Grandmother's Victory by Maya Angelou

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.
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... 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.