Maya Angelou Caged Bird

“Caged Bird” written by Maya Angelou published in 1983, was a poem stating that people of her ethnicity were referred to be the caged bird and the other bird to represent the white supremacy. During the time when Maya Angelou was born,African Americans faced discrimination and a range of circumstances. The only logical way to stand up for themselves was using their voice. Maya Angelou uses repetition to strengthen the concept of how African Americans wanted freedom even when their dictators did not ignored them.

“His wings are clipped and his feet are tied so he opens his throat to sing.”-(Angelou) The author is declaring that the bird is being restrained but it’s voice is heard. In this course of time, announcing the obvious disrespect was the only way to call attention to a particular situation. The caged bird “stalks down his narrow cage can seldom see through his bars of rage”-(Angelou) is expressing that African Americans are extremely upset because they were and still are living through this experience. African Americans were and still are seen different to society. She,Maya Angelou, is someone that hoped for a better outcome of the situations that African Americans faced. The caged bird produced a deeper meaning to the poem because it goes to pain but still uses it’s one thing that can not be taken away, it’s voice. The bird is in an
environment where it’s dreams can not satisfied but it does not become depressed instead it uses that same energy to expresses it in a positive way.

The other bird, free and unbothered, represented to be of the white race. “Dips his wing in the orange sun rays and dares to claim the sky.”-(Angelou) Imagery is used to emphasize the way the sky is seen. This shows how the African Americans are seeing how the white race assumes anything is of their belongings because of their superior position. “The free bird thinks of another breeze and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees and the fat worms waiting on a dawn bright lawn and he name the sky his own”.-(Angelou) The free bird is declaring the sky as it’s own and does not see a barrier to stop it.

Both birds also show how just because one is different from the other physically, the one caged has a better and more intention to do something in the future while the other is going to be stuck mentally.
African Americans were confined due to segregation, but vocally their freedom was demanded. Racial segregation is something that many minorities wish never existed because it seems as a setback, instead of pressuring a great future for the children further to come. Removing the mental roadblock and trying to understand different races is one of the major trend that would the environment to be much more comfortable and
warming.