Would anyone like to explain this quote to me?

I have to read I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou for an honors english class and I need to find the most essential quote from the book.
Could you pick one and explain it to me?

“We were on top again. As Always again. We survived. The depths had been icy and dark, but now a bright sun spoke to our souls. I was no longer a member of the graduating class of 1940; I was a proud member of the wonderful beautiful Negro race.”

I read the same book over the summer, so this is what I got from that quote: Maya felt knocked down after the speaker at her school spoke. After that she felt she had been to the icy, dark depths. But then she thought about some things and felt on top again, the bright sun per say. Then in that moment, Maya felt no longer as the graduating class, she felt happy and proud to be an African American.

“If growing up is painful for the southern black girl, being aware of her displacement is the rust on the razor that threatens the throat. It is an unnecessary insult.”
This quote is saying that it is difficult to be a southern black girl, it is like a razor that threatens the throat. Then, if a southern black girl is aware of the difficulties of her life, it adds to the pain, it adds rust to the razor threatening the throat.

July Tag Swap Bird Cage

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings Lesson Plans I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings lesson plan contains a variety of teaching materials that cater to all learning styles. Inside you’ll find 30 Daily Lessons, 20 Fun Activities, 180 Multiple Choice Questions, 60 Short Essay Questions, 20 Essay Questions, Quizzes/Homework Assignments, Tests, and more. The lessons and activities will help students gain an intimate understanding of the text; while the …