EQUALITY
By Maya Angelou
You declare you see me dimly
through a glass which will not shine,
though I stand before you boldly,
trim in rank and making time.
You do own to hear me faintly
as a whisper out of range,
while my drums beat out the message
and the rhythms never change.
Equality, and I will be free.
Equality, and I will be free.
You announce my ways are wanton,
that I fly from man to man,
but if I'm just a shadow to you,
could you ever understand?
We have lived a painful history,
we know the shameful past,
but I keep on marching forward,
and you keep on coming last.
Equality, and I will be free.
Equality, and I will be free.
Take the blinders from your vision,
take the padding from your ears,
and confess you've heard me crying,
and admit you've seen my tears.
Hear the tempo so compelling,
hear the blood throb through my veins.
Yes, my drums are beating nightly,
and the rhythms never change.
Equality, and I will be free.
Equality, and I will be free.
For my poem, I chose to compare “Equality” by Maya Angelou and the “I Have a Dream” speech by Martin Luther King, Jr. I see many similarities between the poem and the speech, all relating to people being equals, no matter what race they are. Both Angelou and MLK, Jr. are African Americans that believe strongly in equality. In the next few paragraphs, I will show you how both the poem and the speech were about the same topic.
In 1963, Martin Luther King, Jr. gave a speech to over 250,000 people at The March on Washington. His speech talked about African Americans wanting freedom from racism and to live as equals with white Americans. He said “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” It was his dream that his children would one day see peace and equality. He wanted that for everyone in our nation.
Maya Angelou’s poem is also about a dream. Her poem, in my opinion, is about the way people see her and treat her. It was about how she wanted to be treated. It was her dream to see the same thing that Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke about. To be treated as an equal and live in a nation that no longer saw her for the color of her skin.
In conclusion, both the speech and the poem are about the dream of someday being equals. Angelou says, "Equality, and I shall be free” and King says, “Free at last!” They are both talking about freedom to live a peaceful life and not fearing hate or racism. They both felt that they have the right to be heard, even if they are African-American. That is their dream.
In 1963, Martin Luther King, Jr. gave a speech to over 250,000 people at The March on Washington. His speech talked about African Americans wanting freedom from racism and to live as equals with white Americans. He said “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” It was his dream that his children would one day see peace and equality. He wanted that for everyone in our nation.
Maya Angelou’s poem is also about a dream. Her poem, in my opinion, is about the way people see her and treat her. It was about how she wanted to be treated. It was her dream to see the same thing that Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke about. To be treated as an equal and live in a nation that no longer saw her for the color of her skin.
In conclusion, both the speech and the poem are about the dream of someday being equals. Angelou says, "Equality, and I shall be free” and King says, “Free at last!” They are both talking about freedom to live a peaceful life and not fearing hate or racism. They both felt that they have the right to be heard, even if they are African-American. That is their dream.