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 be embedded into the readers mind. Angelou's "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" has gained a tremendous amount of criticism for its disputable topics concerning Racism and prejudice, The American Dream, and its vulgar textual context.
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is a story of pride and prejudice. 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 rights era, Angelou was aware that "black women were consigned to a particular place in the social order, not only constructed in opposition to white women, but assigned roles that served to fix this binary" (Manora). At a young age Angelou was exposed to the harsh reality of her situation: she was a young black girl who was considered inferior because of the complexion of her skin. Growing up her childhood dream was nothing but to wake up one day with light-blue eyes and straight blonde hair. She watched her people suffer from degradation, lynchings, and brutal beatings and came to the conclusion that beauty is defined by being white. Being black meant being ugly and she could not wait to one day hopefully wake up from the terrifying "big black dream" that she was living.
Throughout Angelou's autobiographical portrait, she puts emphasis on the role that the community represented in her life. The community's involvement in forming the young girls' identity is significant because it "contributes to a discursive trifecta that shows the importance of communal affirmation in maintaining the African American community" (Ero).
