FREE ESSAY ON MAYA ANGELOU

MAYA ANGELOU

Maya Angelou explains ( in her autobiography, Why the Caged Bird Sings,) why her religious
background and church upbringing are so important to her life and poetic writing. I came
to know Jesus, as I was married and sad, I found in him a resting place, and He made me
glad. (page 124). She also states The good Lord gave me another day and I'm thankful.
(page 122). I know I am a witness for my Lord. (Page 124). 
The Bible says, he who can hear let them hear. Maya wants the world to hear her sing
through her poetry. Understanding Maya Angelou's religious upbringing and faith in God is
the key to understanding her as a bblack female poet and writer caged in the rascism of
America. Her belief in God shapes her writing and gave her the courage to sing in a caged
racist society. 
After reading Maya Angelou's book, Why the Caged Bird Sings, it was obvious that her
religious background and upbringing in the church is an important key to understanding
her writing. As I read her book , I came to realize the caged bird is symbolic of how
Maya feels about life. She is the caged bird. The cage is the racsim and pejudice in
America against Blacks and females. Maya's poetry is her song. God meant for birds and
Maya to sing. God also meant for birds to be free. Maya's faith in God has freed her to
sing her beautiful poetry.
Her religious upbringing gave her the courage to sing through her poetry as a black
female trapped in an invisable cage made of racial prejudice and economic poverty. Maya
Angelou literally and sybolically sings through her writing and her poetry. The caged
bird is sybolic of a black female learning to cope and fight against the the racist
attitudes and realities that exist in America. Maya knows why the caged bird sings
because she realizes she is a caged bird in a rascist society. A caged bird can sing a
beautiful song or a black female in America can write beautiful poetry.
Her belief in God set her free to express herself without fear of reprisal. God gave Maya
a gift and she uses it to honor God. Her family and church upbringing gives her the
confidence and belief in herself that she can succeed base upon her her own character and
God-given talents. Maya's determination and drive to succed as a poet, literally sets her
free from the rascist cage she is imprisioned in both as a child and a young woman. A
bird is set free when it sings whether it's caged or not. The act of singing or freely
expressin oneself through poetry sets a person free. The soul and spirit cannot be caged.
A true belief in God set Maya Angelou free to pursue her dreams and use the literrary
talents God gave her.
Religion and family are central influences on Maya Angelou's life. She called her
grandmother, a big bullheaded Christian who was always witnessing to everyone. (page 254)
Her Grandma was like a mother to her and her brother and always took them to church twice
a week. Maya's grandma was always quoting biblical scripture. Maya believes her
grandmother was trying to teach her through the examples of Jesus Christ. Grandma always
had a moral to her religious stories. (page 131). Like her grandma, Maya takes great
comfort in the fact that she has accepted Jesu into her heart and knows she's going to
Heaven. Maya has no fear with God and is free to sing.
Church gatherings are also a major influence on Maya's life. These gatherings give her a
chance to learn the Word of God , and intreract with her peer and elders. Socially and
spiritually, Maya finds a place where she's accepted. She learns to be free of the racial
shackles that oppressed her people. She learns to sing like the  caged bird. Nothing can
keep her from singing even if she and her people are caged. God gives her the faith and
belief that she can do anything. Like the old Negro Hymnal states,  We shall overcome.
Religious revivals bring Maya's whole community together. Revivals are a way of to bring
straying souls to Jesus. It also brings blacks from different churches and nearby
communities together as one people. Maya remebers the urge to get up and witness one
night and 20 people got saved at that one revivial. God saves them through Jesus and they
are free to sing. God frees them from their cages.
Maya Angelou knows why the caged bird sings because she sings like a bird through her
poetry. God gives birds the ability to sing and birds sing even when they are caged. Maya
Reveals how her belief in God and her church upbringing shapes her life and sets her free
to become one of America's best writers and poets. Her belief in God and her writing set
her free. 
Bibliography
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