The Caged Bird Controversy
The novel I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is the life story of Maya Angelou as she struggles through life in the South. Published in 1969, the novel has received critical acclaim since 1970 and spent three years as a number one best seller on the New York Times Best Seller List. (Caged Bird Essay) Although this book has a best seller, it was the ninth most frequently challenged book in American high schools (Caged Bird Essay) and has been a censorship target for years. Many school libraries have banned I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, because numerous parents believe that the book is vulgar, poor literature and that it is inappropriate for use in public schools for young people of any age. Others believe that I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings might do what parents fear most ? raise important issues while leaving the young reader no avenue to discover his or her relationship to those ideas.
What do people mean by ?vulgar?? The story consists of Angelou?s experiences when she was growing up which includes graphic scenarios. For example, when she described her rape by her mothers boyfriend at the age of eight. In Southlake Texas high schools, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings was banned because of the ?pornographic description? of her rape. (Caged Bird Essay) Other schools have chosen not to ban the book by just deleting the rape chapters. The use of language in the scene of Angelou?s rape is hardly explicit, yet it does deal with a sensitive issue and evoke a strong emotional response.
Angelou?s thoughts of homosexuality became another issue and in any case, a book that discusses homosexuality is presumed controversial. As she begins puberty, confusion sets in, and the possibility of homosexuality scares her. (Caged Bird Essay) Angelou was not exactly sure what a lesbian was, but she felt that her low voice, masculine gait convinced her that she was one and later on in life she dealt with this ?confusion.? To figure out if she was a lesbian or not, she asked a fellow classmate if he wanted to have ?sexual intercourse? with her to ensure herself that she was heterosexual. This action of hers resulted in her pregnancy, which brings up another issue: Premarital sex. As a pregnant sixteen-year-old, Angelou saw nothing very wrong with her actions.
I Why the Caged Bird Sings also encourages social problems that our society fights. In the following quotation, Angelou talks about joy derived from a pregnancy as an unwed sixteen year old. ?For the next two weeks, I whirled around the city, taking vitamin shots and pills, buying clothes for the baby, and except for the rare moments alone, enjoying the imminent blessed event.? The last message we want to put across to sexually curious teenagers is that a teenage pregnancy can bring happiness! ?Author Unknown
The pornographic content and premarital sex do not compare to the racism which is the number one issue of the book and is the main reason why this book has been so controversial. There is no reason to believe that the novel is in its poignant portrayal of race relations. (Learning to Live) This explains why the story has been most
controversial in the South, where racial tension was historically the worst and where the novel is particularity set. The obvious and subtle effects of racism on a young Angelou help explain the controversial factor of the book. In the book described her mixture feelings towards oppression as a child. She felt horrible when she hear the whites saying derogatory comments towards blacks, like when a doctor said, ?My policy is that I?d rather stick my hand down a dog?s mouth than a niggers.?(I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings) Comments like these made her feel anger towards her community, and often Angelou often wondered about how it would have been like if she woke up in the white world, with blond hair and blues eyes and shudder the nightmare of being black:
Angelou paints a picture of some of the negative choice?s: white America choosing to oppress groups of people; choosing lynch law over justice; choosing intimidation over honor. She offers a deep ?talk? on the possibility of positive choices: choosing life over death; choosing courage over safety; choosing discipline over chaos; choosing voice over silence; choosing compassion over pity, over hatred, over habit; choosing work and planning and hope over useless recrimination and slovenly despair. ?Opal Moore: Learning to Live: When the Bird Breaks from the Cage
The depiction of hatred between the races can not be comfortable for southern whites that the novel implicitly criticizes. Majorie Jones, head of the American Civil Liberties Union Arts Censorship project had this to say:
?(Angelou) portrays white people as being horrible, nasty stupid people . . .and I don?t appreciate being portrayed in that way.? ?Marjorie Heins, The Washington Post 1/11/98
On the other hand the book?s defenders say:
?Angelou uses her poet?s gifts to give students an evocative portrait of life under ssegregation, a first hand account of a dark period in history that has the same immediacy as Anne Frank?s did.?- Annie Gowen, The Washington Post 1/11/98
Overall many believe that I Know Why the Caged Birds Sings is one of the greatest books that Angelou has written so far. Still this book is destined to be controversial for a long time. Maybe one day, parents will understand the important issues and feelings towards important issues like the ones described in the story and understand them through the eyes of Maya Angelou.
Другие работы по теме:
Dunbar
’s Sympathty Essay, Research Paper During the nineteenth and early twentieth century, the black population was enslaved and tortured by whites. African Americans were treated as animals, denied the right to life, forced to work endlessly, and suffer abuse from their masters. White Americans forced the blacks to become slaves due to the fact that whites possessed all of the power and wealth in that time.
Napster Controversy Essay Research Paper NapsterWhat is
Napster Controversy Essay, Research Paper Napster What is the big deal with the whole napster controversy? All it is is a network, which allows millions of people to share files, which are already available on the Internet.
Quotes Essay Research Paper Love like you
Quotes Essay, Research Paper Love like you’ve never been hurt, and dance like no ones watching The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.
DickinsonS Poems Essay Research Paper Dickinson Explication
Dickinson`S Poems Essay, Research Paper Dickinson Explication #130 This poem speaks of the final summer days of the year, possibly coming after the initial fall cool down. The speaker begins by saying “These are the days when Birds come back—A very few—a Bird or two—To take a backward look,” referring to the few remaining birds in the last of the warm days of the year.
Where I Lived
&What I Lived For–Thoreau Essay, Research Paper In ?Where I Lived & What I Lived For,? Thoreau?s response towards nature is of admiration and value. His respect for nature is almost religious. This is depicted in the way he describes his love and adoration for nature.
Sympathy Essay Research Paper The poem
Sympathy Essay, Research Paper The poem “Sympathy”, by Paul Laurence Dunbar suggests to the reader a comparison between the lifestyle of the caged bird, and the African American in the nineteenth century. Paul Laurence Dunbar’s focus of “Sympathy” is how the African American identifies and relates to the frustrations and pain that a caged bird experiences.
Dodo Birds Essay Research Paper Dodo BirdThe
Dodo Birds Essay, Research Paper Dodo Bird The dodo bird is a large, flightless bird, now extinct. The Mauritius dodo once inhabited the forests of the island of Mauritius. About the size of a turkey, the bird had a large hooked bill, undeveloped wings and tail, and short, thick, yellow legs. It laid a single, large egg in a ground nest made of grass.
A Story Of A Bird Essay Research
Paper A bird was flying through a forest and had very luckily and eventually found his best tree to build a nest to stay, to enjoy and to love in his lifetime. When he flied towards the tree with great happiness and hope, he was shot ruthlessly, however.
The Cookie Controversy Essay Research Paper The
The Cookie Controversy Essay, Research Paper The Cookie Controversy Most of us know cookies as tasty treats that are baked in the oven but now there is a new kind of cookie and it is stirring up privacy issues with Internet users. A cookie is a text-only file that gets entered into the memory of a web browser. Various web sights use cookies to help with on-line sales and services, tracking popular links, and demographics.
Maya Angelou Essay Research Paper Tribute to
Maya Angelou Essay, Research Paper Tribute to Maya Angelou Renaissance Woman Maya Angelou was born Marguerite Johnson in 1928, in St. Louis, Missouri. A true Renaissance woman, Ms. Angelou is an author, poet, songwriter, dancer, actor, director, and producer. She has been nominated for a Tony award for her acting, has received a Pulitzer Prize for her poetry, and has won a National Book Award for her noted autobiography, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.
Maya Angelou Essay Research Paper 2
Maya Angelou Essay, Research Paper Writings of Maya Angelou Maya Angelou was born on April 4, 1928, in California (Lupton 1). When she was three years old her parents divorced. Her father then put her and her brother on a
Pretty Happy Essay Research Paper Jeffrey T
Pretty Happy Essay, Research Paper Jeffrey T. Fields Pretty Happy Literature: Form and Function Concerning Kinship of Cat and Bird: - This is the first poem I choose to write about. Briefly, it describes a cat (I think) devouring a bird that it has captured. And then talks about how the birds always fall for the cats old tricks, which are really not tricks but in fact just sitting there.
Happieness On A Perch Essay Research Paper
During the nineteenth and early twentieth century, the African American population still felt the aftermath of slavery through the beliefs and actions of the white societies. During slavery African Americans were dehumanized, looked upon as property, and treated worse than animals. Furthermore, slaves were denied the right to life, forced to work endlessly, and suffered abuse from their masters.
Christian Essay Research Paper Christian was a
Christian Essay, Research Paper Christian was a young man that lived long ago. In his time, they didn?t have the same technology as we do today. Christian wanted to explore the world as we know it, so he decided to have a time machine transport him to the future a few hundred years later, during the 1990?s. He was the most curious and interested in what we call the mall, which has many weird and fascinating things in it.
Critical Analysis Of The Awakening By Kate
Chopin Essay, Research Paper The Awakening, by Kate Chopin, is the story of a woman who is seeking freedom. Edna Pontellier feels confined in her role as mother and wife and finds freedom in her romantic interest, Robert
Young Bear
’s Poem "Our Bird Aegis" With His Commentary Essay, Research Paper Our Bird Aegis An immature black eagle walks assuredly across a prairie meadow. He pauses in mid-step
Trifles By Susan Glaspell Essay Research Paper
Steven FiorilloThe thesis of this paper is to prove that the title of Susan Glaspell’s play “Trifles” represents how men considered women’s duties and their opinions to be of little importance compared to a man’s role in society. The dictionary defines the word trifle as something of little importance or value, or to deal with something as if it were of little significance or value (The American Heritage Dictionary).The play opens in Minnie Wright’s kitchen.
Waterlily By Ella Cara Deloria Essay Research
Paper Waterlily by Ella Cara Deloria Mn. History 2-3-97 Waterlily is a book based on the events that happen within a particular Dakota Indian family’s life. Not only does it depict the affairs of blue Bird’s
Symbolism In Trifles Essay Research Paper Susan
Symbolism In Trifles Essay, Research Paper Susan Glaspell wrote Trifles in the early 1900 s long before the modern women s movement began. Symbolism is used in the play so that the audience is able to see through the eyes of Minnie Wright, and determine why she killed her husband. Character s names, the bird, and a quilt are three key symbols Glaspell uses in the play to provide the audience with the insight on the never heard, or seen characters, Minnie and John Wright.
Lady Bird Johnson Essay Research Paper LADY
Lady Bird Johnson Essay, Research Paper LADY BIRD JOHNSON Claudia Alta Taylor was born in a country mansion near Karnack, Texas, she was given the nickname “Lady Bird” when she was just a child; and by this name she is still known today. Her mother, Minnie Pattillo Taylor, died when Claudia (Lady Bird) was only five, so she was raised by her father, her aunt, and the family servants.
Maya Angelolu Essay Research Paper In Maya
Maya Angelolu Essay, Research Paper In Maya Angelou’s book I Know Why the Caged Bird sings, she reflects the various societies she grew up in. Maya growing up occurred mainly in stamps, Arkansas. She later moved to St. Louis. After her short-lived stay in St. Louis, she moved to San. Francisco. In each of these there locations, women and blacks were treated differently.
Caged Bird 2 Essay Research Paper I
Caged Bird 2 Essay, Research Paper I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings Maya also known as Marguerite discovers all the splendors and agonies of growing up in a prejudices and disfunciual time in America. From the slow pacesed life of stamps Arkansas to the fast-pace life in St. Louis, Missouri and San Francisco, California Maya s childhood is full of many obstacles and shows her how prejudice stretches from coast to coast.
Sinbad Essay Research Paper Sinbad the parade
Sinbad Essay, Research Paper Sinbad the parade originated from Sinbad the Arabic mariner. The Sinbad Sinbad the parade originated Krewe parades in Metairie, Louisiana. The Krewe of Sinbad was founded in 1989 and will hold it?s tenth annual parade this year.
3 Lessons Learned Bird Sings Essay Research
Paper Many people in the world have troubles. Lie Marguerite there are many who have troubles. Though we always get saved by our elders and without them we would be scrap metal, but like most elders, Mrs. Flower in the book I know Why the Caged Bird Sings, help out this troubled person by teaching her 3 lessons about way of life.
A Bird Came Down The Walk Essay
, Research Paper Emily Dickinson’s poem “A Bird Came Down the Walk.” is an excellent example of how poets use varying styles of rhyme and meter to bring a poem to life. Dickinson expertly uses meter to show how the bird acts on the ground and in the air. The rhyme scheme she uses changes in the poem to show the birds change in attitude.
The Awakening Essay Research Paper The AwakeningIn 2
The Awakening Essay, Research Paper ?The Awakening? In ?The Awakening? by Kate Chopin, the emotional state of the central character is often shown to the reader through the employment of literary techniques.
Birds Essay Research Paper The forum speech
Birds Essay, Research Paper The forum speech given on Friday the 14th of April was very interesting to me. Dr. Kirsten Murtagh, the Associate Vice President of The Northern Campuses of FAU, gave her speech on bird watching in Southern Florida. She started out her talk with a quote from Walt Whitman. He said that vagueness and ignorance helps enjoyment.
Keat And Shelley Essay Research Paper In
Keat And Shelley Essay, Research Paper In Keat?s "Ode to a Nightingale" and Shelley?s "Ode to the West Wind" both poet?s show much inspiration within their poetry. The
Poem Analysis Essay Research Paper In Emily
Poem Analysis Essay, Research Paper In Emily Dickinson’s poem “Hope is the Thing With Feathers” she is the speaker And as the poem states she is a “hopeless” person. She talks of the virtues of hope, and
Analysis On Chapters 14 And 15 Of
I Know Why The Caged Bird Essay, Research Paper Maya Angelou’s I Know Why Caged Bird Sings illustrates how an innocent and naive girl growing up in the midst of the Great Depression overcomes life’s many obstacles and becomes the powerful and influential woman she is today. Maya is a world renowned author, teacher, speaker, actress, and mother.
Getting To Know The Caged Bird I
Know Why The Caged Bird Sings Essay, Research Paper I will not allow anybody to minimize my life, not anybody, not a living soul- nobody, no lover, no mother, no son, no boss, no president, no body. (Maya Angelou) In Maya Angelou s I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, she, Maya, tells the reader about the challenges and praises throughout her life.
I No Y The Caged Bird Sings
Essay, Research Paper I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings I know Why the Caged Bird Sings is a fascinating eye opener to the Jim Crow period in the New South. It has a greater impact than textbooks on what it was like to be African American at that time in history because it is a story of real experiences that appeals to the readers’ emotions like no history textbook ever can.
I Know Why The Caged Bird Sing
Essay, Research Paper Three primary problems cage Maya Angelou in her autobiographical book I Know why the Caged Bird Sings. The most pressing of these issues was probably the fact that Maya lived in the highly segregated south. Another factor of her imprisonment was because Maya, also known as Marguerite, was a social outcast, with very few friends other then relatives.
Euthanasia Essay Research Paper EUTHANASIAEuthanasiaRenaldo La FoucadeEducation
Euthanasia Essay, Research Paper EUTHANASIA Euthanasia Renaldo La Foucade Education of America University Euthanasia Euthanasia Euthanasia is a topic that provokes as much controversy as capital punishment, primarily because it is irreversible. The question of euthanasia being right or wrong is one that most would prefer left alone.