Finishing the book I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou, I have been researching more about racism from the 1930s to present time and studying historical events taking place in the book. Many African American people lived in the southern states. During that time, racism reached its highest point. For instance, the whites treated the African American very poorly because they thought that the African American were lower than them. Therefore, the blacks had to fight for the right to be treated equally. As a result, black people had to face the Jim Crow Laws and the Ku Klux Klan.  During the 1930’s, black people had to suffer through the Jim Crow Laws. For instance, many Christian ministers said that the white people were the chosen people and the black people were the hated ones that were to be servants and were not to be treated equally. For example, a black male could not shake hands with a white male because it would look like they were socially equal. A black male may also be accused of rape if he shakes hands with a white woman. Another example is that black and white people were not supposed to eat together. However, if they did eat together, white people were always going to be served first. There would also always be some kind of divider placed between the black and white people so that they were separated. In addition, to keep the black and white people separated, there would be signs showing where black people were allowed to go.

As Angelou recounts memories of her childhood in Stamps, she manages to maintain a double-edged view of the South. Although she is careful to let the readers know of humorous occurrences, she balances this throughout with reminders of how entrenched racism dehumanizes and terrifies those who are regarded as being at the bottom of the hierarchy. She describes the complete segregation of the town and how African-Americans have been taught to dread the ‘whitefolks’ and is trained by Momma to never be insolent (because of the fear of retribution). I Know Why a Caged Bird Sings stands as a testament to the bravery of those who have been oppressed but not silenced by this deeply racist society. As the eponymous caged bird, that is taught the necessity of living a restricted life through fear, Angelou’s work shows a refusal to be silenced. Though Maya struggles with insecurity and displacement throughout her childhood, she has a remarkable number of strong female role models in her family and community. Momma, Vivian, Grandmother Baxter, and Bertha Flowers have very different personalities and views on life, but they all chart their own paths and manage to maintain their dignity and self-respect. None of them ever capitulates to racial indignities.