The early 1930’s a time where segregation was still an issue in the United States it was especially hard for a young African American girl who is trying to grow and become an independent woman. At this time, many young girls like Maya Angelou grew up wishing they were a white woman. That was just the start of Angelou's conflicts. In the autobiography, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Maya Angelou goes into great depth about her tragic childhood. This shows how Maya overcame many conflicts in her life.
At a young age, Maya Angelou’s parents got divorced. After the divorce was final Maya and her older brother, were stamped and sent on a train alone to live with their grandmother. years passed without seeing their parents and finally maya and her brother were put on a train and sent back to her mom. during the time she was there, her moms boyfriend abused her. Maya was devastated. After maya heard that her mothers boyfriend was killed by two of her uncles, Maya became mute because she believed that it was her voice that killed her mothers boyfriend. She only talked to her brother Bailey. Maya moved back to Stamps Arkansas to live with her grandmother, at this time Maya was still mute. Her mother took her to the only dentist in Stamps, Dentist Lincoln. They got to Dr. Lincoln's, and waited on the back porch for an hour. Maya's Mom asked for Maya to be treated, but Lincoln stated that he wouldn't treat negro patients. Her Mom insisted, since she lended him money to keep his place during the Depression; he said, "since the money is all paid back, i don't owe you nothin' anymore". Maya's mom told Maya to wait outside, so she could talk to Dr. Lincoln; Maya describes a fantasy scene in the book, in which her mom gets revenge against Dr. Lincoln and makes him apologize for his insults to her. But Maya's mom did nothing of the sort, and resolved to take Maya to the black doctor many miles away in Texarkana. Dr. Lincoln's statement that he would "rather stick his hand in a dog's mouth than in a negro's," is a blatant example of racism. But then again, Maya's mom cannot ignore the racial codes of behavior that she has learned, and cannot stand up to Dr. Lincoln. Maya, although young, is already beginning to feel a lot of anger toward racism. |