I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings - Maya Angelou

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is an autobiographical memoir of Angelou’s early life and adolescence. The book details Angelou’s youth in the segregated South where she and her older brother were sent to live with their grandmother after their parents’ divorce. Angelou vividly describes the challenges of being a Black girl growing up in a deeply prejudiced environment. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings explores themes of prejudice, racism and sexual abuse, landing it on more banned or challenged lists than most other memoirs in history. It is an important lesson in identity, resilience and the exploration of race relations.