Category: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

I know why the caged bird sings. Ah, me, when its wings are bruised and its bosom sore, wrote Paul Laurence Dunbar in his famous poem Sympathy (Dunbar).

Having been written several decades before the Brown v. Board of Education landmark case, Martin Luther Kings speeches and the work of the Civil Rights Movement, this poem became the symbol of African Americans spiritual power and aspiration for freedom in all its senses. These lines gave the name to another outstanding work of literature devoted to the rights of African Americans, Maya Angelous I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (Angelou 2002).

The novel is about a caged bird Maya, an African American girl in captivity of racial discrimination and her own fears and diffidence.

The events described in the novel are sometimes so shocking that seem almost unbelievable; having got familiarized with the life story of the protagonist Maya, a reader sees that having faced numerous troubles and challenges, the girl did not give up and escaped from the cage  her fears, uncertainty and racial prejudices directed at her.

The process of Mayas spiritual revival included three stages: facing and recognizing the problems, receiving emotional and intellectual support from her environment, and making first independent, resolute steps into the adult life.

Mayas inner restrictions, fears and low self-esteem were born by the environment she faced during the first years of her life. Does a reader see just a weak, inexperienced girl afraid of the sorrows she is facing?

The situation described by the narrator is much more complicated and terrifying: the life of Maya, the protagonist, is the illustration of position of an African American woman in that took place in the society for centuries  & A black woman has two strikes against her  being a woman and being born black (Cordell-Robinson 13). The aggression towards black people combined with disrespect towards women formed a cage that seemed impossible to break.

The racial discrimination in the country in 1930s was merciless: the society was deeply prejudiced towards black people. The terrifying lynch mobs did not allow the girl to remain calm and careless; Maya faced cruelty of the modern world and lost self-confidence. This period in Mayas life played significant part in her future destiny having created problems she had to overcome for decades: living with her grandmother in Stamps, Arkansas, Maya faced numerous problems connected with her racial identity.

Being one of the few black people in the region, the girl had to overcome numerous social and emotional restrictions of her spiritual and intellectual growth: needing love and emotional support, she is nevertheless not understood, not respected and discriminated; the girl says, There was an army of adults, whose motives and movements I just couldnt understand and who made no effort to understand mine (Angelou 62).

Mayas emotional discomfort was aggravated by understanding that her parents had divorced and abandoned her and her older brother having sent them to Annie Henderson, their grandmother.

The pain of rejection is hard to overcome  a three year old girl was unable to get rid of the feeling of guilt for parental divorce. At the same time, Maya was suffering from her own diffidence thinking that she was not beautiful and would never become as pretty and charming as the other girls of her age. During this time, Mayas low self-esteem progressed and turned into a serious problem.

The attitude of the children of the same age put its imprint: they teased and injured her  their attitude was also a result of the tendencies that existed in the contemporary society. Looking in the mirror, Maya saw an ugly girl and imagined she is a charming white young lady turned into a too-big Negro girl, with nappy black hair, broad feet and a space between her teeth that would hold a number-two pencil (3).

However, deeply within, the girl possessed incredible strength and desire for spiritual growth. Moreover, a reader may be amazed about how kind and forgiving the heart of the small girl is: being teased by the children around her, Maya does not become hard-hearted and does not dream about revenge, &They were going to run up to me and say, &Forgive us, please&, and I would answer generously, No, you couldnt have known.

Of course I forgive you (Angelou 2). It is possible to say that Mayas inherent spiritual strength helped her apprehend the life-giving impulse that came from the outside: Maya just needs understanding, compassion and support, and soon she fortunately finds in the person of Miss Flowers whom she communicated simultaneously with living in Stamps, Arkansas.

This period in Mayas life was considered to be really important for the girl. It is possible to state that the communication with Miss Flowers gave Maya an opportunity to enter the next stage of the formation of her spiritually strong personality. This woman showed Maya that there was nothing wrong with her race, that it was possible to be black and enjoy the life.

Miss Flowers demonstrated that she could enjoy what she was doing. Having given Maya a piece of advice to read aloud was a good idea. Reading in this way helped Maya to regain her voice which she had lost as a post-trauma effect of being sexually abused by Mr. Freeman. Reading helped the girl stop thinking about that terrible event, return to the reality and continue living. Thus, reading aloud brought the caged birds voice back literally and in a figurative sense.

Another important step towards Mayas spiritual renaissance was attendance of the Church revival where the preachers sermons gave her an opportunity to comprehend the situation in the society and interpret the challenges she faced from the new perspective. Listening to the sermons against white hypocrisy was a good chance for Maya to understand that the problem of racial discrimination bothered many people, that her attitude toward whites was shared among other black people in the society.

Particularly, she had an opportunity to change her opinion about white people whom she considered to be better than herself, learn about their negative traits and see that many of their virtues are illusive: she was able to understand that being white did not mean being a good person, it just meant that one could have more rights. The sermons gave a girl spiritual strength and inspiration demonstrating that she was not alone and that there were people who understood her feelings.

This period of Mayas life brought her understanding of racial discrimination as injustice in the world. She realized that high self-esteem is possible even for a black girl. It is important to understand that the crucial point in Mayas life described in the novel is also not isolated from the social tendencies of those years: the ice has been broken, and the African American community found its voices, the strong and spirited people who would be able to change the status quo.

These voices turn out to be powerful enough to awaken those who were encaged and equated life with suffering and misery. At the end of the novel, we see the Maya as a bird that has broken out of her cage and is enjoying her freedom.

Having passed two stages on the way to selfhood and maturation, which were recognizing a problem and getting support from the outside, Maya was ready to face the third stage, which is becoming independent and self-confident, and step into a new life free of her juvenile problems. However, she needed to be pushed to become strong and independent, and the life with her father gave her the necessary push.

Having come to her farther, Maya expected to live a happy life in a loving family, but his attitude was absolutely opposite to the girls expectations. Cruel indifference was the only emotion the father bestowed Maya with, and the attitude of the fathers new wife was the same. Tension and hatred were two feelings that Maya met in her new family.

A fight with Dolores, the fathers wife, was the event which had broken the camels back, and Maya left home. Living with homeless children in junkyard, she had to do her best to survive and to cope with the new challenges she faced. However, Maya understood that she was much stronger than she thought; her character became tough, and her spirit was strong.

If seeing Maya in the street at that period, it was impossible to recognize the small girl she was several years ago when her parents divorced. Maya was inspired with the desired freedom she at last got, and the bird who escaped was not afraid of demonstrating her voice any more: as a result, Maya became the first black streetcar conductor at the age of fifteen, made an independent decision about giving birth to her child.

Under the tent of blanket& the baby slept touching my side (Angelou 246), the reader sees the words of not a girl afraid of the world around her, but of a young responsible woman who has overgrown her fears, knows the sense of her life and is ready to take the next step.

But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream his wings are clipped and his feet are tied so he opens his throat to sing (Angelou 2011), looking at Mayas life and the stages of the formation of her personality, a reader can understand the meaning of her poem I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. These words are the main explanation for why Maya had became who she was: within her soul, she did not lose her ability to sing.

She could either accept the situation and give up, or struggle for her independence and selfhood. She chose the second option: Maya managed to turn into a strong personality by means of coming through three stages of maturation, which are recognizing the problem, accepting the spiritual support from the outside, and formation of spiritually strong personality.

It is important to not underestimate Mayas environment that significantly influenced the course of her life and her perception of herself: the society surrounding the girl encaged her, but later in the person of Miss Flowers and the preacher, it helped her break the vicious circle and find the way out. Their attitude and beliefs, as well as Mayas desire to become herself, helped her turn into a powerful woman and tell the whole world her story.

Works Cited

Angelou, Maya. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (novel). New York: Random House, 2002. Print.

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (poem). PoemHunter. 1969. Web.

Cordell-Robinson, Shirley J. The Black Woman: A Focus on Strength of Character in I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. Maya Angelous I Know Why he Caged Bird Sings. Ed. Harold Bloom. New York: Blooms Literary Criticism, 2009. 13016. Print.

Dunbar, Paul Laurence. Sympathy. Web.

Introduction

Ever since the publishing of Maya Angelous autobiographical novel I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings in 1969, literary critics never ceased pointing out to the fact that novels themes and motifs are being concerned with the process of a main character striving to attain the sense of self-identity. Nevertheless, this did not prevent them from discussing the qualitative essence of this process from a variety of different perspectives.

For example, in her article Arensberg (1976) refers to the subtleties of how Maya went about attaining existential identity as such that have been in the state of constant transition: The unsettled life Angelou writes of in I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings suggests a sense of self as perpetually in the process of becoming, of dying and being reborn, in all its ramifications (277). In its turn, this implies that Mayas perception of herself never ceased being the subject of continuous transformation.

On the other hand, while suggesting that Maya did succeed with gaining solid sense existential self-awareness, Walker (1995) refers to it as something that came to being as the result of novel main characters spatially defined intellectual evolvement: By the end of the book& she [Maya] no longer feels inferior, knows who she is, and knows that she can respond to racism in ways that preserve her dignity and her life, liberty, and property (103).

In this paper, I will aim to confirm the soundness of namely Walkers suggestion, while pointing out to the fact that, by the end of Angelous novel, Maya did not only become fully self-aware individual, but that such her self-awareness came as the result of novels main character having learned how to accept her inborn affiliation with the Black race.

The discussion of earlier mentioned process in regards to three events, described in the novel

As novels context implies, throughout the early phases of her life, Maya has been experiencing a number of psychological anxieties, due to the sheer extent of her physical unattractiveness. Moreover, there were clearly defined racial undertones to Mayas emotional uncomfortableness with who she was: Wouldnt they be surprised when one day I woke out of my black ugly dream, and my real hair, which was long and blond, would take the place of the kinky mass that Momma wouldnt let me straighten? (2).

And yet, as novels plot unraveled, Maya was gradually freeing herself of these anxieties. I believe that the following three events, described in the novel, contributed rather substantially towards helping Maya to learn how to take pride in her blackness.

The conversation that took place between Maya and uncle Tommy

In Chapter 10, Angelou refers to the conversation that took place between Maya and uncle Tommy. While sensing that the young girl lacked self-confidence, uncle Tommy did his best to assure her that good looks is not something that solely defines ones chances to attain social prominence: Ritie, dont worry cause you aint pretty.

Plenty pretty women I seen digging ditches or worse. You smart. I swear to God, I rather you have a good mind than a cute behind (68). It is needless to mention, of course, that such uncle Tommys remark did help Maya to accept who she was. After all, prior to having socialized with uncle Tommy, Maya used to suffer a great deal, on the account of her ugliness.

And, as the context of further chapters implies, uncle Tommys words did have an effect on Maya, as she was becoming progressively less disturbed with her physical appearance. In the article, from which we have already quoted, Arensberg states: Shuttled between temporary homes and transient allegiances, Maya necessarily develops a stoic flexibility that becomes not only her shield, but, more importantly, her characteristic means of dealing with the world (274).

Thus, it will not be much of an exaggeration, to suggest that Mayas socialization with uncle Tommy represents a crucial point in the process of novels main character being set on the path of self-actualization through acceptance.

Mayas encounter with Mrs. Flowers

In Chapter 15, readers get to meet Mrs. Flowers, whose influence on Maya never ceased being utterly beneficial, it is was namely due to being exposed to the sheer extent of this characters sophistication that Maya was slowly learning how to take pride in her racial affiliation: She [Mrs. Flowers] appealed to me because she was like people I had never met personally.

Like women in English novels who walked the moors (whatever they were) with their loyal dogs racing at a respectful distance& It would be safe to say that she made me proud to be Negro, just by being herself (95).

It was specifically after having met Mrs. Flowers that Maya acquired taste for learning, as this intellectually sophisticate Black woman never ceased encouraging Maya to read: She said she was going to give me some books and that I not only must read them, I must read them aloud (98).

After having been prompted to indulge in reading by Mrs. Flowers, Maya started to realize that her blackness was not something to be ashamed of. In its turn, this facilitated the process of novels main character learning how to accept her racially defined sense of self-identity even further.

Mayas exposal to Mrs. Cullinans subtle racism

Chapter 16, contains description of another event, the exposure to which had increased the strength of Mayas resolution to accept her racial self-identity  namely, the conversation between Miss Glory and Mrs. Cullinan, during the course of which Mrs. Cullinan refused referring to Maya by her real name Marguerite and instead, suggested that the name Mary suits Maya so much better: Well, that may be, but the names [Margarete] too long. Id never bother myself. Id call her Mary if I was you (107).

And, as it appears from what happened to be Mayas emotional reaction to Mrs. Cullinans suggestion, she thought of it as being utterly insulting: I fumed into the kitchen. That horrible woman would never have the chance to call me Mary because if I was starving Id never work for her (107). By expressing her contempt with Mrs. Cullinans subtly defined racism, sublimated in White womans willingness to degrade Blacks linguistically, Maya had once again confirmed the fact that she was firmly set on the path of racial self-acceptance.

Apparently, Maya was able to recognize the name Mary as being connotative of whiteness, which is exactly the reason why she refused to be called by this name  after having accepted her blackness as the integral part of her self-identity, Maya could never bring herself back to trying to be just like Whites.

Conclusion

I think that the earlier mentioned events do provide readers with the insight on what accounted for the actual subtleties of Mayas journey towards self-acceptance.

Given the fact that Angelou describes this journey as rather linearly defined, it substantiates the validity of papers initial thesis  while being continuously exposed to a number of lifes challenges, Maya was slowly learning that her self-identity could not be discussed outside of what happened to be the particulars of her racial affiliation. And, it is specifically after novels main character had accepted this fact cognitively, that she was able to attain emotional comfortableness with her newly acquired sense of individuality.

References

Angelou, Maya. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. New York: Bantam Books, 1997 [1969].

Arensberg, Liliane Death as Metaphor of Self in I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. CLA Journal 20.2 (1976): 273-91.

Walker, Pierre Racial Protest, Identity, Words and Form in Maya Angelous I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. College Literature 22.3 (1995): 91-109.

The process of transformation for a protagonist is a core element in the autobiography genre of literature. The book I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is an example of a coming-to-age story of literary icon Maya Angelou. Consequently, the novel outlines the experiences of the main character from the time she is a child until she becomes a woman in her own right. In most coming-of-age stories, the plot is often the story of a single individuals growth and development within the context of a defined social order (Leahy, 2004, p. 450).

In the case of Maya Angelous I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, the social-cultural factors that impede the main characters development are also the elements that contribute to her coming of age. In the coming-of-age genre, there are vital stages in the course of the protagonists development including the beginning/s of a journey, encountering a loss or a disappointment in a setting that is far away from home, and finally, the character encounters maturity after overcoming a set of internal and external struggles.

Another important aspect of character development is the struggle between his/her desires and needs in opposition to judgmental points of view that result from socio-cultural factors. In the grand scheme of things, the socio-cultural factors become the obstacles that Maya Angelou has to navigate through for her to gain accommodation in her society. The main characters journey ends when she finds the confidence to conduct a self-assessment within a new setting. In I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, the protagonist has managed to offer reconstructions of her personal history as she comes to age as a literary icon.

In the course of her life, the protagonist has to triumph over various impediments such as rejection, poverty, racial discrimination, defilement, and rigid social principles. Her love of literature proves to be the starting point of her journey while her brother Bailey becomes the only stable aspect of her life. This essay tracks Mayas character development and the socio-cultural factors that shape this development in this coming-of-age biography.

The journey and the transformation of a character have to start somewhere. In I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, the development of the protagonist and the novels plot starts with Mayas realization that the color of her skin sets her apart from her peers. When Maya is residing with her grandmother in rural Southern America, the trigger to her journey of self-discovery is the racism and indignation that is triggered by the color of her skin. Consequently, from the first moment Maya realizes that the color of her skin makes her different, to the self-satisfaction she feels giving birth to her son, the reader is led through her journey of growth and transformation (Lupton, 1998, p. 34).

The narrator highlights this realization when she says, because I was white and because a cruel fairy stepmother, who was understandably jealous of my beauty, had turned me into a too-big Negro girl (Angelou, 1997, p. 4). These opening passages of the story mark the beginning of the protagonists journey of transformation. First, the protagonist engages in a deep analysis of her African American heritage because even as a pre-teen she is already aware that her race is a source of both external and internal adversity. Later on in the book, Maya reveals that her process of self-hate begins when she realizes that she is ugly as per her societys standards. In an interview that the literary icon did in 1973, Maya claims that her childhood was a period in which she had to overcome adversity and exorcise demons that had plunged her into internal shame (Angelou & Elliot, 1989).

When analyzing the character development in I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, the protagonists awakening is obvious from the very first chapters of the book. Consequently, the protagonist begins going through the process in which she overcomes the burdens she has to shoulder including her self-consciousness when it comes to physical appearance. However, it is important to note that these insecurities are more pronounced when Maya is out of her social confines.

For instance, the protagonist feels safer when she is around her brother Bailey because he often defends her when she is ridiculed. Interestingly, Bailey is the yardstick with which Maya uses to gauge her physical appearance. The narrator expresses this scenario by noting that, when I was described by our playmates as being shit color, he was lauded for his velvet-black skin&his hair fell in black curls, and my head was covered with black steel wool (Angelou, 1997, p. 6). The characters self-awakening is complicated by the fact that her mother and father are all good looking as per the standards of her days. The questions that go through Mayas head are difficult about her origins and her inherent situation.

In any coming-of-age story, the main character often encounters obstacles just as things start to improve (Birch, 2001). At the height of her self-realization and her subsequent journey to self-discovery, Maya faces a series of challenges. First, the main characters feelings of alienation are compounded by her reunion with her father, who proceeds to disappear from her life almost immediately. Thereafter, Maya lives with her newly found mother Vivian whose the only impact on the young girls life is contributing towards the feelings of awkwardness.

For instance, from the time she meets her mother Maya is convinces that Vivian considers her and Bailey to be inconvenienced. The protagonist reveals that I knew immediately why she had sent me away&she was too beautiful to have children&I had never seen a woman as pretty as she who was called Mother (Angelou, 1997, p. 15). Also, the fact that Maya feels that her mothers beauty stands in stark contrast with her mediocre looks makes the protagonists stay in California to be a very uncomfortable exercise.

Another great challenge that Maya encounters in her journey of self-discovery in this coming-of-age story is her rape ordeal at the hands of her mothers boyfriend, Mr. Freeman. This unfortunate incident happens when Mayas mother irresponsibly leaves her behind when she goes out at night to gamble. When the rape happens, the main character has always begun appreciating and recognizing Freeman as a father figure. This ordeal becomes more complicated for the main character when her tormentor is killed mysteriously in connection to the rape. Consequently, the main character feels partly responsible for Freemans death in addition to the sense of shame that she already carries as a rape victim.

Another important part of the protagonists journey is the point where her desires and predispositions stand in stark contrast with her socio-cultural settings. This continuous clash of desires and needs leads to personal growth for the protagonist (Wang & Yu, 2006).

For Maya, this happens when she suffers rape as a young girl and she declines to talk to anyone except her brother. As a selective mute, Vivian finds Maya too difficult to deal with and she sends her back to her grandmother in Stamps. Mayas return to the land of racism does not do any justice to her inner conflict. In the course of this conflict and subsequent personal growth, Maya discovers objects of refuge such as the books she is introduced to by Bertha Flowers (Angelou & Elliot, 1989). The protagonists needs and desires are once again thrown into turmoil when she is sent back to California where she has to contend with unstable living conditions in her mother and fathers abodes. This culminates in the protagonist becoming pregnant at the age of fourteen.

The final part of the journey in the development of a protagonist as he/she comes of age happens when the spirit and values of the social order become manifest in the protagonist, who is then accommodated into society& ends with an assessment by the protagonist of himself and his new place in that society (Hirsch, 1999, p. 294). In I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, the protagonist coming to age happens when she settles in San Francisco and becomes the first African American streetcar conductor. Furthermore, Maya realizes that peoples opinions never bother her in any way. The culmination of the protagonists character development is the birth of her son, which gives her a sense of belonging in a world that appears to conspire against her. Through the love that she shows her newborn son, Maya Angelou can able to finally love herself.

The protagonist in I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is compelling and offers a thrilling coming-of-age experience in this autobiography. She goes through growth in a pre-defined social hierarchy that puts her down as an African American woman. In the course of her journey, Maya encounters various challenges and personal losses. Eventually, the main character undergoes the process of maturity until she discovers her position in society.

References

Angelou, M. (1997). I know why the caged bird sings. New York, NY: Bantam Dell Publishing Group.

Angelou, M., & Elliot, J. M. (1989). Conversations with Maya Angelou. Mississippi: University Press of Mississippi.

Birch, E. L. (2001). Black American womens writing: a quilt of many colours. Michigan: University of Michigan Press.

Hirsch, M. (1999). The novel of formation as genre: Between great expectations and lost illusions in studies in the novel. Genre Norman, 12(3), 293-311.

Leahy, R. (2004). Authenticity: From philosophic concept to literary character. Educational Theory, 44(4), 447-461.

Lupton, M. J. (1998). Maya Angelou: A critical companion. New York, NY: Greenwood Publishing Group.

Wang, H., & Yu, T. (2006). Beyond promise: Autobiography and multicultural Education. Multicultural Education, 13(4), 29-35.

Born on April 4 1928 in St. Louis Missouri. An author, poet ,civil rights activist, actress and dancer. Maya Angelou was simply impossible to define. She is best known for her critically acclaimed 1969 memoir, “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings”, which made literary history as the first nonfiction bestseller by an African American woman. She fell victim to sexual abuse at the hands of her mothers’ boyfriend when she was 9 years old. Which left her completely mute for 5 years.

It was during her period of silence that she discovered her love for literature and the arts. Angelous’ faced many tribulations in her life that inspired her literary works. With poems such as “ I Knew Why The Caged Bird Sings”, “Phenomenal Woman” and “Still I Rise” Anhelous poems revolve mainly around the oppression of African Americans, as well as gender inequality and rising above the odds.

I Know Why the caged bird sings

The theme of oppression and racial injustice are the most dominant themes in the poem “I know why the caged Bird sings”. The image of the caged bird living a sorrowful life symbolizes the oppressed African Americans living in slavery. While the free bird living in liberty represents the white, privileged oppressors.

The poem is divided into 6 stanzas with the third stanza repeated twice. The repetition of the stanza is used in order to put stress on the horrific condition of the caged bird and emphasize the birds longing for freedom.

The freedom and joy experienced by the first bird in its natural, unrestricting habitat are best expressed in the first stanza as the poet beautifully describes how “ A free bird leaps, on the back of the wind, and floats downstream, till the current ends, and dips his wing, in the orange sun rays, and dares to claim the sky.”

The first bird happily flies from one place to another as if it owns the sky. The free bird represents the Whites who had all the freedom they wanted yet they still craved more.

The joyful condition of the first bird is immediately contrasted by the image of a lonely bird trapped in a cage “his wings are clipped and his feet are tied” he is denied freedom of movement

The caged bird symbolizes the sad, miserable life of the African Americans who where subjected to inhumane cruelty and tyranny.

The rage and helplessness of those people who had to endure racial discrimination is brilliantly expressed through the pathetic condition of the caged bird. Whose only solace is his voice.

The free bird already has so much freedom yet selfishly desires for more. Whereas the caged bird lives in agony and sorrow knowing that the cage has become his “grave of dreams”

The poems tone fluctuates between a positive and joyful feeling, to an aura of sadness and negativity. It uses an array of words to describe the contrasting images of the two birds. For example, the first and fourth stanzas brilliantly illustrates the life of the free bird using images such as “free bird leaps on the back of the wind”, “he names the sky as his own”. Furthermore, the second and third stanzas depict the sorrowful life of the caged bird using phrases such as “ narrow cage”, “his wings are clipped, his feet are tied” , “the caged bird sings for freedom” to show the desperation of the caged bird and just how much he longs for freedom.

The poem however ends of a positive note. Affirming that no matter what, the caged bird with continue to sing for freedom. Just like the African Americans will continue the fight for hope and a better tomorrow.

the “caged bird” is a metaphor for not only the poet herself, but the entire African American community. It represents the misery and distress of all those African Americans who had to endure cruel and inhuman treatment. Angelou also uses personification in the line “sighing trees”. Giving trees the feeling of sadness and sorrow.

Phenomenal Woman

Another major theme common in many of Angelou’s works is the theme of feminism and women empowerment. And no poem does this theme justice quite like “phenomenal Woman”.

The poem starts off with a flock of women intrigued by the speaker’s popularity among male suiters and want to know the secret of her success.

The speaker openly admits that she is neither cute nor model thin, so it makes the women even more curious as to how she gets the most male attention.

The speaker proudly flaunts her body and refuses to adhere to society’s standards of beauty. Her real appearance “the length of my arms, the span of my hips, the curl of my lips” makes her such an intriguing woman.

She tells the women that it’s not her physical appearance that makes men swarm around her like bees. It’s the way she exudes confidence and how she displays herself that makes her so popular. She never does or says anything outrageous to draw attention. She wins attention just by proudly being who she is “it’s the click of my heels, the bend of my hair, the palm of my hand, the need for my care, cause I’m a woman.” She is complete an flawless by simply being a woman. She doesn’t need to gloss up her appearance or follow the norms of beauty to rise up. Her supreme confidence makes her a “phenomenal woman”.

the poem “Phenomenal Woman” contains four stanzas with the number of lines varying in each stanza. Since the poem is written in free verse, it has a very irregular rhyming scheme, however repetition is a major part in the poem and can be seen in the lines “I am a woman, phenomenally, phenomenal woman, that’s me” which is an example of refrain. It gets repeated in all stanzas of the poem to assert the speaker’s unflinching confidence about her phenomenal identity and the celebration of womanhood. The poem contains very lucid and casual language that may seem simple on a surface level. However, it illustrates perfectly what makes a “phenomenal Woman”.

The poem mainly revolves around the theme of women empowerment. The speaker is proud of her inner and physical beauty, she exudes extreme confidence that attracts both males and females alike. Regardless of her physical features.

The poem also celebrates individuality and defying cultural stereotypes. The speaker explains that she does not fit the mold created by society “I am not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size”.

The poem is filled with metaphors an imagery to help convey the theme “they swarm around me, a hive of honey bees” The poet here compares the men swarming around the speaker to a flock of honey bees. So the speaker can be seen as some sort of Queen bee.

The second metaphor in the poem can be seen in the line “the fire in my eyes” where she compares her confidence to a fire burning bright.

Angelou uses descriptive imagery to vividly paint a picture to the readers of a strong, powerful, ideal woman.

Still I Rise

the last theme dominant in many of Angelou’s poems is the theme of perseverance and rising above the odds. Angelou’s “still I rise” is a declaration of independence, that she for one will not let prejudice deteriorate her self-worth or the hatefulness of society to determine her own success.

The poem revolves around a speaker, who is a black woman, standing up in the face of oppression while society relentlessly tries to humiliate and demean the speaker as well as spread “lies” and present them as the truth. The speaker responds to the cruel treatment by not only surviving, but thriving “ I am the dream and the hope of the slave” regardless of the oppressors negative and hateful acts of violence, the speaker continues to prosper.

The poet speaks about facing constant criticism as a dark skinned person.

She also details how the oppressors want to physically and mentally harm her and her people. But the speaker is proud of her identity, which she expresses in various ways “bringing gifts that my ancestors gave” she sees her heritage as a gift which she honors. Instead of wallowing in stress and fear, she aims to live a happy and confident life by openly challenging those who pull he down.

The speaker has no power to defend herself against the oppressor, therefore, the amount of physical and mental torture placed upon her escalades. “Still I Rise” is a poem filled with figurative language to illustrate the harsh and painful reality of the racism. For example: “you may shoot me with your words” here the poet is comparing shooting a gun with the painful language she endured by the hands of the oppressors. Another example “you may cut me with your eyes” much like the previous example, the poet compares violence to the cruel and hateful looks directed towards her and others like her. The speaker uses metaphors to express just how much it hurts to be bombarded by peoples despicable language and cruel stares.

The main themes of the poem are self-respect and thriving against the odds. The speaker expresses that no matter what, she will overcome all the obstacles she encounters. She will jump over any hurdle planted her way and nothing, not peoples hurtful words, evil stares or physical violence can hold her back.

To conclude. Maya Angelou has a very distinct writing style that is very recognizable in all her poems. She uses very simple langue that is understandable by all, yet it conveys powerful messages. She has endured many misfortunes and tribulations in her life regarding her gender and race. During her years of silence, Angelou learnt to express her feelings through literature and the arts since she was deprived of speech. Throughout her life, Angelou fell victim to discrimination and oppression by the hands of cruel, unjust white people who wanted to see the African American community fall. Angelou uses racism and as a main theme in many of her poems including “I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings” “Still I Rise” and “Phenomenal woman”. These poems express heavily the message of not only the racial injustice, but also defying the norms and conquering hardships no matter the gender or skin color.

Maya Angelou was a writer who writes about and records all her enjoyable experiences. She’s a writer who went through a traumatic event that led her to becoming almost completely mute. Maya is best-known as a writer and for her numerous books.

Although born in St. Louis, Angelou spent much of her childhood in the care of her paternal grandmother in rural Stamps, Arkansas. When she was not yet eight years old, she was raped by her mother’s boyfriend and told of it, after which he was murdered; the traumatic sequence of events left her almost completely mute for several years.(Maya) As a girl, Marguerite Ann Johnson endured trauma and abuse that actually led her to stop speaking.(Life)

St. Louis, Marguerite endures the most shattering experience of her childhood when she is raped by her mother’s boyfriend, Mr. Freeman. She feels physical and psychological guilt as a result of the rape, but also the guilt of having exposed Freeman, who meets a violent death at the hands of “persons unknown” (presumably Marguerite’s tough St. Louis uncles). The rape marks a new period of intense crisis for Marguerite, who after Freeman’s death decides, voluntarily, not to speak to anyone except her brother Bailey.(Braxton)Marguerite loses much of her innocence during this “perilous passage,” which cuts her childhood painfully short.(Braxton)

American poet, memoirist, and actress whose several volumes of autobiography explore the themes of economic, racial, and sexual oppression.(Maya) She has taught at the University of Ghana, the University of California (Los Angeles), and the University of Kansas (as writer-in-residence), and currently holds a lifetime chair as Z. Smith Reynolds Professor of American Studies at Wake Forest University. Included among her many awards are the Woman of the Year Award in Communications of the Ladies’ Home Journal, and her nominations for the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award.(Braxton)

From a childhood of poverty and abuse, she became famous for works, such as her best-selling memoir, ‘I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings.'(Life) I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings displays an impulse toward transcendence. Like the song of the caged bird, the autobiography represents a prayer sent from “the heart’s deep core,” from a depth of emotion. The author prays that the bird be released from its cage of oppression so that it may fly free from the definitions and limitations imposed by a hostile world.(Braxton)

Marguerite’s irrational fear of lesbianism leads her to seduce a handsome young man from the neighborhood. She becomes pregnant but manages to conceal the pregnancy from her family for over eight months, enough time for her to finish high school.(Braxton) For years she didn’t celebrate her birthday because it fell on the date of his assassination.(Life)

Angelou was a gifted, intuitive cook and a generous entertainer. Even when she couldn’t stand in her kitchen, she’d sit and oversee a recipe’s construction.(Life)

In 1940 Angelou moved with her mother to San Francisco and worked intermittently as a cocktail waitress, a prostitute and madam, a cook, and a dancer. (Maya)

The patterns established in Caged Bird continue in Angelou’s subsequent autobiographies. The narrator adapts herself to each new situation creatively, replenishing her sense of self in difficult circumstances, discovering the fullness of her sexuality, and learning to nurture and protect. The events of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings become a touchstone for Angelou’s later narratives.(Braxton) Angelou returned to California in 1966 and wrote Black, Blues, Black (aired 1968), a 10-part television series about the role of African culture in American life. (Maya)

Readers quickly perceive that this passage is italicized because it is Maya’s fantasy, but they do have to read a few sentences of the fantasy before realizing it. (Walker) Critics should not focus on the political at the expense of the formal but instead should see the political and formal as inextricably related. Indeed, some of the most well-received works on American literature in the last decade offer compelling demonstrations of such a symbiosis of form and content.

Maya Angelou is a strong woman who enjoys life and records all her experiences. She overcame a lot of obstacles in her life and always did what was best for her. I was surprised that the way she started talk again was by writing.

Works Cited

1. Braxton, Joanne M. ‘Angelou, Maya 1928-.’ Modern American Women Writers, edited by Elaine Showalter, et al., Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1991, pp. 1-8. Scribner Writer Series, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/CX1385900010/GLS?u=j220915001&sid=GLS&xid=c68c3d03. Accessed 22 Apr. 2019.
2. http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?st=T001&lm=AC~y&qt=MLT_FO~maya+angelou+education&sw=w&ty=bs&it=search&sid=GLS&p=GLS&s=RELEVANCE&u=j220915001&v=2.1&asid=23adfde4 Copyright and Terms of Use: http://www.gale.com/epcopyright
3. ‘Maya Angelou.’ Britannica School, Encyclopædia Britannica, 24 Oct. 2018. school.eb.com/levels/high/article/Maya-Angelou/2400. Accessed 3 May. 2019.
4. Walker, Pierre A. ‘Racial Protest, Identity, Words, and Form in Maya Angelou’s I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.’ EXPLORING Novels, Gale, 2003. Student Resources In Context, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/EJ2111200050/SUIC?u=j220915001&sid=SUIC&xid=bce27e4d. Accessed 18 Apr. 2019.
5. ‘The Life Of Poet Maya Angelou, From Poverty To Presidential Prizes.’ All Things Considered, 28 May 2014. Literature Resource Center, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A370042625/GLS?u=j220915001&sid=GLS. Accessed 22 Apr. 2019.

Maya Angelou is a prolific writer who is regarded as women’s poet laureate and her poems are considered as the anthems of African – Americans. She is not only a poet but also a memorist, novelist, educator, dramatist, producer, actress, historian, film maker and civil right activist. Angelou is one of the most renowned and influential voices of the twentieth century. She was a very pivotal voice, when it came to issues such as gender and racial equality.

According to Emmanuel Sampath Nelson, Maya Angelou’s poetry conveys a message of “survival for African – American people to rise above poverty, prejudice and lack of power”. If one want to understand Angelou’s poems one most understand her personal life as narrated in her autobiographies, because her poems are parallel to her own history of racial oppression and survival: I Know Why The Caged Bird Sing(1970), Gather Together in My Name(1974), Singin’ and Swingin and getting merry Like Christmas(1976) and The Heart of a Woman(1981)

Ghani and Naz in their article “Race, feminism and Representation: An Inquiry into Maya Angelou’s poetry” (2007) describes that Angelou’s poems not only manifest control as a whole but also feminist psycho in control of femininity while embodying women on the three different levels: racial, biographical and universal”. Maya Angelou has became a role model for African – American woman by reconstructing the stereotypes of African – American mothers as breeders and matriarchs and has presented them as having a creative and personality fulfilling role. According to critic Mary Jane Lupton, Angelou’s journey towards self discovery takes her from “ignorance to knowledge, From silence to speech, From racial oppression to a liberal life”. Her popular volumes of poetry are Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water For I Dillie(1971), And Still I Rise(1987), The Complete Collected Poems of Maya Angelou(1993), Phenomenal Woman(1994), A Brave and Startling Truth(1995), etc…

Angelou’s autobiography narrates her growing up years in the racially segregated south were racism ran as a ravine through the town, separating white from black. At the age of eight she is raped by her mother’s boyfriend, Mr. Freeman. Lisa Giberson tells that, “the rape, criminal trail and consequent murder of the rapist result in Angelou’s silence”. She writes her pain in the poem “Born That Way” from the volume I Shall Not be Moved..

Childhood whoring fitted her

For deceit. Daddy had been a

Fondler. Soft lipped mouthings,

Soft lapped rubbings.

A smile for pretty shoes,

A kiss could earn a dress

And a private telephone

Was worth the biggest old caress

As far as possible she strove

For them all. Arching her small

Frame and grunting

Prettily, her

Fingers counting the roses

In the walpaper

(7-14, 23-28)

Mary Jane Lupton views that, Angelou has been likened to “a songless bird”, who “gives up all singing, all sound during the five years that follow her rape. For five years she is mute, locked in a speechless body as she has wiled it”. Her feeling of imprisonment is expressed in the poem “Caged Bird” which Angelou takes from Paul Lawrence Dunbar’s 1896 poem, “sympathy”.

The caged bird sings

With fearful trill

Of the things unknown

But longed for still

And his tune is heard

On the distant hill

For the caged bird

Sings of freedom

(15-22)

Angelou was liberated from her “caged” silence only after Mrs. Flowers, a woman of means and influence in the black communities of stamps, helped her to regain her voice through literature.

Gender discrimination is highly influenced by disparity in the society based on race, colour and caste. It is also a fact that caste discrimination is not found in African – American countries. American patriarchal social system played a very brutal role with the black woman’s life. “ On Diverse Deviations”, Maya Angelou has pointed out the ill effects of American patriarchal system in black woman’s life and her future career such as:

A thousand powered moles,

Where touch to touch is feel

And life a weary whore

(On Diverse Deviations)

The women in the poem was a slave of the white master. The white man want black women for their sexual needs but they do not accept them as their wives or mistress. She was supposed as a whore in the social system.

Through her poems, Angelou expresses about the woman during racial discrimination, segregation and male domination. During her childhood there were discrimination and segregation toward black people. Maya Angelou said in her poem that black people had a bad history around whites.

You may write down in history

With your bitter, twisted lies,

You may trod me in the very dirt

But still, like dust, I’ll rise;

(Still I Rise)

In these lines, Maya Angelou used the word “You” to describe the white and “me” to herself as black race. She writes that, the whites may keep her down with the word “torture” like the history.

Angelou writes about woman’s issues and inequality and fiercely condemns gender discrimination, and delineating woman as a slave. She talks about the fact that being woman is like being a slave. She harshly condemns both slavery and gender inequality. The following line express Black woman’s suppression.

You may shout me with your words

You may cut me with your eyes

You may kill me with your hatefulness

But still like air, I’ll rise

(Still I Rise 6th Stanza)

These lines have some autobiographical elements. It showed the oppression and inequality faced by Maya Angelou. But in the next line she wrote, “But still like air, I’ll rise”. It showed her strength and power to survive. No matter what has done and said to her, she still rise and be brave.

Does my sassiness upset you?

Why are you beset with gloom?

‘Cause I walk like I’ve got oil wells

Pumping in my living room

(Still I Rise, 2nd Stanza)

These lines clearly shows the Black living among whites. These stanza clearly describes oppression and discrimination faced by black woman. But she as the leader of woman said that she never give up. She tried to show it in the 8th stanza:

Out of the huts of history’s shame

I rise

Up from a past that’s rooted in pain

I rise

I’m black ocean, leaping and wide,

Welling and swelling I bear in the tide

(Still I Rise, 8th Stanza)

These lines gives an introduction to Angelou’s identity. She made a metaphor of black ocean as herself, holding in all the ‘shame’ and ‘pain’ of her race and her gender within her tide. She called slavery as “history’s shame” and she proclaimed that she would not be held down by the past, even if it was rooted in pain.

In the poem “Caged Bird”, Angelou expresses her views on social disparity, freedom and justice. She highlights the issues of racism, sexism, insecurity, poverty and abuse.

But a bird that stallks

down his narrow cage

can seldom see through

his bars of rage

his wings are clipped and

his feet are tied

so he opens his throat to sing

(Caged Bird, 2nd Stanza)

The poem “Caged Bird” describes the actual racial discrimination that existed between the white and black races. It portrays the ugly effect of racism and gives hopes to the black race.

The caged bird sings

With a fearful trill

Of things unknown

But longed for still

And his tune is heard

On the distant hill

For the caged bird

Sings of freedom

(Caged Bird, 3rd Stanza)

In the second and third stanza she goes on to describe the caged bird by using words like ‘bars of rage’, ‘grave’, ‘fearful’ and ‘shadow’. These words are references to isolation and they are disturbing compared with freedom. “The caged bird sings with a fearful trill”, this line is ironic as the caged bird is the one singing not the free bird as we expect.

But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams

His shadow shouts on a nightmare scream

His wings are clipped and feet are tied

So he opens his throat to sing

(Caged Bird, 5th Stanza)

This Stanza illustrated the attitudes black people experiences during segregation. Angelou, used the word “Caged Bird” to represent black people who always got discrimination. The line, “ his wings are clipped and feet are tied” , shows that during this discriminatory era, blacks were in a state of oppression due to the stolen opportunities and the hatred they regularly encountered. The last line showed that the black people race knew it was necessary to have a voice and finally sing for their freedom.

Maya Angelou’s another poem “phenomenal Woman” talks about one’s self perception about beauty.

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies

I’m not cute or built to suite a fashion model’s size

But when I start to tell them

They think I’m telling lies

(Phenomenal Woman, 1st Stanza, 1 to 4 lines)

In those lines, Maya Angelou explains that, even though her appearance is not of a fashion models size, she is still confident in herself and not ashamed of her body. These lines shows her confidence toward her appearance as black woman. This line had same meaning with the 6th and 7th line in the 3rd stanza.

When I try to show them

They say they still can’t see

(Phenomenal Woman, 3rd Stanza, 6th and 7th line)

Angelou describes the image of a confident woman in the 2nd stanza. To show her power and confident, Angelou used metaphor and personification in those lines.

I say,

It’s the fire in my eyes,

And the flash of my teeth,

The swing in my waist,

And the joy in my feet

(Phenomenal Woman, 2nd Stanza)

In the line “It’s the fire in my eyes”, she compared her passion to fire. She repeatedly asserts herself as a phenomenal woman.

I’m a woman

Phenomenally

Phenomenal woman

That’s me

(Phenomenal Woman)

Maya Angelou described a woman as a great woman of confidence in phenomenal woman. The reader could see in every line of this poem that Maya was so proud of herself because she always said that she was a phenomenal woman. Maya Angelou also tells how the society see her, how the men see her and how the history see her as the black race.

Men themselves have wondered

What they see in me

They try so much

But they can’t touch

My inner mystery

When I try to show them

They say they still can’t see

(Phenomenal woman, 3rd Stanza)

Angelou used the word “inner mystery” to show that the beauty of a woman is not only from her appearance. The “inner mystery” meant her inner beauty that can’t be seen by men who thought the beauty of woman was only from her appearance. This inner beauty can be represented as the power, confident and strength of women.

Angelou also tries to show her inner beauty by caring to each other as a woman and mother.

Now you understand

Just why my head’s not bowed

I don’t shout or jump about

Or have to talk real loud

When you see me passing

It ought to make you proud

I say,

It’s in the click of my heels,

The bend of my hair,

The palm of my hand,

The need of my care,

’cause I’m a woman

Phenomenally

Phenomenal Woman,

That’s me

(Phenomenal Woman, 4th Stanza)

Angelou tries to show that as a woman she has positive side. In the line, “It’s in the click of my heels”, Maya Angelou wanted to show her confidence as a woman, meanwhile in the line “The palm of my hand” showed her caring to others.

Being a phenomenal woman was not easy for a ordinary woman who thinks that the measurement of beauty is beautiful face or good looking. But it was about how a woman become a good person and proud of herself.

Maya Angelou tells us about the sacrifices made by housewife through the poem “Woman Work”. In Woman work she explores her notion of slavery and gender inequality. In the poem Angelou confronts the culture of colonialism and double colonization of woman and talking about the theme of slavery and gender inequality at the same time.

I got company to feed

The garden to weed

I’ve got shirts to press

The tots to dress

The can to be cut

I gotta clean up this hut

Then see about the sick

And the cotton to pick

(Woman Work)

Angelou writes about the quotidian struggles faced by a woman because of the discrimination that has been internalized in the society that makes the woman an inevitable victim of patriarchy. The woman in the poem talks about picking cotton, it is a clear indication of the racial undertone of the poem. The life of a woman seen at into that of a slave.

In the poem “Alone”, Angelou brings out the fact that, we have to stand up for each other and that companionship is very important for every individual and that the materialistic attitude would not help one.

Storm clouds are gathering

The wind is gonna blow

The race of man is suffering

And I can hear the moan,

’cause nobody,

But nobody

Can make it out here alone

(Alone)

This poem is a little remainder for women, and in a feminist view woman need to stand together and face their fears.

Maya Angelou’s poems also talks about the traditional binary opposites of gender role, highlighting the inferiority of women and the dominance of men. In the poem ‘Men’ she says,

Men are always

Going somewhere

They knew I was there

Fifteen years old and starving for them

(Men)

Men enjoy going out and meeting different people while woman stay at home desiring for that kind of freedom and an urge to exercise control like men.

One day they hold you in the

Palms of their hands, gentle, as if you

Were the last raw egg in the world. Then

They tighten up. Just a little. The

First squeeze is nice. A quick hug.

Soft into your defenselessness. A little

more. The hurt begins. Wrench out a

Smile that slides around the fear

(Men)

Through these lines she talks about the sexual urges of a women, natural and normal, but the passivity with which she tries to control her feelings.

Maya Angelou through her poems described her different views on race, gender inequality, feminism and how these themes caused social disparity. Most of her poems are dealing with the identity of black woman as a slave. She dedicates her life to the black women who lives under the threat of white men. Through the life of Maya Angelou, from a ordinary black women to a well recognized female writer and activist, show how to change ones on destiny by educating her self and standing up when failures comes.

Bibliography

1. Nelson Emmanuel Sampath. African-American Autobiographers: A Sourcebook. Greenwood press. Westport. 2002. Print. Ghani and Naz. Race feminism and representation: An inquiry into Maya Angelou’s poetry. 2009 https:// www.edocr.com /v/jm/7m5pg/edocr/
2. Web on 23 December 2019,10.05 am. Lupton Mary Jane. Maya Angelou : A Critical Companion. Greenwood press. Westport. 1998.print.
3. Giberson Lisa. Maya Angelou : Finding a voice through her complex vision of Self and Shakespeare. dialogues. rutgers.edu/vol-01/pdf-files/l-giberson-pdf Web 28 December 2019, 09.55 pm.
4. Angelou Maya. The Complete Collected Poems Of Maya Angelou. Random House. Newyork. 1994. Print Lupton Mary Jane. Maya Angelou : A Critical Companion. Greenwood press. Westport. 1998.print.

“Wouldn’t they be surprised when one day I woke out of my black ugly dream, and my real hair, which was long and blonde, would take the place of the kinky mass that Momma wouldn’t let me straighten?” (4)

A theme in I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is Angelou’s identity struggle as a black female. During this time in the country, colorism and a European standard taught that having black features was not only bad, but made a person ugly. In this quote, Angelou believes and internalizes those standards and puts herself down for not fitting that image. Angelou wished that she could change her identity and become a white female because she felt that she and others could only accept her as beautiful if she was white.

I chose this passage because I had the same identity issue as a black female. There was a time when I prayed my lips would eventually thin and my hair would lose its curls. Colorism affected the way I looked at myself, but also the way I looked other black people. I felt ashamed that my skin tone wasn’t fair, but rejoiced that I wasn’t dark-skinned. Learning to love my black features was a journey and I can strongly relate to what Angelou went through.

“It was awful to be Negro and have no control over my life. It was brutal to be young and already trained to sit quietly and listen to charges brought against my color with no chance of defense.” (12)

Racism and prejudice are recurring themes in the novel. Angelou described her feelings of always being a suspect based on her race. Blacks were not only unjustly accused of many crimes and being abhorrent but were not given the fair chance of defense. Black did not have a voice which gave Angelou and many other blacks that sad feeling of hopelessness.

I chose this quote because I find it upsetting to think of the feeling of hopelessness that Angelou felt. A black person could lose their life after even attempting to defend themselves. Unfair rules controlled the lives of blacks and their ancestors before them. This history of hopelessness and oppression triggers an emotional response in me because absolutely no one deserves to ever feel a feeling of inferiority.

“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.” (20)

This quote comes at the opening of the autobiography and alludes to the life of young Angelou. During this time, being black and a female in the south equaled a life of hardships because of the south ‘s highly racist and sexist culture. This quote means that at birth Angelou was already assigned struggle, but when she became aware of this struggle her life would become even more difficult. Angelou’s hardships were one of the main themes in the novel.

I picked this quote because I agree with its message. “What you don’t know can’t hurt you” supports this quote well. If a person unknowingly has a cancerous tumour he surely is being hurt, but if the tumor is left undetected worry and fear are not added to equation. A person can be treated unfairly without realizing it, it ‘ll hurt them, but maybe not emotionally scar them.

“It ‘s another to the body, and it looks like Louis is going down. ‘ My race groaned. It was our people falling.” (49)

Angelou further delves into what it means to be and what it’s like to be black during this time. Since black people were not accepted as equals and as capable individuals the black community often placed their hope and the communities worth in accomplished black individuals. In this part of the novel, Angelou and her black neighbors listen to a broadcast of a Joe Louis fight. Blacks were not viewed as capable of being successful as whites in boxing and pretty much every other profession. Louis had to prove whites wrong and be successful.

I relate to this quote greatly. I find myself looking to influential black figures for inspiration and proof that black people can succeed and overcome. I remember watching Gabby Douglas at her first olympics and hoping that she was successful to bring hope and encourage the black community. To have a black figure that beats the odd is something I hold close to my heart and why I enjoyed this quote.

“Words mean more than what is set down on paper. It takes the human voice to infuse them with shades of deeper meaning.” (82)

A theme in the novel was Angelou discovering her love for literature. This quote highlights turning point in the novel and Angelou’s life. Discovering the power of literature began a positive step in Angelou’s life. Angelou’s love for literature became a substantial part of her identity which influenced her to become a highly memorable author.

I find this quote very meaningful not only because it’s a high point in the novel but because one of the most beautiful discoveries I ever made was my love for poetry. The power of words is something I’ll never comprehend. A seemingly simple parable can have a million lessons behind it. A short haiku can perfectly describe the beauty of nature. The combination of meaning and words is an invaluable and timeless art form.

“As I ate she began the first of what we later called “my lessons in living.” She said that I must always be intolerant of ignorance but understanding of illiteracy. That some people, unable to go to school, were more educated and even more intelligent than college professors.” (84)

At this point in the novel, Mrs. Flowers — a mentor to Angelou — is shaping Angelou into a wise and nonjudgmental young woman. Angelou’s journey to maturity and growth is one of the main messages in this autobiography. Angelou is taught the important lesson on not judging a person ‘s intelligence based on their level of education and to never accept ignorance as okay. As the book progresses, Angelou applies this learned lesson in many situations.

I chose this quote because I feel this lesson isn’t learned by many. There are many examples of people who spread intelligent messages and were immensely successful with little education. Steve Jobs created on of the most successful companies without a college degree on the list of his accomplishments. Not having a formal education doesn’t always create a future of failure and unintelligence.

“In order to be profoundly dishonest, a person must have one of two qualities: either he is unscrupulously ambitious, or he is unswervingly egocentric. He must believe his ends to be served all things and people can justifiably be shifted about, or that he is the center not only of his own world but of the worlds which others inhabit.” (101)

As Angelou grows throughout the novel she not only looks at the qualities of herself, but the characteristics of others. Angelou questions what makes a dishonest person because of various people that she had come into contact with. To find herself, Angelou questioned the world around her and her place in it.

I chose this quote because I found Angelou’s analysis of dishonest people particularly sophisticated. I believe her conclusion which also makes it much harder for a liar to ruin my day. A person is dishonest because they have problems not the person being lied to.

In 1969, an autobiography hit bookshelves across the nation, ushering topics such as racism, identity, sexual assault and literacy to the forefront of American culture. Forty-eight years later, the words of Maya Angelou are as relevant today as they were the day they were published. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is Angelou’s first autobiography. It would be the work that would raise her image from Ms. Calypso the dancer to the novelist, philosopher and civil rights activists that history has come to know. Written at the end of the 1960’s, it’s easy to understand the meaning behind the autobiography. Ideas of identity and racism were televised on a weekly basis. Movements like the Civil Rights Movement and progressive ideas were taking a more mobile approach and taking the culture by storm. Fast-forward to current events and society still struggles with the issues of the past. Though progress has been shown, the problem has never been eliminated.

Maya Angelou’s poem ‘I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings’ describes the state of two birds, where one is free and ‘floats’ and ‘dares to claim the sky’, while the other is caged in his ‘bars of rage’. This is obviously referring to how African Americans were used as slaves and the white man was free to do as they pleased. The first and the fourth stanza shows the delight of the free bird experiencing freedom, whereas the rest of the stanzas concentrate on the plight of the caged bird. Angelou puts greater emphasis on the lamentable state of the caged bird, and contrasts this with that of the free bird. As the poet depicts in the poem, the free bird floats on the back of the wind, dips his wings in the orange sun rays and claims the sky as his own. He thinks of another breeze through the trees and dreams of good eatables like fat worms waiting on bright lawn. He lives in a colorful, bright and dreamy world. On the other hand, the caged bird walks sadly inside his narrow cageand tries hard to see through the bars of his cage. His wings are clipped and feet are tied. He lets out his ‘nightmare scream’ to express his agony, anger and fear. Sometimes, the caged bird opens his throat to sing. He sings of freedom and hope. Angelou’s poem uses metaphores and juxtaposition to express the idea that freedom is a natural state and knowledge of this fact cannot be undone by any amount of oppression, imprisonment or limitation of opportunity.

Maya Angelou uses a myriad of poetic devices in ‘Caged Bird,’ including metaphor, rhyme, imagery, alliteration, personification, and repetition. the two I will be studying are repetition and metaphors one of the reasons that she has chosen to use metaphors in her poem is to draw a better picture for the reader and is easier to get the point across passive-aggressively. With repetition, it is used to emphasize a feeling or idea or develop a sense of urgency. One way the poet uses a metaphor is “his wings are clipped and his feet are tied” which means that he has been oppressed and trapped not able to escape from the white mans grasps. A point of repetition is fearful trill or shadow shouts which having these two words has the occurrence of the same sound or letter at the start of the word this also provides a deeper meaning to the word more than just the words fearful or shouts having another word gives it a deeper meaning than if it didn’t. having metaphors in this poem really helps draw a better picture of the events than if it didn’t have metaphors and added with the alliteration really strengthens and deepens the meanings of certain phrases and alliteration used in the poem.

Even for a poem written in 1969 it can still be implemented in today’s society with current problems like sexism. The reason this can be considered to relate to this poem in the poem from Maya Angelou it talks about how there is a caged bird and a free bird which is an African American person and a white man this can also be applied to sexism which is discrimination based on a persons sex or gender like people think men are superior to women because of strength or just because they think they are better like slavery the white people thought they were better than the African Americans because there skin tone.

The history of African-Americans begins with slavery. African people were first brought to British North America as indentured servants in 1619, where they were not recognized as citizens, rather, as a commodity. The laws enacted at the time ensured the continuation of the restrictive social order, which was based on a racial hierarchy which dictated that black people were born into servitude. Hence, those born into slavery were not given the same legal, economic or social status as their white counterparts. Following the American Civil War, in which slaves were deemed to be free nation-wide and emancipation proclamation, the racist legacy of slavery continued to persist. In such, it spurred several counter-movements of resistance including the Underground Railroad, the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the Selma to Montgomery March, and most recently, the Black Lives Matter Movement. Throughout the movements, generations of black leaders, artists and writers emerged to help shape the character and identity of a nation, including activists and writers Maya Angelou and Angie Thomas.

Maya Angelou’s novel, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969) and Angie Thomas’s book The Hate U Give (2017) were written to illuminate the institutional racism that African-Americans continue to be subjected to. Following the assassination of close friend and renowned civil rights activist, Angelou was inspired to write her novel. Similarly, Thomas wrote her novel in response to the Oscar Grant case, where a 22-year-old African-American man was fatally shot in the early hours of New Year’s Day 2009 by Bay Area Rapid Transit Police Officer Johannes Mehserle in Oakland, California. She, like Angelou, is an ardent critic of institutionalised and systemic racism in America, and her writing explores the power dynamics within that culture.

Both authors use marginalised characters to explore the nature of prejudice in America, and they engage their audience through various techniques in order to unpack themes of racism, gender, power, identity and struggle. Angelou and Thomas both explore the importance of the emancipatory function of education and literature for their protagonists. Furthermore, the use of 1st person perspective within both texts is impactful on the audience’s engagement with the context as it allows for them to have a better understanding of the protagonists reality and the reality of many black women in America. Finally, the use of the motif of a strong black woman as an archetypal role allows for the author to explore a different narrative than what is usually written for a black woman. Angelou’s semi-autobiographical contrasts Thomas’ fictionalised accounts, however, both texts expose societies misogynistic and racist views of black women.

The motif of the strong black woman as an archetypal role model character is seen throughout both texts. The authors explore the profound and complex identity of a black woman living in America through use of characterisation and their function in relation to the protagonist and their journey. Instead of perpetuating the negative stereotypes and connotations associated with black women (angry, loud and ‘ghetto’), the authors of both texts honestly portray the struggles they face in society and how they overcome them with dignity and poise. In I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969) the young Maya continuously struggles with issues of insecurity and ostracisation, she is however, surrounded by numerous strong black female role models within her family and community to help guide her. Momma’s successful effort in keeping the store open throughout The Great Depression is an evident testament to the enormous dedication and determination that Momma has despite the racist violence and segregation of Stamps, especially despite the severe economic downturn. Likewise, within The Hate U Give (2017) Starr is continuously emboldened by family and friends to not succumb to societal pressures and instead speak up for herself, following the traumatic death of her close friend. An important character who evidently displays such qualities can be found in Lisa Carter, who consistently acts as an invaluable source to Starr of the importance of empathy and understanding.

“Sometimes you can do everything right and things will still go wrong. The key is to never stop doing right”. The Hate U Give (Chapter 9, pg. 103)

Lisa’s model for judging people, based on love and understanding provides an important examination to how society judges black women on stereotypes. The texts inform the reader of the ways in society has continuously pushed the narrative of African-American women being weak, despite their circumstances, due to the little platform they are given in terms of social standing and political efficacy. The authors in turn heavily critique societies misogynistic and racists view of African-American women, who should be valued and embraced instead of victimised at any given opportunity. The role model is used to critique the narrow and ignorant view of black women in society – they are community leaders and inspirational characters, especially in the context of a racist society. They are very much vital characters that help shape the identity of the protagonists as they show the virtues of resistance, persistence and struggle against institutional/systemic oppression. As such the authors additionally use the means of language, literature and education as a form of emancipation for the protagonist throughout the novel.

Within both texts, the theme of language, literature and education are intertwined throughout the protagonist life as form of emancipation. Both Angelou and Thomas strongly convey how language and literature are able to encapsulate the protagonists experience and help them overcome the struggles in which they are facing. Throughout her childhood the young Maya Angelou is made to feel insecure about herself due to the prevalence of racial and sexual violence within her environment. Her subsequent relationship with Mrs. Flowers becomes one of the most formative in the novel as it allows for Maya to learn how to read, memorize and appreciate poetry. Maya is able to find refuge in fiction, poetry and language itself as one of the few things that remains consistent in her life are books. Hence, the “singing” of the caged bird becomes analogous to the refuge that Angelou finds in language and poetry. In contrast, Thomson uses the protagonist to showcase the importance and different ways in which language, literature and education can be used as a form of expression. The Hate U Give (2017) uses language as a tool for education, justice and speaking truth to power. Several scenarios within the novel are made so that the initially hesitant Starr develops confidence in her voice and comes to the full realisation of how her voice is one of the most powerful tools she possesses. Though the novels were written in different era’s in which the protagonists’ lives were filled with violence, the authors emphasis how language, literature and education can become the ultimate means of salvation and a spur of meaningful societal change. The audience is able to understand the importance of language, literature and education for the protagonists as both authors have portrayed their novels to be in the perspective of first person.

Through use of the first-person perspective, the audience is able to see how the character thinks and experiences the world around them. This is particularly effective within these two texts as countless people would not have experienced the lives of the protagonists in both I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969) and The Hate U Give (2017). Therefore, the texts are more engaging to a diverse audience as it allows for the audience to be sympathetic of the protagonist’s situation, therefore though it does target a female audience, factors such as age and race are not of great importance. As I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969) is an autobiography, the narrative is told within the perspective of a young Maya Angelou. Though the novel begins when Maya was only 3, the audience is forced to read between the lines, which challenges the audience to engage with the novel and consider the underlying themes of the text. However, the text does pair the perspectives of a young and adult Maya Angelou as there are details in the text that are added to make the novel flow efficiently. Through the pairing of the two, it enables the reader to experience the world that Angelou experienced without losing the deep ruminations of a wise and experienced adult. The use of first person throughout the autobiography is an important aspect as it allows for the focus to be sheerly on her and how the actions and events in the novel shape and form the emotional and physical aspects of the protagonist. This occurs as Angelou enables the audience to hear all her thoughts in a conversational manner due to the first-person present tense that allows for her writing style to portray an authentic voice that connects with her audience. In such the audience is therefore able to be more understanding of the nature of an African-American women perspective in the world and just how unjust it is.

”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” I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (Prologue, pg. 4)

On the contrary, whilst The Hate U Give (2017) is also written in the perspective of first-person, as the genre of the book is fictional, it does not offer as much depth or detail compared to that of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969). Thomson, more so offers commentary and insight into the way in which events have affected Starr. Thomas is able to capture the biased portrayal of ‘thugs’ and ‘the hood’ and the way in which. As Starr struggles with code-switching, Thomas is also able to wove code-switching dialogue throughout the novel to show convey the difference in how Starr acts when she is both at home and at school, staying in control of the detail of the setting and the detailed inner thoughts of Starr as a character. In doing so, Thomas allows for the audience to understand the multifaceted personality and emotions of the protagonist. The narrative in which Thomas uses for the novel also offers a steady gaze at white complacency whilst still focusing on the black protagonist with familiarity and understanding.

Williamson Starr doesn’t use slang—if a rapper would say it, she doesn’t say it, even if her white friends do. Slang makes them cool. Slang makes her “hood.” Williamson Starr holds her tongue when people piss her off so nobody will think she’s the “angry black girl.” The Hate U Give (Chapter 5 pg. 50)

Child psychology constitutes one of the widely researched topics in psychology. This faculty addresses much on the subject of mind and the mode of child development right from the prenatal stage to the adolescent stage. Many psychologists agree on the fact that development of child psychology presents itself as a unique and complex process.

However, they differ in the nature of uniqueness especially on perceptions of whether the early developments are functions of the experience of the early stages of development. A mention of the term development would probably force a person to think of genetic and phenotypic traits that control the personal characteristics.

However, even though this forms the foundation upon which the development of an individual stands, other factors also come into play such as culture, environment and or social relationships. From a psychological perspective, cognitive development focuses on internal states of mind entangling, decision-making processes, thinking and attentions.

In particular, cognitive psychology addresses key concerns within an individual such as intelligence, problem-solving skills while not negating the capacity to withhold memory of radical life encounters. On the other hand, social psychology considers an individual’s social behaviors in-group interactions. It also addresses influences of the social groups in the decision-making process showing how individuals interact with one another.

Maya Angelou’s masterpiece I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings provides an excellent illustration of the afore-given expositions. From Angelou’s journey of life, as brought out in the mastery, the reader stands a chance to see the different developmental stages that range from physical, cognitive and social.

Angelou’s Physical Development

I Know why Caged Bird Sings forms one of the volumes of Maya Angelou, autobiographies amongst the existing list of five. The book recounts on the life of the author from as early as 1930’s until her age of 16 years. Her books examine themes of motherhood, family and self-discovery.

Through the deployment of various language stylistic devices such as fiction, the author unveils that the psychological development process in her life. Considering the age bracket the autobiography considers, it is crucial to scrutinize the various aspects of psychological development of the author by following the concepts of child psychology.

Angelou’s self-concept, as it stands in her autobiography revolves around her concerns of her physical appearance, which she fails to recognize that it is not her fault. She imagines of possessing “flaxen hair and sapphire eyes”. Within herself, she dreams of being as the sweet white young girls who she thought were a reflection the dutiful people the world could have offered (Angelou, 1969, p.2).

According to her, being white had the capacity to improve her presentation before the eyes of her peers, as she could no longer be “black and ugly”. Consequently, she attributes her incapacity to fit within her social groups to her physical unattractiveness. The non-proportionate physical perception renders her to acquire an incredibly low self-esteem.

Psychologist’s belief that the manner in which one critical evaluate his or her self esteem has a remarkably high ability in determining the criteria within which children base what they may term as positive and desirable attributes that define who they are. At one point in the autobiography, Angelou describes Bailey’s appearance with enormous admiration.

The manner in which her hair fell down in beautiful curls attracts her (Angelou, 1969, p.22). She wonders that amid such physical beauty Bailey yet loved her! This is an indication of high-order level of hatred.

On leaving Stamps to reunite with her biological mother, she alters an exceptionally strong statement that depicted her negative perceptions concerning her physical development. She Proclaims that her mother’s beauty surprised her and that she immediately came into cognition why her mother could not opt to have children around her (Angelou, 1969, p.60).

Even having not talked to her mother, she had already made a conclusion that Vivienne and Bailey were natural meant to remain together because they were both attractive. Since, it appeared to her that she was the only one out; she thought that she never fitted into these relationships.

However, Bailey incredibly assisted her to discover her prejudiced self-perception based on external looks. She did this by defending Angelou in instances when her people criticized her physical looks. Angelou describes one particular involving confrontation with Mrs. Coleman (Angelou, 1969, p.22). During this situation, she came to appreciate how far herself identity was from the manner in which various people perceived her looks.

Her momma also helped her come in to cognition of the need to appreciate her physical looks. She convinced her and kept reminding her that cleanness was not only next to godliness but also inventions of their misery are as a repercussion of dirtiness (Angelou, 1969, p.28). By making sure that Angelou was clean, her momma intended to inculcate a feeling of worthiness. Furthermore, she was trying to reshape Angelou’s negative perception of her physical appearance: something that was necessary for her development of positive self-concept.

Angelou’s Cognitive Development

One can subdivide the process of cognitive development in children into two parts. The first part constitutes the myriad processes employed by children while attempting to construct knowledge that is descriptive of the world in which they live.

It is, however, sad to learn how Angelou constructed her knowledge of the world that in which she lived. In the beginning, of the autobiography, I Know Why Caged Birds Sings, Angelou is an extremely conscious girl, who is, not only inflicted by traumas emanating from her displacements, but also to traumas of her being an American black girl; To make things even worse, a female.

She believes that people view her in the context of her ungainly looks proclaiming how she lies in between confusions of “ black and ugly dreams” (Angelou, 1969).

She grows up in the wake of gender discrimination, white-black prejudices and black power erosion. Her mother and grandmother raise her and her siblings in the low-class city of Arkansas, where she owns a small stall and the only one in the section specifically established for blacks. In fact, the stall serves as the meeting point for the blacks.

To add sourness amid the societal difficulties, Angelou had to cope with personal difficulties including abandonment by parents at an age of three. At the age of five, she had to live for an unknown destination. At the unknown destination, she finds herself under custody of Mr. Freeman who apart from mistreating her, she even rapes her.

As if this is not enough, at the age of just only ten, her loved ones including her mother begins to encounter direct white racism. One incident, so unfortunate for her, is when a white dentist: Dr Lincoln, proclaims that he better put her hand in a dog’s mouth than finding himself treating Angelou’s dental problem. Her sexuality conceptions further face advanced contractions upon her conception at barely the age of 16 while at San Francisco.

Central to child cognition abilities is the capacity to reason through analogies, which constitute the experiences. Many psychologists view reasoning through analogy as constituting the capacity to articulate the existing knowledge to news life situations by transferring and applying the existing knowledge to new contexts.

From the vivid descriptions of the life encounters of Angelou’s life, it can be approximated with precision that she had an enormous negative perception of a world of white who had the capacity to do anything negative having the ability to ruin the self regards of the blacks.

Since initial stage of development of human cognitions stands out vital especially in the determination of how an individual would end up contextual the world in the later ages beyond adolescence, it is almost impossible for Angelou to see whites in a humane way in adulthood.

The second part of cognitive development entangles looking at things differently from a different dimension. At this part, an individual begins to compare the accumulated knowledge with the present encounters. A child acquires the ability to think logically and can take valid positions without being predominantly egocentric.

This happens at around the age of seven to thirteen. Such a capacity may exemplify Angelou’s recognition of the fact that the prejudices directed toward her and the entire black community was not permanent and did not necessarily have to remain forever. She says that, at one time, she will rise against it and reveal her true self.

This explains why she perhaps acknowledges the fact that the so seemingly superior beings in the eyes of the blacks are not immune to the law. This prompts her to initiate legal actions against Mr. Freeman at the age of eight. Unfortunately, it seems that, the land laws initially favored the white community since; Mr. Freeman stayed in jail for only one day after which he died.

This incident negative Angelou’s self cognition since she ended exclaiming, “I thought I just spoke, my mouth would just issue out something that would kill people, randomly, so it was better not to talk” (Angelou, 1969, p.34). By incorporating strategies to address and view things differently, Angelou believed to have discovered the long quested independence. She discovers that the displacements and prejudices were unnecessary.

She yearns of getting a true explanation of what is to be black. Perhaps such cognition aids her to shift from negative perceptions that made her incapable recite a poem in a congressional filled with white faces in child hood to posses the ability to recite a poem before the eyes of entire America during president Clinton’s inauguration on 1993.

Angelou’s Social development

In 1956, Erikson developed eight stages of development. According to him, the first stage entangles development of hope. Hope here implied learning to trust and mistrust. With sexual assaults, mistreatments by whites, acts of racism, it is intriguing how Angelou could trust the whites.

It is, in addition, impossible to learn to trust when the child is poorly nurtured, develops poor optimisms and sense of insecurity. Though Angelou does not explain how her life was like at the age of one to two, when encompasses this first stage of social development, it is almost certain that things were grim since her birth until the discovery of herself identity.

During the second stage, a well brought up kid comes out sure of him or herself. According to many psychologists, this stage takes toll between the ages of two to four years. The child is proud opposed to being ashamed of her or himself. At such an age, Angelou had learned to recognize that their race was different from that of whites.

Consequently, those blacks had to live in particular low class area with minimal supply of social amenities. As reflected by her autobiography I Know Why Caged Birds Sings, at the age of four had started to posses the feeling of insecurity by virtual of being black.

In the third stage of social development, children learn to widen up their skills by participating in plays as one of the mechanisms of cooperating with others. They also attempt to lead also follow his/ her social group members. Children in stage four of social development (competence stage), according to Erikson, acquires knowledge necessary for the development of lifelong skills. They also stand a chance to relate with peers.

A mistrusting child, however, instead of learning to appreciate future learns to doubt it. Angelou is perhaps reflecting realities of this stage, as she attempts to recite a poem, which she does not complete due to frustrations of the environment in which she was reciting it.

Over the years, she had developed a kind of complexity toward the racists white community and believed that blacks were lesser community. From such constructs, it was impeccably almost impossible to garner up enough courage that would see her deliver the poem as appropriate.

It is also within this age bracket that Mr. Freeman rapes her: an act that is so common among the black women. She says that, men belonging to her race fell down in alarming numbers (killed) and women ambushed and raped just because their insinuated insignificance as human beings, as compared to whites (Angelou, 1969, p.34).

In addition, she contends that black women encountered assaults during their tender ages emanating from whites while at the same time they encountered prejudices due to racism hatred and their inability to have power (Angelou, 1969, p.35). The fact that she, not only possessed the knowledge of such hatred, but also experienced it at the age when she ought to develop strong relational kills with her peers who could include whites, this stage of her life was evidently badly impaired.

Consistent with the Erikson’s fourth stage of social development that claims that children filled with guiltiness have the capacity to encounter defeats coupled with uncertainties about future filled with inferiority complexities, Angelou worried about the position and the social capacity of her race in the future.

The fifth stage captures the end of the age bracket within which Angelou compiles her autobiography. Erikson believes that, at the age of thirteen or fourteen through the age of twenty, the children are at a position to depict who they are, as well as their composition. Angelou was a product of racism, prejudice, and a lesser human being. In this stage, children acquire their self-identity and starts aiming at achievements.

In addition, children try various roles in the society and ultimately settle at the one that they possess adequate skills to execute. Although, Angelou at this age bracket encounters challenges such as complication of her sexuality when she gets pregnant at an age of sixteen, she still manages to establish her social goals. Stamps introduced her authors of classic literature including William Shakespeare and Charles Dickens.

Via these members of her social group, she gets to know artists belonging to black women community such as Harper, Douglas Jonson, and Jessie amongst others. Belonging to this social group is perhaps what gives her life long career inspirations, as revealed in her poetry and literature.

Reference

Angelou, M. (1969). I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. New York: Bantam.