All throughout history the barriers have been raised between races. Divisions and inequalities have existed between African Americans and whites since long ago. For more than one hundred years African Americans have lived in a world where ongoing white supremacy and African American inferiority exist. For more than one hundred years African Americans have unjustly endured many injustices, ranging form slavery, discrimination, segregation, and racism. In history, ultimately the opportunities have existed for whites; African Americans have been oppressed, segregated, and held back. .
In Maya Angelou's poem, "I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings," there is a clear parallel between the caged bird and the free bird, and the African American man or woman and the white man or woman. While Angelou never mentions either race it is clear that she does so through the metaphors she uses to send the points she wants to get across to her audiences. Maya Angelou's words speak out to an all African American audience. Her words are meant for this audience to relate to, understand, and share the feelings of oppression and segregation, and feelings of jealousy toward the white race. Maya Angelou also speaks to an audience of mixed races. This address to this particular audience serves to make people more aware, and bring to their attention the affect oppression and segregation has on the lives of African Americans. .
Throughout history, the feelings of envy toward whites, oppression and being segregated are ones that the African American has become well acquainted with. "The free bird leaps/on the back of the wind/and floats downstream/till the current ends/[ ]." (1-4). These lines, with their peaceful tone, paint a picture of serenity and translate in to envy toward whites. African Americans have watched with envious eyes as the white race has continued to enjoy the finer things, experiences unknown to African Americans, a restricted race.
