Equals

Maya Angelou in the chapter excerpt from I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1970), “Champion of the World” asserts that African Americans are no less than any other human beings and are capable of being the strongest people in the world. Angelou supports her assertion by illustrating Joe Louis’ boxing match as a symbol of African Americans’ fight for equal rights against the prejudiced white majority at the time. The author’s purpose is to convince African Americans are not weak human beings and will prevail in their fight against discrimination in order to change America into a country that doesn’t discriminate. Angelou writes in a suspenseful tone for the readers, both black and white, to realize the irrationality of discrimination in America.

Many of the African Americans gathered at the Store are depicted as proud Blacks that are fighting for the sake of their rights; however, it seemed to me as if they were no different than the white majority that oppressed them. They weren’t “worried ‘bout this fight. Joes gonna whip that cracker like it’s open season. He gone whip him till that white boy call him Momma.” It made it seem that although this fight was another step in their much bigger fight for equal rights, they sought revenge for the mistreatment they received in the past couple of centuries and to become the strongest people in the world. This would cause a never-ending battle of the races to become the strongest people in the world—just like the never-ending cycle of annual boxing championships in which Joe Louis will be challenged every year for the title of “Champion of the World.” People should aim for becoming perfect equals with one another and accept each others’ differences, not aim to surpass all that come in their way. Perfect equality is achieved when there is no Champion of the World.