Part 1 of Essay
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is a story about a Black female growing up in the American South during the 1930’s and 40’s. Maya Angelou, the narrator and author of this book, writes about growing up in a society filled with racism and hatred. From rape to racism, Maya Angelou has experienced an immense amount of hardship ....

Part 2 of Essay
.... gets into an argument with her father’s girlfriend, Dolores, and apparently, Dolores ends up calling Maya’s mother a whore. The “new” Maya, filled with anger, responded by slapping Dolores across the face. The small, reticent child had turned into a courageous, young woman. In the early years of her life, Maya had always been pretty dependent on her grandmother or brother. However, when she got older, she realized that she needed to do something on her own. As a result, she went out and found herself a job. Being ....