Book of the day: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
“I Know Why the Caged Bird sings” is the first of the autobiographical works by American writer Maya Angelou. The first in a seven-volume series sheds light on an inspiring biography of the writer. Maya Angelou was also a poet, actress, and playwright. In her book, she advises us to look at the world from the window of an unprotected little girl facing violence. The book chronicles Maya Angelou’s life from age three through age 16, recounting an unsettled and sometimes traumatic childhood that included rape and racism.
The story begins in 1931, as Maya and her elder brother live with their paternal grandmother, who owns the only store in the African American part of town after their parents’ breakup. Maya and her brother encounter racism. Maya Angelou was respected as a spokesperson for Black people and women, and her works have been considered a defense of Black culture. Her works are widely used in schools and universities worldwide, although attempts have been made to ban her books from some US libraries.