I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
Maya Angelou
Random House, 1969
Southern Civilization Collection
Vanderbilt University Special Collections

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is a landmark book in African American literature.  It chronicles Angelou’s early life in the segregated South where she struggles with racism, sexual abuse, and identity struggles. Her ability to overcome these challenges and find her voice as a writer and poet serves as a powerful message of resilience and empowerment.  Angelou’s powerful storytelling has inspired countless readers and is an essential text for understanding the complexities of the human experience and the power of overcoming adversity.