Maya Angelou Caged Bird

Maya Angelou was a multi-talented woman who was an author, actress, screenwriter, dancer, and poet. She was a civil rights activist who fought for equal rights and opportunities. She also recited "On the Pulse of Morning" at Bill Clinton's inauguration in nineteen ninety-three. Angelou has numerous outstanding accomplishments, one being a poet. In the poem "Caged Bird," it begins with showing how the white race was in control and that African-Americans were judged. Then, it explains how African-Americans faced a lot of mistreatment and shows frustration and anger they felt because of the color of their skin. They felt trapped and did not have freedom. Then, it continues by African-Americans speaking out for freedom, and the white race ignoring it and not caring. It ends with a realization that the white

The caged bird represents the African-American race, and how they were judged, not in control, and restricted from numerous activities in society. It also represents the hardships that African-Americans faced at this time. The bars of the cage represent the things that kept people from doing what they want to such as discrimination. An extremely important part of the poem is when the cage bird continues to sing, even after the free bird does not listen. "The caged bird in the narration will never know freedom,"(Thursby 1) but continues in the hopes that the dream will come true that freedom is near. Being locked in the cage is, "Representing humans being locked away from life's wonders." (Saunders 7) Not having any freedom and being discriminated against takes away the joy of life from the caged bird. In hopes that freedom will come, the caged bird continues to sing. Segregation was a very serious problem, and the caged bird sung to try and get the free bird to finally understand that they are just like