2nd Responce to my coming of age story

Kate Macrae 814

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is the coming of age story of Maya Angelou, an African American girl growing up in the Deep South. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is a coming of age story because it shows the problems and challenges that many children face growing up. The mane coming of age problem Maya Angelou has to deal with is accepting herself and realizing that just because she is different does not make her any less then others.

Maya Angelou has a much harder time accepting herself then other children. She lives in the South and constantly has to face racial issues. Where she lives really affects her as a person. She thinks that she is not as good as other people because of her race. Many places in the book show her struggling with her race and racial issues. Many of these issues have to do with the store that her grandmother owns. Working in it she encounters many situations that leave her feeling less then she is. Comments like “look at her she’s the color of shit” destroy her self confidence and severally damage her even though she is only seven years old.

Another reason that Maya Angelou has trouble accepting herself is that she does not live with her parents, but her grandmother and crippled uncle. One part of the book that made me realize how awful she feels about her parents not living with her is this one,
“My mother and father, who lived separately in a heaven called California, where we were told they could have all the oranges they could eat. And the sun shone all the time. I was sure that wasn’t so. I couldn’t believe that our mother would laugh and eat oranges in the sunshine without her children.” The fact that she knows her parents do not want her or assumes they do is very damaging to her confidence and how she thinks of herself.

The final reason that Maya Angelou has trouble accepting herself is her brother. Though he is only a few months older then her he is treated differently by everyone even young white boys and girls respect him more. Having a sibling that seems very similar to you but is treated on such a different level is damaging. Her brother makes her question herself though he loves her very much. Having an older sibling is hard enough but having one that people respect and seem to love more then you can make you think twice about yourself and second guess many of your actions.

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is a beautifully written story of Maya Angelou’s life. It shows the hardships and conflicts of coming of age as an African American girl growing up deep in the South. It shows how much pressure she is under and how hard it is for everyone to grow up, over come challenges and accept yourself.