â€Å"What are you looking at me for? I didn’t come to stay . . .† capture two of the most significant issues she struggles with in her childhood and young adulthood: feeling ugly and awkward and never feeling attached to one place. First, Maya imagines that though people judge her unfairly by her awkward looks, they will be surprised one day when her true self emerges. At the time, she hopes that she will emerge as if in a fairy-taleRead More Oprah Winfrey Essay3822 Words   |  16 PagesAnyone who has ever watched The Oprah Winfrey Show knows that it stands in a rank all of its own. There is something very different about this black talk show host- she is real. Oprahs key personality factor is her vulnerability. She is not afraid to expose her own doubts, emotions, problems, failures, and even fears to her millions of viewers. The reason I communicate with all these people, she told 60 Minutes Mike Wallace, is because I thi nk Im every woman and Ive had every malady and

James Joyces Eveline and Araby Essay - 1622 Words

James Joyces Eveline and Araby James Joyce uses similar themes and language devices in both Araby and Eveline. Although this is so, there are also important differences to be noted. Joyce wrote these stories over one hundred years ago but yet we can still relate to the issues covered in the modern world today. James Joyce could have written these short stories as an inspiration from his own background or based them on the events happening in Dublin at that time. These stories were written as a new century was beginning. The people of Dublin soon realized the sense of hope for the new century had faded due to the fall and death of Parnell. This relates to both of the stories as a sense of†¦show more content†¦Family is also a significant theme as the boy relies on his aunt and uncle on almost anything he wants. Firstly, he asks their permission to go to the bazaar. Then he depends on his uncle to give him money to go to the bazaar. A quote to back this up would be, When he was midway through his dinner I asked him to give me the money to go to the bazaar. By depending on his uncle, this meant the boy had to wait for hours before he could attend the bazaar. This may suggest that the boy is dependant on his family regardless of his situation. There are several references to religion in this story. This is another theme of the story. The first sign of religion is on the second line where he mentions the Christian Brothers School, I think his neighbourhood could have been very religious because along with the Christian School, there is a quote, The former tenant of our house, a priest had died in the drawing room. Other suggestions of a religious theme are when the boy refers to his body being like a harp and her words and gestures being like fingers running upon the wires. Mentioned also are praises and prayers. He regularly prays aboutShow MoreRelatedEssay James Joyces Araby and Eveline1061 Words   |  5 PagesJames Joyces Araby and Eveline In Araby and Eveline Joyce uses religious symbols to show the importance of the Catholic religion in both of the main characters lives. Both of these stories take place in Dublin, Ireland, a place that is very strong in its belief in the Catholic religion. In Araby, the imagery of the infamous Fall is presented to the reader within the second paragraph to indicate its importance. The themes of religious masses can be found in Eveline. The conceptRead MoreEveline1643 Words   |  7 PagesIn â€Å"Eveline,† James Joyce uses the juxtaposition of the ever-changing setting and the unchanging stoic character of Eveline in order to exemplify the character’s reluctance and inability to move forward. James Joyce is known for his juxtaposition of light and dark throughout his short stories, specifically in his story â€Å"Araby.† I would argue that Joyce is using the contrast of opposing forces described above between the setting and the character in a similar way as he was light and dark. â€Å"Araby†Read MoreAraby and James Joyce1207 Words   |  5 PagesThe short story â€Å"Araby† is clearly identifiable as the work of James Joyce. His vocalized ambition of acquainting fellow Irish natives with the true temperament of his homeland is apparent throughout the story. Joyce’s painstakingly precise writing style can be observed throughout â€Å"Araby† as well. Roman Catholicism, which played a heavy role in Joyce’s life, also does so in the story which is another aspect which makes Joyce’s authorship of the story unmistakable. As a result of Irish heritage displayedRead MoreA Similar Life Within A Story: Eveline by James Joyce1443 Words   |  6 Pagesindescribable. Many people live out their lives based off how that one person would want them to live. James Joyces short story, Eveline, is an example of how promises are hard to break. As James Joyce writes his stories, his characters and themes share similarities within his own life, giving them more value and much more meaning behind the importance of the story. To begin with, Eveline is the story of a young teenager facing a dilemma where she has to choose between living with her fatherRead MoreA Look At The Themes Of Home1742 Words   |  7 PagesJuan Linares Mr. Maust English IV AP 11 April 2016 The Wayfarers, A Look at the Themes of Home In James Joyce’s Dubliners In Dubliners, James Joyce explores the objective view of the paralysis that is a city. He believed strongly that Irish society had been paralyzed by two forces, both which he encountered throughout his life. One being England, and all of its social bewilderment, and the other being the Roman Catholic Church. As a result of this torpor the Irish experienced a downfall, economicallyRead MoreEssay on James Joyces Dubliners1145 Words   |  5 PagesJames Joyces Dubliners Throughout James Joyce’s â€Å"Dubliners† there are four major themes that are all very connected these are regret, realization, self hatred and Moral paralysis, witch is represented with the actual physical paralysis of Father Flynn in â€Å"The Sisters†. In this paper I intend to explore the different paths and contours of these themes in the four stories where I think they are most prevalent ,and which I most enjoyed â€Å"Araby†, â€Å"Eveline†, â€Å"The Boarding House†, and â€Å"A LittleRead MoreIn James Joyce’s the Dubliners, How Do the Characters’ Routines Impede Their Opportunities for Adventure and Excitement?1434 Words   |  6 PagesIn â€Å"Araby†, â€Å"Eveline†, and â€Å"The Dead†, three short stories featured in James Joyce’s The Dubliners, the characters struggle with whether to live their lives with a structured routine or to seek opportunities, change, and adventure. These shor t stories center around everyday life for citizens of Dublin, Ireland in the early 20th century, when a choice between continuing the inherited tradition of routine and structure versus seeking any other form of life or adventure could be the most important decisionRead MoreThe Effects Of Alcoholism In The Dubliners By James Joyce2072 Words   |  9 PagesIreland in his stories is James Joyce. Joyce wrote a collection of short stories, The Dubliners. These short stories take place in Dublin, Ireland. One common theme in all of these stories is the suffering the characters go through. Another theme in all of the stories is alcoholism. Most of his stories feature a character who is an alcoholic. The alcoholic tends to create problems for the people around him. By using alcoholics to further the plots of his stories, James Joyce pins the blame for IrishRead MoreCommon Themes In A Little Cloud, By James Joyce1250 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"A Little Cloud† and was a common theme within Joyce’s short stories. He used his short stories as a medium to reach the hearts and minds of the people in Dublin, the place he called home. Although it was his home he didnt have the fondest memories of it which are clearly present in his writing. James Joyce was, in my opinion, a revolutionary who used his short stories as a means of changing the way of thinking for the homeland he resented. Joyce’s characters embark on a cyclical journey thatRead MoreEssay on Male and Female Paralysis in James Joyces Dubliners3585 Words   |  15 PagesMale and Female Paralysis in Dubliners Critics widely recognized that each story within James Joyce’s Dubliners contains a theme of paralysis. In fact, Joyce himself wrote, â€Å"My intention was to write a chapter of the moral history of my country and I chose Dublin for the scene because that city seemed to me the centre of paralysis† (Joyce, letter to Grant Richards, 5 May 1906). Contained in this moral history called Dubliners are twelve stories that deal with the paralysis of a central male

Discrimination Racism Free Essays

Many conferences have been organized especially by the United Nations to discuss the issue of discrimination in different perspectives. Discrimination has been a setback in many nations especially in the West, like America where there is an influx of people from different parts of the world. In this paper, discrimination will be elaborated. We will write a custom essay sample on Discrimination: Racism or any similar topic only for you Order Now The focus will be on racism as a type of discrimination. Scientist hold the opinion that races came into being as a result of family groups living together over a period of time. The different races of human beings can therefore live together. The impact of racism will be assessed and possible solutions recommended. Introduction Discrimination is described as that act of people treating others based on their differences regardless of their individual merits. This is practised in religion, race, disability, gender, ethnicity, age, height and employment amongst others. This judgement could be positive or negative. Positive discrimination is the discrimination based on merit (also called differentiating) while the negative discrimination is based on factors like race and religion. Negative discrimination is however the common form of discrimination in spite of the fact that this is illegal in many Western societies just like many other societies. Despite being illegal, discrimination is still rampant in different forms in many parts of the world. The most common form of discrimination is racial discrimination, also referred to as racism. This is destructive. It is the act of basing treatment on the racial origin of an individual (Randal, 2008). Racism is influenced by social, political, historical and economic factors. It has so many definitions due to its various forms. It involves social values, institutional practices and individual attitudes. It changes with response to social change. The basis of racism is the belief that some individuals are superior due to their ethnicity, race or nationality. It is a social phenomenon and not scientific. Some of the racist behaviors include xenophobia, racial vilification, ridicule and physical assault. Racism could be practised intentionally (direct discrimination) or unintentionally making some groups to be disadvantaged (indirect racial discrimination). Racism is enhanced either individually or institutionally. Institutionally, it involves systems in life such as education, employment, housing and media aimed at perpetuating and maintaining power and the well being of a group at the expense of another. It is a more subtle form of discrimination since it involves respected forces in the society. Individual racism involves treating people differently on the basis of their race. It is the deliberate denial of power to a person or a group of persons. The above two forms of racism refer to race as the determining factor in human capacities and traits. There is no clear cut distinction between racial and ethnic discrimination and this is still a debate among anthropologists. Institutional racism is also referred to as structural, systemic or state discrimination. It is socially or politically structured. As indicated early, the perpetrators are corporations, governments, organizations and educational institutions which are influential in the lives of individuals. It is the systematic policies and the organizational practices that disadvantage certain races or ethnic groups. From the statistics given in 2005 on the US, it is evident that the Whites are highly regarded while the African Americans are looked down upon by the society. Their household incomes differ greatly ($50,984, $33,627, $35,967 and $30,858 for Whites, Native Americans, Latinos and African Americans respectively). Their poverty rates follow suit with that of the African Americans being thrice that of the Whites. Unlike the Whites, the other groups attend underfunded schools. Their living environments are below standards compounded by poorly paying jobs and high unemployment rates. The employment in the labor market is disproportional in favor of the Whites. Le Duff (2000) describes a situation in a slaughterhouse where a White boss just sits in his glass office only to come out when the day is almost over to double the workload for the workers. The Black workers are overworked if only to meet the company’s target of pork production. It is important to note that this Smithfield Packing Company is the largest plant in the world in pork production. The workers, who are Blacks however do not feel any positive impact of the company as they are overworked and mistreated by their white boss. It is common for the boss to unleash his anger on the workers and they seem to have very little power to take any action against this. The immigrants are another category of those who are socially discriminated. They are the lowest in the society’s stratification and are the ones to do the low forms of jobs considered ‘dirty work’. This is social racism. The wages they get from these jobs are very low and minimal or no benefits at all. Since the 1996 welfare reform was passed by the Congress, all the legal immigrants have had to do without federal programs like Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income. Sonneman (1992) describes a community of immigrants who have to deal with racial discrimination from the natives. These immigrants have poor jobs as pickers. They do not have adequate food and have to work extra hard in their jobs to earn a living. The natives overcharge them for basic commodities. An example is that of the picker who was charged five dollars instead of three dollars for the groceries he bought at the store. A gallon of milk is also charged at 30 cents higher than in town. They are however so powerless that they can do nothing about it. These pickers flock in this remote area and not in the town which is only a mile and a half away because of the high cost of living in the town. Berube A. and Berube F. (1997), give an example of their family who lived in trailer coaches as dictated by their economical capability. In South Africa, racism was rampant just like in many other African countries under colonial rule. From 1948 to 1994, the apartheid system denied the non-whites their basic rights. The whites who were the minority were allowed to keep certain areas for themselves without permission thus locking out the blacks. Schools taught the subjects meant for Africans in Afrikaans. Other than the protests by many countries and the United Nations, the South Africans protested against these systems leading to many deaths as the police fought them back. However, in 1994, this was brought to an end with Nelson Mandela becoming the president, allowing equal rights for both the blacks and the whites. The racial stereotypes who propagate racism by the belief that other races are better than others are said to propagate individual racism (Hanshem, 2007). Stigma is closely related to discrimination. In the interview by Rodgers, it is revealed that those women who came from well-off families found it more difficult going to welfare unlike their counterparts from poorer backgrounds who had children to look after with no child support. According to sociology, stigma is the act of a society discrediting an individual. It is the disapproval of an individual’s character or what they believe in that goes against cultural norms. Examples include illegitimacy, mental or physical disabilities, nationality affiliations, illnesses, religious affiliations and ethnicity. Stigma could be based on external deformations such as scars and other physical manifestations like leprosy and obesity. The other form is based on traits such as drug addiction. Lastly is tribal stigma that involve ethnicity, nationality or religion. There are some factors that indicate racism. Among them are refusing to work with a specific group of people. Others would spread racist propaganda or racist comments. People who physically assault or harass others are considered racists. Discriminatory policies or procedures are an indicator of racism. The effects of racism cannot be ignored. Healthcare among the racially discriminated is poor or non-existent. For instance, the 1999 Centre on Budget Priorities study showed that 46% of the non-citizen immigrant children could not access health insurance unlike the natives’ children. Racism lowers an individual’s self esteem. When someone disregards another because of the skin color or religion, their self-esteem is lowered. It could be ignored if it happens at once, but if it persists, it negatively influences the confidence of an individual. Children skip schools because of such effects. Learning thus becomes difficult. In an attempt to suppress the factors that make them discriminated against, they try to change their religion, skin colour, hair color and even stop trusting people. Others resort to learning foreign languages and their respective accents to cover up their ethnicities so as to identify with the race that is considered superior. In some cases, surgery has been undertaken to conform to the societal demands. One problem that has been cited is lack of education on racism. An educated individual is aware that there is need for different people if learning is to take place. Then, if one is to experience the positive impact of education, appreciating other people around will be of importance. Otherwise, discriminating people could lead to lack of expertise knowledge in some specific areas. It is thus important to sensitize the community on the importance of each and every person. Education will go a long way to even help those who are being educated to appreciate who they are. On the same note, schools and other learning institutions should provide an all-inclusive environment which would accommodate people of different ethnic affiliations (Einfeld, 1997). Then, they should meet their specific needs based on their linguistic and cultural backgrounds. Religious solutions could be sought where necessary. In Islam for instance, Qua’ran teaches against racism. If these people with religious affiliations are allowed to practise their religion freely, then this could curb racism. Thus, all religions should be respected and given the chance to conduct their practices. The responsible authorities are endowed with the duty of coming up with laws that prohibits racism. There have been conventions and conferences where these laws are discussed and drafted. The United Nations has been on the forefront in implementing these rules. It is not adequate enough to only discuss these issues. They should come up with solutions that could be implemented. Conclusion No one can dare deny the effect that racism has had in various states. it is only wise to face the problem head on and find the right solutions. a solution must be found to curb this problem once and for all. it calls for the efforts by every member of the society to assume their respective roles and do what is expected of them. How to cite Discrimination: Racism, Papers

Pretty Women Essay Example For Students

Pretty Women Essay Pretty Women, directed by Garry Marshall, is a light, bubbly, romantic comedy. On a scale from 1-5 (five being the best), I rate this movie a five. The story plot of this film appeals to the emotion of the audience. Between the romance, greed, lust, and power of this film, the audience can relate with these typical issues. Also, I thought the acting was phenomenal by both Gere and Roberts. There was intense passion between them throughout the film, very convincing. Pretty Women, portrays the bad end of the stick life dishes out normally, and the knight in shining armor that possibly may come rescue you. Pretty Women, reminds me of the famous fairy tale of Cinderella, the theme of both films relate. Both share the story line of a confident women working hard on every challenge life threw at her. Finally her day comes when a handsom man will rescue her form her pit of despair, and take her in his arms. Finally her day comes when a handsom man will rescue her form her pit of despair, and take her in his arms. Cinderellas life hadnt gone exactly as she planned, she found herself in rags her whole life. ?Pretty Women?, is a nineties version with a little less fiction and a little more harsh reality. Julia Roberts plays a carefree prostitute named Vivian Ward. Her co-star Richard Gere is a successful corporate terminator named Edward Lewis. Their lives are worlds apart until they meet on the corner one night. In a matter of days Vivian goes from rags to riches, her new sweetie Edward opens her eyes to the finer things in life. Vivians energetic spirit challenges Edwards no non- sense, business minded approach to life. Vivian had a blast ?working? for Edward, so much she accidentally fell in love with him. When it came time for Vivian to leave, Edward offered her an apartment, clothes, happiness, all paid for if she stayed. Vivian refused and was disappointed in Edwards poor decision to buy her the way he had everyone else. Eventually, Edward understands what Vivian wanted, and goes to rescue his love, not with his money, but with his heart. Vivian teaches him that love is the best investment he ever made. The camera crew and director use personal shots to convey intimacy between the two characters. Vivian and Edward have a few love scenes, and in order to convince the audience of the passion and heat between them, personal shots are used. When the two lovers kiss on the mouth for the first time, a personal shot is used, the audience is more susceptible in feeling the passion of their first kiss. The personal shot angle is used to convey a more comfortable vibe for the audience. In ?Cinderella?, in the closing scene, Cinderella and her prince are wed. They hop into a carriage and proceed to ride away into the sunset. The two characters lean in for a kiss and the camera focuses in on a personal shot. This final shot includes both of their faces puzzled together in a kiss. Although, the age of the audience may vary, this personal shot is successful in convincing the audience. In the opening scene of ?Pretty WomenBibliographyMarshall, Gary. Pretty women (1994)Social Issues Essays