Racism in Maya Angelous I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings...

Racism in Maya Angelous I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings Maya Angelou, the current poet laureate of the United States, has become for many people an exemplary role model. She read an original poem at the inauguration of President Clinton; she has also appeared on the television show Touched by an Angel, and there read another poem of her own composition; she lectures widely, inspiring young people to aim high in life. Yet this is an unlikely beginning for a woman who, by the age of thirty, had been San Franciscos first black streetcar conductor; an unmarried mother; the madam of a San Diego brothel; a prostitute, a showgirl, and an actress (Lichtler, 861927397.html). Her book I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings argues persuasively†¦show more content†¦In another instance, Angelou describes an incident in which she had a terrible toothache from two abscessed teeth. Since her grandmother (whom Maya called Momma) had once loaned money to a white dentist, Momma decided to take Angelou to him to see if he would treat her teeth, despite the fact that white doctors did not normally treat blacks. The dentist refused, telling Momma that hed rather stick [his] hand in a dogs mouth than in a niggers (Angelou, 160). In another instance, a group of po white trash children confront Momma at her store, taunting her. As Renee Barlow notes, They were represented as clownish, dirty, and rather silly. On the other hand, Mama simply stood like a rock and sang the Gospel. Her beauty of soul versus their disgusting antics creates a powerful scene about the nature of the oppressed and the oppressor. Marguerite, meanwhile, lies crouched behind the screen in agony at the inability of her class to command respect simply because of their color. Then, as the scene progresses, she understands that in spite of the disparity of power between the powhite trash and Mama, Mama has won (Barlow, 861927397.html). She has won not because she has outsmarted the white youths or even -- strictly speaking -- overpowered them, but because she has outclassed them. This is a powerful lesson for a child to learn, and one that wouldShow MoreRelatedThe Theme of Racism in Maya Angelou’s Novel, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings 842 Words   |  3 PagesIn this essay I will be talking about how the theme of Racism is developed throughout Maya Angelou’s I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings novel. Angelou on the second page states, â€Å"Wouldn’t 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 wouldn’t let me straighten? My light-blue eyes were going to hypnotize them, after all the things they said about â€Å"my daddy must have been a Chinaman†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬  (AngelouRead MoreI Know Why The Caged Bird Sings1482 Words   |  6 Pages Maya Angelou tells of her life experiences and struggles in her book â€Å"I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings† that gives us insight about Maya’s life as a young black girl growing up in a time of racism. The novel discusses various forms of oppression that she had to face as well cope with them. Robert A. Gross wrote an analysis for Newsweek about the book and claimed that Angelou’s book is not only an interesting story of her own experience, but also a portrayal of a Southern black communityRead MoreIgnorance And Racism In I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings706 Words   |  3 Pagesstory or novel. The book I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou has three prominent motifs which are represented throughout the book. Ignorance and illiteracy, self-esteem, and racism are all present motifs in Maya Angelou’s autobiographical novel. Ignorance and illiteracy are displayed by Momma and Maya, respectively. Momma displays ignorance when she does not understand the new slang of the times and Maya show illiteracy when she gets pregnant by accident. Maya struggles with being a NegroRead MoreMaya Angelou1001 Words   |  5 PagesMa ya Angelou You may shoot me with your words, you may cut me with your eyes, you may kill me with your hatefulness. But still, like air, Ill rise. Have you ever been so influenced by such a small amount of powerful words? This brilliant quote extracted from Maya Angelous own poem, Still I Rise, basically brings out the spirit and nature of each of her publications. Maya Angelous works of poetry are seen as inspiration for those who have been discriminated for their public appearances. AsRead MoreI Know Why The Caged Bird Sings By Maya Angelou Analysis1661 Words   |  7 PagesSociety today has an upheaving amount of problems that span from racism, poverty, persecution, and war, etc. Banners of books are attempting to eradicate any written piece that touches on the mere obstacles of society. The people who hold the vandalism tools in this situation are parents, who have children in the public school system. One book at a time, they annihilate authors and classic novels, themes, and genres in ord er to get their agenda across. The First Amendment to The United States ConstitutionRead MoreLiterary Elements Of Maya Angelou1976 Words   |  8 PagesLiterary Elements of Maya Angelou and Toni Morrison Maya Angelou was born on April 4, 1928, in St. Louis, Missouri. She was a writer and civil rights activist best known for her 1969 memoir, â€Å"I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.† As a young child Angelou witnessed her parents’ divorce and she and her brother were sent to live with their grandmother in Stamps, Arkansas. While in Arkansas, she constantly experienced racism and discrimination, and she was able to translate the emotions that she felt, intoRead More Maya Angelou: Hope into Art Essay1343 Words   |  6 PagesMaya Angelou: Hope into Art      Ã‚  Ã‚   Before delving into a discussion of celebrated writer Maya Angelou, a fuller understanding of the worldview that shapes her work can be gleaned from a brief review of a few lines from the 1962 Nobel Prize winning speech of another celebrated writer, John Steinbeck:    The writer is delegated to declare and to celebrate mans proven capacity for greatness of heart and spirit--for gallantry in defeat, for courage, compassion and love. In the endless warRead MoreLiterary Analysis of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings Essay2756 Words   |  12 PagesEnglish 2 Professor Padilla Themes of Racism and Segregation in I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings By Maya Angelou 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 throughoutRead MoreMaya Angelou655 Words   |  3 PagesMa 2(1565443) Maya Angelou is known as the â€Å"most visible black female autobiographer/poet.† She was born, Marguerite Ann Johnson, on April fourth, 1928 in St. Louis, Missouri. Her parents divorced when she was three, and she and her brother were sent to live with their grandmother in Stamps, Arkansas. Seeing all the racial discrimination in the American south strengthened her passion for poetry, music, dance and performance. Maya writes about the struggles people face, racism and freedom. At ageRead MoreMaya Angelou s I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings1888 Words   |  8 Pages Maya Angelou once said â€Å"We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated† and this phrase speaks volume in comparison to Angelou’s life story. She was born Marguerite Ann Johnson on April 4th, 1928, in St. Louis, Missouri. The name Maya was given to her by her older brother, Bailey Jr. Maya Angelou is not only a sister, but also an inspirational role model, a mother, an author, a poet, a civil rights activist, and an actor. In 1969 Angelou’s world renowned book â€Å"I Know Why the Caged Bird