as humming Church songs.After getting bored of mocking her, one of the girls had revealed herself to Momma. Throughout the whole episodeMomma stood straight and stiff and kept humming her Hymns. This showed Maya that a black person doesnthave to always react to what white people say or do towards them. Being strong and showing that a person is notafraid is the best thing to do when being harassed. Momma also contributes to Mayas maturing by Maya starts totake pride in her race even with all the prejudice. Momma stands up and speaks out to the white dentist, which wasthe only one in Stamps, who wouldnt treat Mayas toothache because he didnt want to put his hand into a blackpersons mouth. He says that he would rather put his hand down a dogs mouth than Mayas. Another example ofMaya beginning to take pride in her race is when a white man came to her grammar school graduation and spokeof the future for the white and black school. The white school would get all the new Science equipment, and theblack students would get a playing field. He told the black students that the whites were going to be the smartGalileos and Madame Curries, and the blacks were going to be the athletes, maids and farmers, handymen andwasherwomen. This had angered Maya and others and they all participated in the Negro National Anthem. Shethen said I was no longer simply a member of the proud graduating class of 1940; I was a proud member of thewonderful, beautiful Negro race. Maya overcomes the discriminations of this time and starts to slowly mature. Shehas many other hard things to overcome on her path to becoming a mature young adult. Maya has to deal with the hardest thing that anybody could imagine a child to go through. She deals witha rape. Mayas rape was a very difficult thing to overcome. It took a lot of time and help from others. Mayasmother had let her and Bailey (her brother) to come and live with her and her boyfriend, Mr. Freeman. No girlwould ever thin...
