In 1998, a Maryland school district removed one of American literature’s most acclaimed works from its curriculum. Parents pushing for the ban argued that the book was both “sexually explicit” and “anti-white.” Following an outcry from other parents and teachers, the decision was eventually reversed. However, this was neither the first nor the last attack on Maya Angelou’s “I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings.”
Few books have been challenged more often than Angelou’s memoir. While book-banning decisions typically aren’t made at the state or national level, most of the schools and libraries that have banned Angelou’s book have given similar reasons. Most commonly, they argue that the memoir’s account of sexual assault and the violence of US racism are inappropriate for young readers. However, these concerns miss the point of Angelou’s story, which uses these very themes to explore the danger of censorship and silence in the lives of young people.
Published in 1969, “I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings” traces the author’s childhood growing up poor, Black, and female in the southern US. Central to the narrative is Angelou’s experience of being sexually assaulted when she was seven and a half years old. Surrounded by adults who consider the subject too taboo to discuss, Angelou decides that she is to blame. When she finally identifies her abuser in court, he is killed by vigilantes. Angelou believes her voice is responsible for his death, and for six years, she stops speaking almost entirely.
The book chronicles Angelou’s journey to rediscover her voice, all while exploring the pain and misplaced shame that emerges from avoiding uncomfortable realities. The memoir’s narrative voice expertly blends her childhood confusion with her adult understanding, offering the reader insights Angelou was deprived of as a child. She connects her early experiences of being silenced and shamed to the experience of being poor and Black in the segregated United States.
Her autobiography was one of the first books to speak openly about child sexual abuse, and especially groundbreaking to do so from the perspective of the abused child. For centuries, Black women writers had been limited by stereotypes characterizing them as hypersexual. Afraid of reinforcing these stereotypes, few were willing to write about their sexuality at all. But Angelou refused to be constrained. She publicly explored her most personal experience, without apology or shame.
This spirit of defiance charges her writing with a sense of hope that combats the memoir’s often traumatic subject matter. When recalling how a fellow student defied instructions not to sing the Black National Anthem in the presence of white guests, she writes, “The tears that slipped down many faces were not wiped away in shame. We were on top again… We survived.”
Angelou’s memoir was published amidst the Civil Rights and Black Power movements when activists were calling for school curricula that reflected the diversity of experiences in the US. But almost as soon as the book appeared in schools, it was challenged. Campaigns to control lesson plans surged across America in the 1970s and 80s. On the American Library Association’s list of most frequently banned or challenged books, “I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings” remained near the top for two decades.
However, parents, students, and educators have consistently fought back in support of the memoir. And by 2013, it had become the second most taught non-fiction text in US high school English classes. When asked how she felt about writing one of the most banned books, Angelou said, “I find that people who want my book banned have never read a paragraph of my writing, but have heard that I write about rape. They act as if their children are not faced with the same threats. And that’s terrible.”
She believed that children who are old enough to be the victims of sexual abuse and racism are old enough to read about these subjects. Listening and learning are essential to overcoming, and the unspeakable is far more dangerous when left unspoken.
Organize a class debate where you are divided into two groups: one supporting the ban of “I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings” and the other opposing it. Research arguments for both sides and present your case. This will help you understand the complexities of censorship and the importance of diverse perspectives in literature.
Write a short story or poem inspired by Maya Angelou’s experiences as described in her memoir. Focus on themes of overcoming adversity, finding one’s voice, or breaking stereotypes. Share your work with the class to explore how personal experiences can be transformed into powerful narratives.
In small groups, discuss the major themes of “I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings,” such as racism, sexual abuse, and the power of finding one’s voice. Reflect on how these themes are relevant today and how they resonate with your own experiences or observations. Present your group’s insights to the class.
Conduct a research project on the history of book banning and censorship in the United States. Investigate other books that have been challenged or banned and compare their reasons for censorship with those of Angelou’s memoir. Create a presentation to share your findings with the class.
Participate in a role-playing activity where you take on the roles of different stakeholders in the book-banning controversy (e.g., parents, teachers, students, school administrators). Discuss and negotiate the decision to include or exclude “I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings” from the curriculum. This will help you understand the different perspectives and the impact of such decisions on education.
American literature – Written works produced in the United States that reflect the culture, history, and society of the American people. – “The Great Gatsby” is considered a classic of American literature.
Memoir – An autobiography or a written account of one’s personal experiences and memories. – In her memoir, Michelle Obama shares her journey from childhood to becoming the First Lady.
Book banning – The act of prohibiting or restricting certain books from being read or accessed, often due to controversial or offensive content. – The school district faced backlash for attempting book banning of a popular novel.
Sexual assault – Any unwanted sexual activity or behavior imposed on an individual without their consent. – The #MeToo movement aims to raise awareness about the prevalence of sexual assault.
Racism – Prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief in the superiority of one’s own race. – The Civil Rights Movement fought against institutionalized racism in the United States.
Censorship – The suppression or control of information, ideas, or artistic expression by an authority or governing body. – The government’s censorship of the media raised concerns about freedom of speech.
Silence – The absence of sound or noise; the state of being quiet or still. – The moment of silence was observed to honor the victims of the tragedy.
Childhood – The period of a person’s life between infancy and adolescence. – She had a happy childhood filled with laughter and play.
Stereotypes – Generalized beliefs or assumptions about a particular group of people, often based on limited knowledge or prejudices. – It is important to challenge and break down stereotypes to promote inclusivity and understanding.
Hope – A feeling of optimism or expectation for a positive outcome. – Despite the challenges, she held onto hope for a better future.
