Resilience according to the dictionary says, is the capability of a strained body to recover its size and shape after deformation caused especially by compressive stress. Resilience is often displayed in the autobiography by Maya Angelou called, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. It can be found wherever Maya overcomes adversity and the challenges she encounters. This book revolves around the theme "although one may encounter many defeats in life, one must never be defeated" commented by Maya Angelou in the book I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.
Maya's triumph over defeat is after the speech at Maya's 8th grade graduation. Donleavy, a white speaker, talked to the entire class about how the black people will only grow up to be athletes or some sort of low paid demeaning job. As Angelou describes, "The man's dead words fell like bricks around the auditorium and too many settled in my belly." She was describing how the black people felt after hearing the speech. The speech left the audience stunned and upset, but when they heard the African-American Nation Anthem, it revived the black community that was there that day.
Momma proved she is strong when she and Marguerite go to the dentist in Stamps. When they first walk in they have to in thought the servants entrance to not make the white folks angry, but when they get inside they are rejected. Momma tries to argue, but sadly gets shut down. When she realized that she was defeated, she storms in the front door, and grabs Dentist Lincoln by the collar of his jacket and basically tells him to pack his bags and leave because she will not tolerate that kind of disrepect. "Momma walked in that room as if she owned it." This is what Maya wrote about what happened that hot afternoon in Stamp.
Another of the many ways Marguerite overcomes adversity is when she has a baby. Most people would try to blame others, but Maya takes responsibility for her actions and realizes that no matter how much blaming she does it is not going to change the reality of the situation.
