You declare you see me dimly We have lived a painful history,

through a glass which will not shine, we know the shameful past,
though I stand before you boldly, but I keep on marching forward,
trim in rank and marking time. and you keep on coming last.

You do own to hear me faintly Equality, and I will be free.

as a whisper out of range, Equality, and I will be free.
while my drums beat out the message
and the rhythms never change. Take the blinders from your vision,
take the padding from your ears,
Equality, and I will be free. and confess you've heard me crying,
Equality, and I will be free. and admit you've seen my tears.

You announce my ways are wanton, Hear the tempo so compelling,

that I fly from man to man, Hear the blood throb in my veins.
but if I'm just a shadow to you, Yes, my drums are beating nightly
could you ever understand? and the rhythms never change.

Equality, and I will be free

Equality, and I will be free

Critical Essay:

I. Background Published 1990 by Maya Angelou, an American poet, civil right activist and an
Information award-winning author of her acclaimed memoir.
A. Information
about the Work
1. Title Equality
2. Author Maya Angelou
3. Purpose of the To persuade and encourage the readers to recognize and act against gender
Poem. inequality and racist.
Provide evidence;
exact lines from the “Equality, and I will be free.”
poem
“Take the blinders from your vision, take the padding from your ears,”
“Hear the tempo so compelling, hear the blood throb in my veins. Yes, my drums are
beating nightly.
And the rhythms never change.”
4. Theme of the Equality and Freedom
poem
II. Summary- Write The poem reveals the indifferent treatment for black women that lead to the rise of
the issues being racial and sexual issues which starts the insistence of equality
raised in the poem
III. Interpretation The author makes use of different imagery, repetitions, and metaphors in delivering
and Evaluation the message of the poem.
A. Discuss the style
of the author in
presenting the
issues.
B. Discuss if the The author’s work is very clear and is easy to understand. She was able to deliver it
author is successful using simple yet strong words to her readers
in persuading the
audience regarding
the issues
IV. Reflection- How The issues in the poem gave me insights about how alarming the issues of inequality
the issues presented to everyone. At the end of the poem, I manage to get the idea of achieving equality
affect you? that can be attained if we will start addressing the issues by making a change in our
society.
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 in 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.