Tessa Hermesman

Poetically Protesting
United States citizens constantly disagree with how the government chooses to
treat people living both in and out of this country. Yet many people do not realize how
fortunate United States citizens are to have basic rights granted to them by the
Constitution. The First Amendment secures the right to free speech for all citizens.
Throughout history many public figures have used the first amendment to offer their
opinion on a plethora of topics. Maya Angelou, a well-known writer and civil rights
activist did not shy away from expressing her opinion on the government. Her poem
These Yet to be United States openly illustrates the flaws on the governments
wrongful actions. This poem was written in 1990 as a part of Angelous collection I Shall
Not Be Moved. Though Maya Angelou criticizes the United States government, her
voice displays the importance of free speech.
The right of free speech acts as a foundation for a democratic government.
Citizens of the United States decide whom they want to vote for based upon what they
have heard, seen, and conclusions they have come to themselves. Without having heard
speeches and facts, there are very few ways to make an informed decision on whom to
vote for. Therefore, free speech allows people to know whom they want to vote for, and
why they want to vote for them. Also, if people of the United States disagree with
decisions that are being made within the government, the freedom of speech allows for
ways to express dissatisfaction through speech, press, and petition.

While Maya Angelous message may be offensive, it is important that our society
hears and understands her opinion. Ignorantly, many people think that in the past the
United States government has treated everybody with dignity. However, Angelou
expresses differently in the lines You control the human lives / in Rome and Timbuktu
(9-10). The word choice Maya uses in this quote is impactful because it declares the
actions of the United States government to be inhumane. Evidently, the United States
has a great effect on the quality of others lives by controlling others freedoms. Algelou
conveys her anger for the way the United States treats others in the lines:
Your bombs can change the seasons,
obliterate the spring,
What more do you long for?
Why are you suffering ? (4-8)
This quote references the fatal atomic bombing of Hiroshima in 1945. The United States
has an incredible amount of power, and can take out anything in its way. Historically,
the United States has struggled with the desire for more power and money. Throughout
the lines above, Angelou conveys the idea the United States should be satisfied with
what they have, but not with the acts they have done. In order to be aware of how the
United States treats others, we have to hear and understand all opinions, including
Angelous critique of the government.
The importance of free speech is often taken for granted; and Mayas words
prove the significance of free speech. In all, there are twenty-seven amendments in the
constitution. The first amendment was adopted on December 15, of 1791. Without the
freedom of speech given in the first amendment, most of the other amendments would
be irrelevant. For example, the first amendment also states that people have the right to
peaceably assemble, press, petition, and religion. If free speech did not exist, the other
four parts of the first amendment would be extraneous. For most of us, the first
amendment has been valid our entire lives. While United States citizens have had the
freedom of speech for centuries, it is important to realize many people do not have the
same freedom of speech. For instance, in North Korea, the Constitution guarantees the
right to free speech. In contrast, North Korean citizens who choose to critique their
government risk getting arrested or being sent to a re-education camp (Wikipedia).
While North Korea promises the right to free speech, the citizens cannot use it to their
full potential. Part of living in a country that has free speech is being able to legally
criticize authorities without being censored. Angelou does a fine job of proving why free
speech is crucial to a functioning democratic government.
During her eighty-six years, Maya Angelou inspired many people to openly
discuss controversial issues. She was known as a civil rights activist, writer, actress and
singer. Her works such as Still I Rise and I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings encourage
people to hold their own and embrace their individuality. On Mayas website, her family
describes her by flawlessly expressing, Developing a love of truth, standing for civil
rights, enjoying life itself and recording the experience, our matriarch became an
inspiration. Maya Angelous words, spoken, on the printed page or reflected here,
continue to promote self-examination, equality and friendship. Angelou practiced her
right to free speech to encourage others to evaluate our actions as a country.
The process of selecting These Yet to be United States helped me understand
how eager people are to share their opinions and connect with others. Every piece that I
researched represented free speech in some way or another, but These Yet to be
United States had many aspects that I admired. Maya Angelou is an admirable woman,
and she uses her voice to appropriately critique the government. While researching, I
made the realization that finding common ground with other people is a satisfying
feeling. Without free speech, people would lack connection and education.
Moreover, Maya Angelou exercises her right to free speech throughout her
poem These Yet to be United States. As an impactful woman, Maya is a prime example
of how United States citizens can use their voice to assess the government. Free speech
is a fundamental aspect of the United States government, and in order to keep free
speech, people have to use it to their benefit.