Momma’s Decision in I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

For every child being raised in the foster care system, nearly twenty five children are being cared for by grandparents, who supply their basic needs. Maya Angelou and Bailey Johnson are included in that group, because from a young age Momma, their grandmother, took care When it comes to making difficult decisions Momma always seem to make the right ones, including the choice to send her grandchildren to San Francisco. In I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings , an autobiography by Maya Angelou writes that â€Å"In San Francisco, for the first time, perceived myself as part of something† (179). In this quote Maya Angelou describes her overall feelings on the topic of San Francisco and how it changed her life for the better. As a result of Momma choosing the correct path for Angelou and Bailey, they gained freedom, escaped a racist environment in Stamps, Arkansas, and were guaranteed a little bit more protection in San Francisco. As a result of the size of Stamps, and the people tha t inhabited the town, there was very little you could do without the whole town knowing. Throughout Maya Angelou’s and Bailey’s childhood they were constantly limited by the narrow-minded town and in San Francisco they gained the freedom to expand their minds. In San Francisco they left Momma’s disciplined ways and benefited from Vivian’s laid back ways. Considering this independence that they children were given, they reacted well and due to it, they realized who they were as a person and were able toShow MoreRelatedMaya Angelou’s Unique Self Essay2562 Words   |  11 Pages p.20). In Maya Angelou’s autobiography, I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, she recounts her early years as a young girl growing up in Stamps, Arkansas who faces displacement, trauma, and prejudice. It is through her character and artistic expression that she is able to overcome the trauma of her childhood and evolve into the distinguished and unique individual that has captivated millions through literature. In her book, I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, Angelou reflects on the impact that her childhoodRead MoreReview Of I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings 1553 Words   |  7 Pagesnovel â€Å"I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings† by: Maya Angelou, she illustrates Marguerite combating society from a disadvantaged position. Set in the United States during the time of racism and segregation towards the black community, the novel displays the contrast in Maya’s upbringing in Stamps, St. Louis to San Francisco and her constantly changing development and maturity in herself through h er effectiveness to conquer difficult situations. Maya Angelou uses symbolism in the form of the caged bird toRead MoreI Know Why the Caged Bird Sings - Maya Angelou6502 Words   |  27 PagesAnalysis: Chapters 1–5 The lines from the poem Maya cannot finish, â€Å"What are you looking at me for? I didn’t come to stay . . .† capture two of the most significant issues she struggles with in her childhood and young adulthood: feeling ugly and awkward and never feeling attached to one place. First, Maya imagines that though people judge her unfairly by her awkward looks, they will be surprised one day when her true self emerges. At the time, she hopes that she will emerge as if in a fairy-taleRead MoreSummary Of Maya Angelous I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings1363 Words   |  6 Pageswhich focused primarily on her childhood. The three generations Angelou portrays in I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings--Mommas, her parents, and her own--represent the diversity of progressive outlooks and, despite their obvious divides on accepting circumstances through generational respite from direct slavery, Maya’s generation was the only one remotely capable of enacting real change. A prominent member of Momma’s generation, Booker T. Washington was just eight years old when slavery was abolished