Grandmothers Victory by Maya Angelou Essay -- Papers

Grandmother's Victory by Maya Angelou Grandmother's Victory was written by Maya Angelou. This story was about Maya Angelou as a young girl who lived in the state of Arkansas with her grandmother, whom she called "Mama", in the 1940's. Maya's grandmother was a very clean God fearing woman. She taught her grandchildren to be clean, religious, respectful, and God fearing also. In the 1940's there was segregation between blacks and whites. So therefore, there was a lot of racial tension. Whites didn't have to respect, or some didn't speak to blacks with any respect. Mama owned a grocery store (well known in both the black and white communities) on her own farmland. At the time it was really uncommon for blacks to own anything. Some whites, whom Maya and others referred to as "powhitetrash", lived on Mama's farmland behind the school. The white children frequently came to the store and were often disrespectful. But Mama and other blacks had to "becareful" of whites, and couldn't say much to them because of the times. Because of segregation blacks and whites couldn't share the same schools, banks, or any other facilities. And when they did, blacks had to sit in the back. For instance, blacks and whites could share a movie theatre, but blacks had to sit in the balcony. Whites treated blacks with no respect. Especially white children. They would tease and make fun of black elders. And would talk to them any kind of way. Whites did this because they felt could and because they felt blacks where beneath them. While black children had to treat ALL elders, both blacks and whites with respect. .. ... was that Mama was the better person. No matter what she had to put up with, she still stuck to her values and beliefs. I was taught at a young age to treat everyone equally. No matter their race, sex or religion. Everyone is equal. I was taught to respect everyone. Especially my elders. I am to address my elders as Mister, Miss, Missus, Aunt or Uncle. To use manners, such as please and thank you. And that cleanliness is next to godliness. And I still stand by this today. I liked this passage, Grandmother's Victory. I think the reason for Maya writing this is because she's telling her readers, no matter how much something makes you mad to be the bigger person. That you don't have to resort to violence because usually thats what they want. So just ignore it. And stick to your values and beliefs.