Human Family
An excerpt from the poem by Maya Angelou
I note the obvious differencesin the human family.
Some of us are serious,
some thrive on comedy.
The variety of our skin tones
can confuse, bemuse, delight,
brown and pink and beige and purple,
tan and blue and white.
I've sailed upon the seven seas
and stopped in every land,
I've seen the wonders of the world
not yet one common man.
I know ten thousand women
called Jane and Mary Jane,
but I've not seen any two
who really were the same.
We love and lose in China,
we weep on England's moors,
and laugh and moan in Guinea,
and thrive on Spanish shores.
We seek success in Finland,
are born and die in Maine.
In minor ways we differ,
in major we're the same.
I note the obvious differences
between each sort and type,
but we are more alike, my friends,
than we are unalike.
We are more alike, my friends,
than we are unalike.
We are more alike, my friends,
than we are unalike.
we weep on England's moors,
and laugh and moan in Guinea,
and thrive on Spanish shores.
We seek success in Finland,
are born and die in Maine.
In minor ways we differ,
in major we're the same.
I note the obvious differences
between each sort and type,
but we are more alike, my friends,
than we are unalike.
We are more alike, my friends,
than we are unalike.
We are more alike, my friends,
than we are unalike.
When Maya Angelou said, “We are more alike, my friend,
than we are unalike” She meant that no one she sees, hears, or looks at is the
same. No matter what color your skin is, what your personality is, or who you
are, you are different! Like Maya said, “I know ten thousand women called Jane
and Mary Jane but I’ve not seen any two who really were the same.” Everything
and everyone is different. Pizza is not the same as spaghetti, and blue is not
the same as green. Things and people may look the same, but they never could be
because they are different. Everyone is different. You could be a doctor,
comedian, nurse, or even a veterinarian, and you still can’t be the same. We all
have good qualities, and bad qualities. We could be small or big, smart or
dumb, or even ugly or cute. It’s good to be different. The major point is that
we are all human beings, but even though we are different, we are still part of
the “Human Family.” Maya Angelou named this poem “Human Family” because we are
different but we are still all part of the human family! Maya Angelou is a very
important person from this day and this day forward. Dead or alive, we still
remember her.
