The Role Of Racial Injustice In I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings

Maya Angelou is a leader by example, she sets the standard by her actions and the stories she tells teaches the audience a lesson. Majority of her work is to inform us of the past and she wants us to learn from her experiences in life; she is a life teacher. The purpose of this poem was to inform us of the history of our country. The poem is titled “I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings” and her purpose of writing this is to teach the reader why the caged bird sings. Maya Angelou wants to put the reader in her shoes to get the ultimate experience of racial inequality but instead by taking the role of a caged bird or a free bird.

The purpose of this paper is to introduce, discuss, and analyze the novel I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou. Specifically it will discuss the themes of racism and segregation, and how these strong themes are woven throughout this moving autobiography. Maya Angelou recounts the story of her early life, including the racism and segregation she experiences throughout her formative years. With wit, sincerity, and remarkable talent, Angelou portrays racism as a product of ignorance and prejudice. However, she finds the strength to rise above this crippling condition.

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, an autobiographical novel written by Maya Angelou, was published in the year 1969. The novel follows Maya as a young girl facing challenges such as racism and sexism following the civil rights movement. While reading the book, the reader is introduced to events in history such as the Great Depression and World War II.

“I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” depicts two birds which are used as metaphors to express the state in which the two classes of people live. In one description the poem describes the standard of living of a bird of privilege which alludes to the lives of whites. Then it describes caged birds whom of which are crying out for freedom, and are meant to represent African Americans during this time. It describes the feeling of being trapped and calling out for

Throughout her life, she experiences racism and inequality. For example, Dr. Lincoln; a white dentist in Stamps, refuses to treat Marguerite, his reason being: “Annie, my policy is I’d rather stick my hand in a dog’s mouth than in a nigger’s” (Angelou 184). At a moment of desperation, she must endure the pain of rotting cavities because of her skin tone. Another example is when Johnson witnesses the struggles of oppression when she observes the people who visit The Store daily.

Marguerite needed to develop as a person to become the next Countess of Flanders, by doing this, she needed to undermine the social norms for women at that time. Marguerite was extremely opinionated, she enjoyed doing activities classified as 'just boys things' and she constantly disregarded her father's opinions and decisions for her. It quickly became evident that Marguerite was not an ordinary girl in this era.

Race, gender, age, and social class are things sometimes used to define a person. Mrs. Cullinan assumed because Maya was African American she had no say. The blacks have suffered so much harassment from the whites for many years that being “called out of his name” was an offense. It was such an insult to take away Marguerites name just for the convenience of Mrs. Cullinan it was like taking part of her away from her. Maya describes how this impacted her and how she decided to get vengeance. Times have now changed but there are still some people who believe that one gender or one race is superior and better.

The characters in the novel I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings were affected by both society and family. In the south at the time, African-Americans were defined as housemaids/servants, unintelligent, and barbaric. Maya Angelou stepped outside of the negative stereotype by using her intelligence and persevering through tough times. While Maya lacked the physical appearance of the rest of her family, she excelled at school and in her studies. During the novel, Maya realized that she did not need to conform to society’s ideals to be successful. Bailey Johnson Jr. faced pressure from society to be a supportive brother even though he really wanted to be more like his masculine father.

When she finally does take action by screaming to the fugitives in the hut telling them their leader is in danger, they have already escaped. This seems to imply that Marguerite can take action in the woman’s world of balls and moonlit strolls but not in a man’s world of chases and escapes. Marguerite often blames Fate for her decisions, even claiming to be “morally innocent” for the murder of a whole aristocratic family she denounced. When she faces the either-or from Chauvelin and decides to spy on the Scarlet Pimpernel, she claims, “Fate had decided, had made her speak, had made her do a vile and abominable thing, for the sake of the brother she loved.” Marguerite is the one who chooses her brother over the Scarlet Pimpernel, but blames Fate rather than herself. By not taking charge of her own life, Marguerite is a pathetic, fragile woman.

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is a timeline of Maya Angelou’s life, starting at the age of three and including sixteen. In the book she talks about her the hardships she faced in life. Maya Angelou grew up in a society that when African Americans were not accepted. Angelou faced tough situations at a young age, suffering abandonment from her family and being raped by her mothers boyfriend Mr. Freedom. No matter what obstacles she faced she did not let that ever stop her from becoming the person she was meant to become, which is the strong, independent black woman.

The minute someone loses innocence, it is lost forever. That is why growing up and becoming an adult is one of the hardest and most vital times in a young persons life. Maya’s innocence is forever lost after being left by her parents, oppressed by racism, and raped. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is a captivating novel written by Maya Angelou who uses a poetic tone and an abundant amount of similes and metaphors in order to convey that growing up in the South oppressed by racism steals innocence and leaves an indelible mark on a young girls life. Angelou creates a beautiful and touching autobiography about a lost black-girl in Stamps, Arkansas that shows the readers the struggle of growing up as a black child in the South

The novel, I Know Why the Cage Bird Sings, is a touching story. It is mainly about a young woman named Maya and it is about her life. Maya isn’t like other girls. She grew up much different that most people; for instance, instead of growing up with her birth mother she has been raised by Momma Henderson. Momma Henderson is Maya’s paternal grandmother. Maya and her brother, Bailey, were sent to Momma Henderson when they were young. She might have well been there birth mother because she was there more often for them, than, their actual birth mother. Maya had an extremely difficult life and her ties with Momma Henderson, Bailey, and her birth mother altogether played an important role in her upbringing.

Maya Angelou's I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings Maya shields herself against the confusion of St. Louis by reading fairy-tales and telling herself that she does not intend on staying there anyway. Vivian works in a gambling parlor at night. Maya pities Mr. Freeman because he spends his days at home waiting for Vivian to return. Maya begins sleeping at night with Vivian and Mr. Freeman because she suffers from nightmares. One morning after Vivian has left the bed and the house,

In today’s society stereotypes are made for every race. There is an ongoing competition among races. All wanting to prove their race is the best at any cost. In this process injustices are made.In “Champion of the world” the nineteenth chapter in I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, Maya Angelou implies that Injustice will come to an end and those who are innocent will declare themselves victorious. Throughout the years hatred has accumulated from the African-Americans towards the white race. They remember all the racism and suffrage they went through caused by the whites. This causes African Americans to always try to beat the whites in anything.

Maya Angelou describes what her life with her grandmother is like while constantly being discriminated against her race. She then found her father, and he leaves Maya and Bailey off to their mother’s house. There, the mother’s boyfriend rapes Maya. After suffering from psychological shock, Maya then moves back to her grandmother’s. As a teenager Maya gets nervous about her sexual identity and tries to discover it. Through these harsh times, the naïve and softhearted Maya grows to become a strong, independent woman.