blog 22

-Would Ms. Angelou have experimented with sex on her own if she hadn't been raped as a child?

I don't think she would have, she didn't know very much about her body or "the subject" because no one ever told her. I think she would have only heard about it in school but I don't think she would have done it.

-Ms. Angelou hid her pregnancy until after she graduated, so that she would have an opportunity to advance in life. Would Ms. Angelou's future have looked different if she was living in Stamps? What could she expect from life then?

If she was living in Stamps at the time of her pregnancy, she would have already been out of school. I think it would be more accepted in that community. I also think that if she was in Stamps, the father would have known and maybe he would have helped her.

-What qualities has Ms. Angelou developed as she matures that will help her raise a child alone?

She has learned the importance of accepting herself and loving who she is. I also think she has had many strong women too look up to and learn from: Mother Dear, Momma and Mrs. Flowers.

-What would happen to the baby's father if Ms. Angelou's uncles knew?

I think they would have threatened him to help and if he didn't, they would hurt him.

-What would happen to him if the setting was Stamps and our main character was white?

She would have been looked down upon, and if the father was African-American, he would be arrested or hurt badly.

Challenge: Can you develop one or two "what if" questions based on your reading of the story? Give it a try! [2 ex. credit points]

What if Marguerite's mother hadn't given her and Bailey to Momma?

Marguerite wouldn't have known how bad it was to give a child away, she might have given the baby to Mother Dear.

What if Marguerite didn't get pregnant? Would she still question her sexuality?

I think that she confirmed for herself that she wasn't lesbian and she now knew more about her sexuality and she wouldn't do it again.