Name: Ly Le Annotated Bibliography # 3
Maya Angelou is an author and poet born in 1928 who grew up in St. Louis Missouri. She focused on themes of racial and sexual conflict and identify when writing. Angelou begins her autobiographical ‘’I know why the caged bird sings’’ about her hard life growing up as a black girl from the South. The formal autobiography begins with Maya’s recollection of traveling with her brother by train from California to Arkansas to live with their maternal grandmother. Both of them are conscious of their mother’s absence, fearing that she doesn’t love them. To fill the gap, they turn to Annie Henderson, whom they address as Momma, and who serves as their mother through much of their childhood.
The main character Marguerite Johnson, is influenced by a preponderance of characters including Bailey Jr. , Momma Henderson. First, Bailey Jr. serves as the most important role in the Maya’s young life. He is Maya’s brother, who one year older than her. However, it makes no difference for they both share many of the same interests, such as reading poems and playing games. Maya feels comfortable asking Bailey for advice, and therefore the central character trusts Bailey with all of her honest emotions. To sum up, Bailey gives immense confidence to Marguerite throughout their childhood together. Second, Annie Henderson influences her granddaughter as an all powerful role model. Angelou is defined her grandmother by an unshakable faith in God, her loyalty to her community, and a deep love for everything she touches. Annie Henderson has the greatest influence over Maya Angelou, from childhood to adolescence.
Other social institutions provide the setting for important episodes in the autobiography. Segregation was so complete in the 1930s “that most black children didn’t really absolutely know what whites looked like,” and Angelou herself “never remembers that whites...