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   kwoo1213 Teacher
   College - Freshman

   eNotes Editor

   Maya Angelou is like a caged bird in several regards.  First, because she is African-American, she felt caged.  Being African-American when she was growing up was a very tough journey and she encountered much racism and abuse during her childhood and young adulthood because of her race.  Secondly, she is caged because she is a woman (and a woman of African-American heritage).  Being a woman was difficult during this time period because they were not afforded the same rights as men and faced an uphill battle.  Because she was also an African-American woman, her journey was doubly hard!  Finally, she is caged during her childhood and adolescence because of her social class.  Being poor, African-American, and a woman combined to create many problems for Angelou; however, she was able to overcome the obstacles that were in her path and become a successful author, one of the most revered female authors of our time.

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   Posted by kwoo1213 on Tuesday October 14, 2008 at 5:32 PM