Maya Angelou's I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings: The Journey to Freedom and Empowerment

Abstract

Maya Angelou's memoir, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969), demonstrates the transformative power of resistance and the complexities of being a Black woman in a racially oppressive society. This paper delves into Angelou's narrative, examining how she portrays the complexities and intersections of race and gender and their impact on Black women’s lives.  The study also explores the various forms of resistance employed by Angelou and other Black women depicted in the memoir through the Black feminist perspectives of Patricia Hill Collins.  This perspective provides a lens through which to thoroughly examine the themes of racism, sexism, identity, and resilience central to Angelou's work. Collins’ perspectives offer a critical and intersectional analysis of Black women's unique perspectives, experiences, and struggles. This study argues that Angelou's acts of defiance, ranging from self-expression through literature and poetry to the pursuit of education and the strength found in the community, lead to personal growth, empowerment, and liberation. The findings of this research highlight Angelou’s self-determination, acts of defiance and resistance, self-expression, and collective solidarity in the ongoing struggle against intersectional oppression and the impact on her journey of empowerment, self-healing, and liberation to become a voice that supports others’ freedom.