TOW #16: "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" (part 2)

                As one of the most well-known and influential autobiographies in American history, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou has greatly impacted readers for decades. It presents a vivid first person account on what it was like to grow up as a black female in the South and California during the 1930s and 40s. Through countless moves to different states, living with one relative and then another, and struggling to find a place that really fits her, Maya feels very insecure during her unstable childhood. This story speaks especially to young adults who are trying to find themselves like Angelou did, and who can relate to her awkwardness and insecurity. Angelou’s story is powerful and direct as a result of her choice in diction. She uses simple and blunt language to tell her life like what it was, allowing readers to easily connect to her experiences. When Maya transfers to yet another new school, she says “In the school itself I was disappointed to find that I was not the most brilliant or even nearly the most brilliant student. The white kids had better vocabularies than I and, what was more appalling, less fear in the classrooms. They never hesitated to hold up their  hands in response to a teacher’s question; even when they were wrong they were wrong aggressively, while I had to be certain about all my facts before I dared to call attention to myself” (Angelou 216). Without sugar coating it, Angelou verbalizes all the things teenagers feel deep inside but never want anyone to know about. She fearlessly and simply states her insecurities, leading her readers to connect to and admire her for her candidness. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is a book that stands out from others because of the unique style used. Angelou very effectively educated the nation on the challenges she faced and overcame, and let millions of young adults know they could do the same.