Maya Angelou writes on her experience living in Southern rural then in Los Angeles and San Francisco, the book is a heartwarming yet tragic story ... growing up is painful for the Southern Black girl, being aware of her displacement is the rust on the razor that threatens the throat" (Angelou pg 1-228). Angelou is an aesthetically satisfying autobiographer, presents vivid and realistic characters, and brings out the attitudes of the Southern White towards the blacks; she has good ... likes truth, and demonstrates wisdom, rue, and humor in her storytelling. Angelou did not change facts about...

• Word Count: 649
• Approx Pages: 3
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Maya Angelou's "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings," has been deemed one of the most controversial, yet influential autobiographical novels of all time. Although somewhat unappreciated by the general public, this work is held to be a classic work of literature despite its taboo themes and figurative language for its time period. The novel will leave a long lasting impression of Angelou that will evermore ... . It demonstrates how maintaining a stable character and possessing a strong passion for literature can help conquer racism and internal trauma. Living in the Deep South during the civil righ...

• Word Count: 673
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... sexual discrimination. Women are constantly being placed under stereotypical microscopes. Black women have succeeded in the world today despite these setbacks. Maya Angelou's poem Phenomenal Woman suggests that women have always had an essential role in society. In Phenomenal Woman, Mrs. Angelou, describes herself from her own point of view. She talks of her inner mystery and explains, to those who can't see ... everything is intentional. She knows that even though she is not the generic, petite woman, she is beautiful and can attract attention from anyone she wants to. At one point, Ma...

• Word Count: 1267
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... by name-calling and negative treatment. When people grow up with these ideas, sometimes it's hard to get rid of them. In the beginning of "Working for the Dream," Maya Angelou proves to be prejudiced toward white people. Angelou usually spent her two hour break between jobs at the Melrose Record Shop, partly owned by Louise Cox, a white woman. One day, Cox approaches ... Angelou with a job offer to work in her music store since she spent a lot of time there and listened to most of the records. Angelou immediately hesitates in accepting the job because she believed Cox was "sophisticated...

• Word Count: 409
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... alteration of the names of Negroes by the white populace- "when your first name becomes "nigger," your last name becomes "boy" (no matter how old you are)"- is similar to Maya Angelou's anger at Mrs. Cullinan when the latter shortened her name for convenience. Although at the surface this seems trivial, in reality it is a serious form of discrimination because it sets ... ...

• Word Count: 4137
• Approx Pages: 17
• Grade Level: Undergraduate