Maya Angelou 3 Essay, Research Paper

The readings from “Graduation Day” by: Maya Angelou and “On Becoming A Chicano” by: Richard Rodriguez were different but they the same point across. They were of different cultures, race, and time era, and they both overcame adversity to excel in their schooling.

Maya Angelou excelled greatly in what at that time was great for her services. She praised by her family, friends, and teachers for her excellent grades in all of her studies. Richard Rodriguez had what seemed to be a rocky start. He was slow to learn because he knew little English in school that is until the grammar-school nuns visited his parents and convinced them to speak in English. At these parts in time they both had come to a realization: Maya realized role of her culture and race provided for society, and Richard was slowly drifting away from his family and culture to where he was shunned by Hispanics and Euro-Americans.

Further along in their lives, Maya Angelou continued to work the same horrible, backbreaking, labors jobs that African Americans did at that time. Richard Rodriguez furthered his education by continuing on to college and a scholarship trip to England. Maya retained a grasp onto her culture, while Richard lost his even more. He was “..yearning for a Chicano past “, But could only get it through a museum.

They both overcame the adversity of the “Gringos” ,and schooling by “Caesar.” The read the world as it was and is and led prosperous (prosperous not pertaining by “Caesar’s” definition) lives.