Stephen Covey once said, “Find your voice and inspire others to find theirs.” In this quotation, Covey explains that once you determine your beliefs and what you stand for, use your voice to inspire others to do the same. The same concept applies in the two works “Ain’t I A Woman” by Sojourner Truth and “Phenomenal Woman” by Maya Angelou. The main focus of these pieces is about women taking action and using the power of their voice to change the living for women and the levels of society. Analyzing these two works reveals a message that a woman’s voice is strong enough to raise the moral standards of how society views women. However, one piece specifically emphasizes the idea of self-confidence and beauty while the other is centered towards
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Throughout her speech, Truth points out how Negro women are believed to be less significant than white women. From here on, she emphasizes how she, herself, is an African American woman and states, “That man over there says that women need to be helped into carriages, and lifted over ditches, and to have the best place everywhere. Nobody ever helps me into carriages, or over mud-puddles, or gives me any best place! And ain’t I a woman?” This shows how from her point of view she is expressing the emotion most African American women feel when they are undervalued. For this reason, Truth uses her voice to improve the expectations of how society views African American women, because after all, aren’t they women as well? In addition, …show more content…
Within the first lines of her poem, Angelou writes, “Pretty women wonder where my secret lies. I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size But when I start to tell them, They think I’m telling lies.” This quotation specifically refers towards black women, as Maya Angelou is one herself. Back in the day, black women were not considered beautiful. So, Angelou writes how she believes she is beautiful, even when others doubt her, and she doesn’t need to have the perfect body to be considered beautiful. Towards the end of her poem, Maya Angelou writes, “Now you understand Just why my head’s not bowed. I don’t shout or jump about Or have to talk real loud. When you see me passing It ought to make you proud.” In this quotation, Angelou talks about how she always keeps her head held high to show her confidence and doesn’t act in an unordinary way to receive attention in public. She then goes on about even though she is not perfect, people should still be proud of her for being self-confident and sets an example for all women. In short, in her poem, “Phenomenal Woman,” Maya Angelou shows how proud she is to be herself even though she knows she is not perfect. Angelou speaks to other women to not let society tear their self-confidence and beauty that lies within
Throughout her speech, Truth points out how Negro women are believed to be less significant than white women. From here on, she emphasizes how she, herself, is an African American woman and states, “That man over there says that women need to be helped into carriages, and lifted over ditches, and to have the best place everywhere. Nobody ever helps me into carriages, or over mud-puddles, or gives me any best place! And ain’t I a woman?” This shows how from her point of view she is expressing the emotion most African American women feel when they are undervalued. For this reason, Truth uses her voice to improve the expectations of how society views African American women, because after all, aren’t they women as well? In addition, …show more content…
Within the first lines of her poem, Angelou writes, “Pretty women wonder where my secret lies. I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size But when I start to tell them, They think I’m telling lies.” This quotation specifically refers towards black women, as Maya Angelou is one herself. Back in the day, black women were not considered beautiful. So, Angelou writes how she believes she is beautiful, even when others doubt her, and she doesn’t need to have the perfect body to be considered beautiful. Towards the end of her poem, Maya Angelou writes, “Now you understand Just why my head’s not bowed. I don’t shout or jump about Or have to talk real loud. When you see me passing It ought to make you proud.” In this quotation, Angelou talks about how she always keeps her head held high to show her confidence and doesn’t act in an unordinary way to receive attention in public. She then goes on about even though she is not perfect, people should still be proud of her for being self-confident and sets an example for all women. In short, in her poem, “Phenomenal Woman,” Maya Angelou shows how proud she is to be herself even though she knows she is not perfect. Angelou speaks to other women to not let society tear their self-confidence and beauty that lies within