“The Library Card” and “Graduation”

Introduction

Social Science now recognised that race is a socially constructed categorisation which specifies rules for the identification of a given group with cultural differences. This in turn does not distinguish from the fact that all people are the same beneath the skin. This term race can also imply that immigrants will assimilate the culture of their host community (Gill, pp.56-70). this issue has been discussed in Graduation in a very good way.

Discussion

Throughout life, graduation, or the advancement to the next distinct level of growth, is sometimes acknowledged with the pomp and circumstance of the grand commencement ceremony, but many times the graduation is as whisper soft and natural as taking a breath. In the moving autobiographical essay, "The Graduation," Maya Angelou effectively applies three rhetorical strategies - an expressive voice, illustrative comparison and contrast, and flowing sentences bursting with vivid simile and delightful imagery - to examine the personal growth of humans caught in the adversity of racial discrimination (Angelou, pp.56-80).

In an expressive voice, Ms. Angelou paints a memorable picture of a small black community anticipating graduation day fifty-five years ago. She describes the children as trembling "visibly with anticipation" and the teachers being "respectful of the now quiet and aging seniors." Although it is autobiographical, an omniscient voice in the first six paragraphs describes how "they" - the black children in Stamps - felt and acted before the omniscient voice changes to a limited omniscient narration in the seventh paragraph. Her eloquent voice skillfully builds the tension as she demonstrates bigotry destroying innocence.

The same consistent, expressive voice introduces Ms. Angelou's effective strategy of comparison and contrast. By comparing what the black schools don't have, such as 'lawn, nor hedges, nor tennis courts, nor climbing ivy,' reveals not only a clear illustration of what luxuries the white schools in the forties had but also how unjust the system was. The adults at the graduation focus on the differences that were previously left unspoken (Angelou, pp.56-80).

This was the outcome of a poem read by her class valedictorian, Henry Reed. "The word of Patrick Henry had made such an impression on me that I had been able to stretch myself tall and trembling and, I know not what course others may take but as for me, give me liberty or give me death ..." (Angelou, pp.120-125). In this sentence the young girl feels proud to be black and to be part of the graduating class of 1940. She put aside all the awful remarks made by Mr. Donleavy and rejoiced with the encouraging words given by Henry Reed. She was proud of her race and proud to be graduating due to her full academic accomplishments.

"The Library Card" is based on the real situations Richard Wright experienced while growing up. The setting was back in time in an era where blacks were known to be ignorant due to the laws of the white man. Blacks were restricted from good education and that means that ...