Kidson 1

Mya Kidson

ENG4UA-06

Mr. Kralt

July 23

The Courageous Caged Bird

Life is going to give you just what you put in it. Put your whole heart in everything you

do, and pray, then you can wait (Angelou 264).

Oppression is a terrible thing. It is like having an elephant step on you like a bug. Or

even like the world is turning too fast. The tough thing is, that while the world turns, it will never

stop, freezing time for breathing room. This is the case for Maya and here is her story on how

she conquered it.

In the novel, I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, Maya endures a rough childhood. She

is faced with discrimination, rape and dilemmas of adolescence that all lower her self-esteem.

Along the way she meets many important role models that strengthen her confidence as she

matures and learns to love herself. These bumps in the road teach her how to overcome loss

and increase self-determination to do what she is passionate about. Experiences of

discrimination and adversity pushed Maya Angelou into reaching her fullest potential, the

harnessing of which ultimately gave her the skills necessary to adapt and change her actions

and her life's path.

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Initially, when Maya was three and Bailey four,... [their] parents had decided to put an

end to their calamitous marriage, and [their] Father shipped [them] home to his mother (6).

From a very young age, Maya struggled with self-esteem issues. She would constantly compare

herself to others like they were all in a competition amongst one another. She never truly loved

herself as a child because she was jealous of everyone around her. One person that changed

her perspective on this was her brother, Bailey. He taught her that although many people may

call her out for her looks, what really matters is on the inside. He got in trouble to prove to Maya

that it was ok to be silly and make fun of oneself, rather than cry over the fact that she wasnt

the prettiest girl her age. Maya states,

Bailey was the greatest person in my world...when our elders said

unkind things about my features, Bailey would wink at me from across the
room, and I knew that it was a matter of time before he would take revenge.
He would allow the old ladies to finish wondering how on earth I came about,
then he would ask, in a voice like cooling bacon grease, Oh Mizeriz Coleman,
how is your son? I saw him the other day, and he looked sick enough to die.
Aghast, the ladies would ask, Die? From what? He aint sick. And in a voice
oilier than the one before, hed answer with a straight face, From the
Uglies.... Bailey could count on very few punishments for his consistently
outrageous behaviour, for he was the pride of the Henderson/Johnson family
(21, 22).
In this quote, Bailey is truly a hero in Mayas mind. Bailey impacts Maya in away no one

else in their community does. Although Maya may uses the criticism from others to judge

herself, she ultimately learns that looks are less of an important factor than laughter, and

happiness. In this quote specifically, Bailey picks fun at the fact that Miss Coleman mocked

Maya for her looks. Bailey continues to elaborate on the story that Maya and her family are

uglies, so they will stop criticizing Maya for her looks. Using counterintuitive language to

accept the fact that she is called ugly and making jokes about it, will ultimately stop the ladies

from bullying Maya, but also make Maya less of a serious person, and more of a confident one.
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Moreover, there were several instances in her life where she complained about how she

wished she was a different person, but that is the same with everyone. People want what they

do not have and strive to be like everyone else, but if everyone else is trying to be like one

another then there is no originality. In the beginning, she talks about how her Easter dress will

change the way people feel about her. It will make her pretty and people will bow down to her.

The dress is nothing but a representation of materialism. We as consumers think that buying

new things will make us better people and improve our sense of self-worth and while that may

work for some, it truly does not have any impact on someone in the long run. Maya learns soon

enough that the lavender taffeta dress is nothing but a bad reminder that it is just a plain ugly

cut-down from a white womans once-was-purple throwaway (4). It is true a dress can make

oneself look absolutely stunning, but at the end of the day to boost inner confidence you have to

be willing to push aside negative thoughts and think optimistically. By calling yourself out on all

your flaws, the flaws will stand out against beauty. To truly appreciate herself, Maya has to

consider what she is truly worth from the inside. She is in charge of what happens with her life

and by gaining control she can be the one to steer her life in the direction she chooses.

Additionally, Maya helps pitch in around the store which is her favourite place to be.

Alone and empty in the mornings, it looked like an unopened present from a stranger. Opening

the front doors was pulling the ribbon off the unexpected gift (16). By helping keep the store

running with her Grandmother, Maya learns the true meaning of hard work and loyalty. Her

loyalty is demonstrated when she arrives daily to help Momma and can be seen when she

describes how special it is to her. The store serves as a prominent part of the community and

Maya soon realizes that the store is devout to the community of Stamps. Maya starts to learn

the true definition of hard work when Stamps is hit by The Great Depression. Maya states that

The Depression must have hit the white section of Stamps with cyclonic impact, but it seeped
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into the Black Area slowly, like a thief with misgivings Our people lived off the land and

counted on cotton picking and hoeing and chopping seasons to bring in the cash needed to buy

shoes, clothes, books, and light farm equipment (49). Maya and her brother helped out around

the store to sell groceries to customers and to even make a nice clear sign (for the storefront

window). Nice and neat. And (Maya coloured) it with (her) Crayolas (50). Maya learns from a

young age that you need to work for what you want. That was exactly how she would be

rewarded, by doing work to get paid, and doing chores out of generosity. Maya also felt at home

and developed a greater sense of respect for the family she had there. She recalls one night

that,

Momma opened boxes of crispy crackers and we sat around the meat
block at the rear of the store. I sliced onions, and Bailey opened two of even
three cans of sardines and allowed their juice of oil and fishing boats to ooze
down around the sides. That was supper. In the evening, when we were alone
like that, Uncle Willie didnt stutter or shake or give any indication that he had
an affliction. It seemed that the peace of a days ending was an assurance
that the covenant God make with the children, Negroes and the crippled was
still in effect (17).
In this instance, Mayas family represents a loving atmosphere. Although they dont

have a lot a money they still go to the effort of creating a nice dinner, despite the fact that the

meal consists of things that Momma has at her store. This part of the story seems very

comforting and peaceful from all of the other events that happen in Mayas life. In this moment

she shows the pure joy she has when she is in the store, and the respect she has for her

family.

Later on in the story, Maya learns to find her true voice through literature and the love of

famous playwrights like Shakespeares Hamlet. It all starts when Maya is raped by her mother's

boyfriend. She recalls that there was pain. A breaking and entering when even the senses are

torn apart. The act of rape on an eight-year-old body is a matter of the needle giving because
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the camel cant. The child gives, because the body can, and the mind of the violator cannot

(77). Although at the time she does not really know the severity of Mr. Freemans abuse, she

does feel trapped when he threatens her if you scream, Im gonna kill you. And if you tell, Im

gonna kill Bailey (77). After the rape, she feels pain both physically and mentally. She wants to

tell someone but does not know the full power that Mr. Freeman has. It lasts quite a while until

Mayas mother finds out what he had done. After being taken to jail and let out on bail, Mr.

Freeman is lynched. Maya feels that she is responsible for his death because she does not fully

understand that the rape was Mr. Freemans doing. To punish herself Maya lets her world cave

in on her and becomes silent for fear that she will hurt others like she hurt Mr. Freeman. Later

on in the story, Maya meets Mrs. Bertha Flowers who is the person to help Maya realize her

potential. Mrs. Flowers envelops her in the passion of reading. It is the literature that takes her

to another world. Shakespeare and Edgar Allan Poe, whisk her off into a fantasy reality where

she discovers her voice that had disappeared a long time ago. Maya finds comfort in books as

she can relate to the characters and appreciate the literature. Although rape might have scarred

her she has learned to adapt to that traumatic experience by finding her voice through the

refuge of William Shakespeare.

Throughout the story, Maya learns to stand up to individuals that racially discriminate

her. Being insulted day after day does nothing but shrink a person's confidence. It makes a

person feel inferior to someone and that they have less worth than them all because of a few

words. In one instance Maya is working for Mrs. Cullinan who calls Marguerite (Maya) Mary,

because according to one of Mrs. Cullinans friends The names too long. Id never bother

myself, Id call her Mary if I was you (106). Mrs. Cullinan does not consider Maya much more of

a person than a kitchen broom that does all of her dirty work. Her prejudice erases individuality

and makes Maya feel like less of a person. It angers Maya to the extent that she commits her

first act of resistance against a person of higher authority than her. In an act of rebellion, Maya
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recalls, I had again been told to serve the old biddies on the porch, I dropped the empty

serving tray. When I heard Mrs. Cullinan scream, Mary! I picked up the casserole and two

green glass cups in readiness. As she rounded the kitchen door I let them fall on the tiled floor...

She actually wobbled around on the floor and picked up shards of the cups and cried, Oh

Momma. Oh, dear Gawd. Its Mommas china from Virginia. Oh, Momma, I sorry (109). This

act of rebellion made Maya a stronger person in a sense because she was ultimately able to

stand up for herself instead of getting someone else to be the support for her.

Nearing the end of the story, Maya learns to surpass her greatest limits. Maya wants to

become a Conductorette for the San Francisco Streetcars, however they dont accept colored

people on the streetcars. (Maya claimed) an immediate fury which was followed by the noble

determination to break the restricting tradition (260). With that, she began her journey to follow

her dreams. With her mothers motivation, Cant do is like Dont care. Neither of them have a

home there was nothing a person cant do and there should be nothing a human being didnt

care about. It was the most positive courage (Maya) could have hoped for (261). With a mind of

determination and bravery of the unexpected, she was given the job and hired as the first

Negro on the San Francisco streetcars (265). Maya became aware of the limits she would have

to face. They were like mountains with 90 degree drops. Seemingly impossible even for the

average cliff climbers, however with perseverance and dedication, Maya conquered the once

impossible task setting new records for herself and others to achieve. In this moment she

showed pure independence, that was just as special to her as to a child succeeding at trying to

tie their shoe for the first time. To be left alone on the tightrope of youthful unknowing is to

experience the excruciating beauty of full freedom and the threat of eternal indecision. Few if

any, survive their teens. Most surrender to the vague but murderous pressure of adult

conformity. It becomes easier to die and avoid conflicts than to maintain a constant battle with

the superior forces of maturity (267). All in all, Maya has learned that she is stronger than her
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greatest demons. Limits have been made to be broken and she soars in the clouds conquering

all.

At the end of the story, Maya becomes pregnant. Although she finds it a big burden, she

keeps it secret and waits for the baby to come. When he arrives the feeling is new, but she

knows it was fate that brought her a baby boy. She states, Just as gratefulness was confused

in my mind with love, so possession became mixed up with motherhood I sat for hours by his

bassinet and absorbed his mysterious perfection (283). Only 16 years old, she is struck with

this unexpected pregnancy and when the boy comes along Maya does not feel ready for such a

big undertaking. Everyone remained optimistic during Mayas pregnancy especially her mother

who was hoping for the best, prepared for the worst, and unsurprised by anything in between (

283). She doubts her ability to care for him, as she states totally my possession, and I was

afraid to touch him (283), but learns to trust her mother's words that you dont have to worry

about doing the right thing. If youre for the right thing, then you do it without thinking (285).

With a new baby boy to care for she learns to be a responsible mother for a more vulnerable

being than herself and in doing that she develops trust in her ability to become a good mother.

Overall, Mayas journey through a disastrous childhood has proved that this is never

impossible to break free from stereotypes and judgment. Maya started off as a timid girl with

zero empowerment and confidence in herself. Without her determination, I dont think she would

have achieved greatness in her adult years. Maya Angelou started her career as a well known

writer and poet and became an activist in the civil right movement. In the foreword of Mayas

book written by Oprah Winfrey, she writes, Maya Angelou lived what she wrote. She

understood that sharing the truth connected her to the greater human truths-of longing,

abandonment, security, hope, wonder, prejudice, mystery, and finally, self-discovery: the

realization of who you are and the liberation that love brings (Angelou x, xi).
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The truth is why we can all have empathy, why we can all be stirred when the caged

bird sings (Angelou xi).