Concept Map of
I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings
Thesis: I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings is a poignant autobiography that exposes the many social issues that were plaguing black Americans throughout Maya Angelou’s life.
Racial Abuse
Verbal Abuse
Momma is verbally abused by
a group of white women. They
made teasing remarks at her.
“I realized that she was aping my grandmother. Another said, “Naw, Helen, you ain’t standing like her. This here’s it.” Then she lifted her chest, folded her arms and mocked that strange carriage that was Annie Henderson.” (Angelou, 30-31)
White people who would make
very offensive and dehumanizing
remarks to black people.
“my policy is I’d rather stick my
hand in a dog’s mouth than in
a nigger’s” (189).
Physical Abuse
Common occurrences of lynching
and black killings.
“My race groaned. It was our people falling. It was another lynching, yet another Black man hanging on a tree. One more woman ambushed and raped. A Black boy whipped and maimed.” (Angelou, 135)
Ku Klux Klan constantly looking
for any reason to kill black people.
"It was fortunate that the boys didn’t ride into our yard that evening and insist that Momma open the Store. They
would have surely found Uncle Willie and just as surely
lynched him." (Angelou, 18/19)
Healthcare Inequality
Many black communities had little access to
proper doctor and dental offices.
their economic state prevented
them from being able to afford
professional help.
Very few medical/dental offices
allowed black people.
“Annie, everybody has a policy. In this world you have to have a policy. Now, my policy is I don’t treat colored people.” (Angelou 188)
They are forced to travel very
far distances for black doctors.
Needed even more
Economic Disparity
Poor and struggling black communities
“a Negro couldn’t buy vanilla ice cream” (Angelou 49)
That these black communities are
already struggling to get the basic
essentials, like food and clothing.
Rich and prospering white communities
“white folks’ cars and white glistening houses and their children and their women. But above all, their wealth that allowed them to waste was the most enviable. They had so many clothes they were able to give perfectly good dresses, worn just under the arms, to the sewing class at our school for the larger girls to practice on.” (Angelou 49)
White communities and how they are so vastly different. They are wealthy enough to the point of allows them to waste their money.
Segregation
Division between white Americans and African Americans.
“A light shade had been pulled down between the Black community and all things white” (Angelou 49).
Creating sense of superiority over
back people.
With segregation came a sense of dehumanization. Black people were observed as "other" and not truly part of America.
“..most Black children didn’t really, absolutely know what whites looked like.” (Angelou 25)
Division between.