Maya Angelo’s poems “I know why the caged bird sing” and “still I rise” reflects her personality and her dramatic experiences of being a African American in the midst of last century in America. Among her multi-talented personality, she is hailed worldwide as a celebrated poet and civil rights activist.
Her poem “I know why the caged bird sings” is her first published poem depicting the scenario of black people being tortured and maltreated by white people in the name of racial discrimination. Angelo was born on 4TH April, 1928, in Missouri where racial discrimination against black people was most severe at the time. Before she wrote this poem at the age of 42, she underwent lots of personal and ethnic tumultuous period which however shaped her strong personality at the course of time. Abandoned by her parents, Angelo and her brother spent their childhood moving to and for between her mother's home and grandparents. Her life turned into hell when she was raped by her mother's boy- friend at the age of 8 and remained totally devastated and depressed for several years after the incident. Later on she took different role as waiter, dancer and many other odd things to survive. Being and living as a black woman at the time was much harder as discrimination against them was at its peak. She later joined black American Civil Rights Movement and became an active member of it.
Inspired by pawl Laurence Dunbar, a black American poet, Angelou likens the caged bird to the chained slaves and free bird to the privilege white people. Her poem opens with "the free bird leaps on the back of wing......dares to claim the sky”. She signifies the privileged white people were enjoying in limitless freedom and opportunity while black people were denied of all these and even mangled with chained and put behind the bar for those who dared to resist. As she further continues, “but the birds that stalk down his narrow cage.........his wings are clipped… and his feet are tied...so he opens his throat to sing”. These imaginary comparisons are easy to understand to every walks of people and could give lasting impression to the readers down the years. If Angelou depicted the suffering and biased life that black American underwent through her poem, “I know why the caged bird sing” her later poem especially “Still I Rise” signifies the victory of her personal life and the black civil rights movement.
Angelo artistic skill in writing poem and her undying fighting spirit gained word wide recognition. Her poetry biography gained national book award in 1970 and remained two years in New York Paper-back best seller list. Moreover, she was twice nominated in Pulitzer book award. Due to her fame, she was requested to deliver a poem in honor of then the president of United States of America, Bill Clinton’s inauguration office ceremony. She delivered the poem, “Still I Rise” which was life streamed and watched by several millions of people throughout the globe. She compares the past racial discrimination of 60’s with “nights of terror and fear” and the victory against it with, “day break that wondrously clear”. With each line she put the words, “Still I rise” to make it clear that ultimately the truth that they have sided has won.
Maya Angelou, though born and brought up in a disadvantage and violent period of time and places, doesn't succumb to her purported fate and defines her own life. From bad parenting to becoming victims of child rapist and to racial discrimination, she suffered series of hellish events in her life which would chill our bones even by listening. However, like a legend bird phoenix, she rises from the ashes of her devastated life and shoot to fame in the endless world of fame.