Her autobiography, I Know Why The Cage Bird Sings, was nominated for numerous awards, and remains an essential book for many. ... It is through Angelou's examples about the days to come of the graduation that exhibit the relevance of the event. Finally, Angelou personifies her excitement when she states, "I hoped the memory of that morning would never leave me. ... This newfound confidence was brought about by the class valedictorian, Henry Reed. ... It is not until Angelou sings along with Henry Reed that she discovers the gratification of being an African American. ...

• Word Count: 1074
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate