Summarize the ups and downs of Marguerite Johnson's graduation day and explain what caused them.

Maya is at the top of her class, though her competitor Henry Reed gets to be valedictorian. Smaller children present plays, and all the students not graduating are helping with preparations for the big event. Finally, the day arrives; the graduating students get dressed up, and their families watch the ceremonies in a crowded auditorium. Then, Maya has a feeling that something bad will happen during the ceremony.

Mr. Edward Donleavy, a kind of school superintendent, is the graduation speaker. He tells of the improvements and opportunities coming to the white school in town, Central High; then, he mentions that two recent graduates of the Lafayette County Training School are now successful athletes. Maya feels completely insulted; although white boys and girls get plenty of opportunities, Mr. Donleavy seems to say that the best black boys can do is to become athletes, and doesn't even mention the girls. Most of the people in the auditorium take the speech uneasily because of this; it crushes the celebratory spirit of the ceremony, and certainly ruins the whole thing for Maya.

Henry Reed delivers his address to the class, as planned; then, he starts to sing the "Negro National Anthem," which is banned from being sung at public events. People join in and sing, and the condescension of Mr. Donleavy is purged. Maya is suddenly proud to be black, and feels a part of the black community for possibly the first time.