A Black boy whipped and maimed. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. It was better to be meek and lowly, spat upon and abused for this little time than to spend eternity frying in the fires of hell. As she got older, Maya witnessed more overt and highly personal incidences of racism. This shaped her early life … It was a white woman slapping her maid for being forgetful. “It looks like Joe Louis is going down.” My race groaned. Many in the black community cope with their ill-treatment through religion. courses that prepare you to earn The Ku Klux Klan—casually referred to as “the boys” by the town sheriff—lynch black men for even looking at a white woman the wrong way. Working Scholars® Bringing Tuition-Free College to the Community. Imagine living in a town that went goes out of its way to let you know that you are not welcome-not because of anything you have done, but because of who you are. The African American athletes’ triumph in the Joe Louis World Championship boxing match revealed the black community’s desperate hope for vindication. Log in or sign up to add this lesson to a Custom Course. The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of. Kerry has been a teacher and an administrator for more than twenty years. LitCharts Teacher Editions. {{courseNav.course.mDynamicIntFields.lessonCount}} lessons This shaped her early life and young adulthood. The Japanese were not whitefolks…since they didn’t have to be feared, neither did they have to be considered. Numerous terrified black children shared a similar ordeal, for they had to travel to the North to join their parents, who had recently acquired wealth, or back to the South, once their parents’ dream of economic prosperity failed to materialize. For instance, during her eighth-grade graduation, a white speaker delivered a condescending and racist speech. imaginable degree, area of In ‘I know why the caged bird sings,’ Maya Angelou explores various themes that reflect her real life situation. These harsh realities confined Maya’s world, and she had to strive so as to surmount them. If growing up is painful for the Southern Black girl, being aware of her displacement is the rust on the razor that threatens the throat. In the memoir, Maya Angelou carefully describes and records the reality that interacting with a white person in the segregated American south is dangerous for a black person. -Graham S. Below you will find the important quotes in, “Would not have made it through AP Literature without the printable PDFs. Segregated and treated as second-class citizens, African Americans struggled to fit in America. Select a subject to preview related courses: Even those that Momma has helped along the way treat her with disrespect because of her skin color. As always, again. Black people resisted racism in various forms. I laughed because, except that she was white, the big movie star looked just like my mother…and it was funny to think of the whitefolks’ not knowing that. It would be safe to say that she made me proud to be a Negro, just by being herself. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. My students love how organized the handouts are and enjoy tracking the themes as a class.”, LitCharts uses cookies to personalize our services. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is in part an account of Maya Angelou’s experience growing up black in the American South. Correction Officer: How Do I Become a Correctional Officer. Momma intended to teach Bailey and me to use the paths of life she and her generation and all the Negroes gone before had found, and found to be safe ones. “Annie, my policy is I’d rather stick my hand in a dog’s mouth than in a nigger’s”. At a very young age, Maya has to confront various situations that perpetuated racism and segregation. We know that sometimes it's hard to find inspiration, so we provide you with hundreds of related samples. Her brother, Bailey, heard a story 'about a man who had been killed by whitefolks and thrown into the pond' after being intimate with a white woman. This reflects the African Americans’ desire to be treated fairly. In Stamps the segregation was so complete that most Black children didn’t really, absolutely know what whites looked like. What are some quotes about racism in I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings? She rationalizes her own rejection by appealing to a general cultural appreciation of light skin over dark skin. Struggling with distance learning? Not sure what college you want to attend yet? What Is a Major IN College and How Do I Choose One? Blacks savor an image of Whites burning in hell. You can test out of the Maya, just like other African Americans, encountered various racist incidences. Maya remarks, 'Let the whitefolks have their money and power and segregation and sarcasm and big houses and schools and lawns like carpets, and books, and mostly -- mostly -- let them have their whiteness. She witnesses her grandmother being treated disrespectfully by the same white people she has helped. In her visions, she deceptively thought that she was a fat black girl who was trapped in a nightmare. Maya is disturbed that the black schools are not given the same opportunities for academic success as the white schools. Let the whitefolks have their money and power and segregation and sarcasm and big houses and schools and lawns like carpets, and books, and mostly—mostly—let them have their whiteness. It was hounds on the trail of a man running through the slimy swamps. Her personal story of displacement echoed the larger society, in which thousands of blacks were displaced across the United States. However, the most outrageous event occurred when a dentist refused to treat her merely because she was black. What is the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program? When she asks the dentist, Dr. Lincoln, for help, he says, 'Annie, my policy is I'd rather stick my hand in a dog's mouth than in a nigger's' even though she loaned him money at one point. His confidence that my uncle and every other Black man who heard of the Klan's coming ride would scurry under their houses to hide in chicken droppings was too humiliating to hear. All rights reserved. While Stamps, Arkansas is almost completely segregated, she remembers the fear and anger of having the former sheriff stand aside while the KKK sends her disabled uncle into hiding. study We survived. Maya says they have much in common, but 'the sensations of common relationship were missing.' I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is in part an account of Maya Angelou’s experience growing up black in the American South. Teachers and parents! When I was described by our playmates as being shit color, he was lauded for his velvet-black skin…And yet he loved me. GED Testing Centers: How Do I Find a GED Test Center Near Me? In conclusion, Angelou’s ‘I know why the caged bird sings’ is an avid description of the racist society in which she grew up in. Her race, and the violence, discrimination, and degradation she faced as a result of her race, played an integral role in shaping her as a person and as an artist. Maya is annoyed with the person that warns them. and career path that can help you find the school that's right for you. One more woman ambushed and raped. Clearly, there were very few celebrated African American heroes. Did you know… We have over 220 college The Black man, the con man who could act the most stupid, won out every time against the powerful, arrogant white. Services. Without waiting for Momma's thanks, he rode out of the yard, sure that things were as they should be and that he was a gentle squire, saving those deserving serfs from the laws of the land, which he condoned.' Her first recollection of blatant racism occurs when a former sheriff shows up at their store to warn them that the KKK would be out that night looking to lynch a black man after a white woman was assaulted earlier in the day. The white kids were going to have a chance to become Galileos and Madame Curies and Edisons and Gauguins, and our boys (the girls weren’t even in on it) would try to be Jesse Owenses and Joe Louises. just create an account. What Should I Major in to Become a Medical Examiner? For instance, Big Bailey, in the face of dehumanizing conditions and escalating racism, bought a fancy car and flashy clothes. There is a widespread belief that that their suffering now will lead to salvation. One of the most outstanding themes is racism. Marguerite is taught by her grandmother to fear and avoid white people, and to think of them as godless, and not to be trusted. Get access risk-free for 30 days, By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our. Whiteness is superior, and the effect that this cultural inequality has on Marguerite’s young mind is immense. Displacement in I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Quiz & Worksheet - Racism & Segregation in Caged Bird, Over 83,000 lessons in all major subjects, {{courseNav.course.mDynamicIntFields.lessonCount}}, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings Writing Style, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings: Analysis & Themes, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings: Tone & Mood, Race & Identity in I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Beauty & Appearance in I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Conflict in I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings Study Guide, Biological and Biomedical