Maya Angelou has written numerous poems such as Caged Bird, Still I Rise, and Kin. Her poetry is unique as her voice seems to resonate with the soul while reading it. She is one of the prominent authors of Black Poetry which refers to poems written by African Americans in the USA. Her achievements and notorious presence in the modern history of literature distinguish her from other poets. I would like to know more about her worldview and what motivated her to write.
Maya Angelou, also known as Marguerite Annie Johnson, has various distinguishing professions as she can be considered a storyteller, autobiographer, activist, and poet. She was born in Missouri, namely in St. Louis and in her long profound career, she acted as an actress, singer, composer, and dancer. Moreover, she was the first female black director in Hollywood, but her fame mostly stems from her achievements as an essayist, writer, editor, poet and playwright (Poetry Foundation).
Maya Angelou worked for Malcolm X and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the role of a civil rights activist. At Wake University, she served as a professor of American Studies. She was awarded by President Barack Obama with the highest civilian honor in the USA — the Presidential Medal of Freedom and received numerous honorary degrees before passing away.
The Caged Bird poem depicts the conflicting experiences of two birds: one is free to dwell in nature, while the other is trapped and suffers in captivity. The trapped bird sings to deal with its conditions and communicate its wish for release. Angelou (1983) provides a critical portrayal of oppression, illuminating the privilege and entitlement of the oppressed and conveying the simultaneous feeling of agony and emotional resilience, using the extended metaphor of the two birds.
References
Poetry Foundation. “Maya Angelou.” Poetry Foundation. Web.
Angelou, Maya. (1983). “Caged Bird by Maya Angelou.” Poetry Foundation. Web.