Life Was Cheap and Death Entirely Free

"Life was cheap and death entirely free." In this time it was hard for a colored person to get a job. It was hard for the narrator, Maya Angelou, as an African American. She has a couple of tribulations as trying to successfully fulfill her dream at becoming a Conductorette, because of her skin color. As African Americans sometimes we have hard times in getting what we want as well. So in the story Occupation: Conductorette we will see how Maya Angelou handled the situation.

In Occupation: Conductorette Maya Angelou discusses how getting a job in the Offices of Market Street Railway Company is hard for her. As she stated, "As it was I explained that I had come to see about a job. She asked was I sent by and agency, and when I replied that I was not, she told me they were only accepting applicants from agencies."(81) Basically this secretary told Maya she couldn't get a job because she wasn't sent by the agencies so she should leave. "The personnel manager? OH, he's Mr. Cooper, but I'm sure you'll find him here tomorrow. He's... oh but you can try."(81)

The author uses details to explain the idea of how she couldn't get the job because of her race.

When Maya became an adult, she worked closely with Dr. Martin Luther King and other leaders in the civil rights movement. The essays below written by Dr. King help illustrate the challenges of that time period and help set the scene for I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. In addition, they are important pieces of our country's history and culture. Furthermore, in a later unit each student will have to select an inspirational person who overcame obstacles to achieve success. Both Dr. King and Dr. Angelou serve as examples of inspirational people.