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Stephanie's Reviews > I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (Maya Angelou's Autobiography, #1)
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When I picked up I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou I knew two things:
1. The author is friends with Oprah and the Clintons.
2. The book is considered a classic.
The book is mostly set in the tiny town of Stamps, Arkansas. I lived much of my childhood within an hour's drive of Stamps so I found that detail very interesting.
The account of life as a Negro (the term Ms. Angelou uses) in rural Arkansas was fascinating. Some of it brought to mind memories of my own childhood (though I am "lily white"). Ms. Angelou's detailed description of food left my mouth watering. Barbecue. Mmm! Fried chicken. Oh, yeah! Where can I get some of that?!
I felt outrage at the shoddy treatment Maya and other Negoes in her community received at the hands of Whites. I sympathized with the fear of lynchings (which I confess I've never learned much about). And I admired their ability to feel proud and strong under oppressive circumstances.
That's what I liked about the book.
I did NOT appreciate the explicit descriptions of Maya's rape at age 8 by her mother's boyfriend. Or those of her 11 year old brother "playing family" in a tent in the backyard. Or of her emotionless experience with a teenage neighbor which leaves Maya pregnant.
These accounts left me feeling sick to my stomach and in need of some way to cleanse my mind. I realize that these acts were horrendous but it seemed that Ms. Angelou went out of her way to make them as vulgar and disgusting as possible, which wasn't necessary to get her point across.
It is outrageous to me is that this book is used in 9th and 10th grade English classrooms. This book is NOT appropriate for teenagers! I won't quote you the explicit details Ms. Angelou uses. Trust me, I've read trashy romance novels that had less detail than this book.
So, because of the explicit portions of the book, I cannot recommend it to anyone. Not adult. Definitely NOT teenager.
Edited October 2014:
About once a year I come to this review and read all of the comments that people have left. The older I get (now 40 yrs old) and the older my kids get (currently 6-11 yrs old) the more I stand by my review.
This book is disturbing. The descriptions of sexual abuse are graphic. The thing about words and images is they burn themselves into our minds. They influence our thinking and our decision-making, often without us realizing it. If they didn't influence us then there would be no purpose for their existence. That's why we must be careful about what we expose ourselves to!
I am saddened that the overwhelming argument in the comments FOR tweens/teens reading this book is that it's no worse than what they are exposed to in their interactions with friends, or what they view on TV/movies. Just because they've already learned about rape doesn't make that knowledge healthy or good for them!
That's called 'desensitization.' When you are exposed to something over and over it eventually loses it's power to influence you; it impacts your emotions and thoughts differently than when you were first exposed. Eventually you lose the sense of shock, horror, and outrage. You become numb or calloused.
I do not want to ever become numb or calloused to the horror of sexual abuse. To do so would dishonor my real life friends who endured sexual abuse. It would belittle the 8 yr old victim of the level two child molester living in my neighborhood (that I learned about today).
The other argument for this book is to educate about the terribleness of sexual abuse. Education of this nature should always have a purpose.
Knowledge just for the sake of knowledge is only good if you are a contestant on a game show.
Reading this book influenced me in two ways: it made me more committed to choose age-appropriate materials for my children AND to empower my children to handle inappropriate situations.
We talk a lot about how private parts of your body are ONLY for you and if anyone asks to see them or touches them you tell your parents. We discuss NOT going somewhere alone with an adult. We also explain that some movies/TV shows are not appropriate for them at their current ages.
We make these choices for our children because an education of this graphic level would have no purpose. It would only horrify and frighten them. Eventually we will educate our children about the proliferation of child pornography, about child sexual abuse, about the sex slave trade that is alive in well in our country and around the world. We won't need to go into graphic detail because the horror of such activities is natural.
After they are educated we will offer them outlets for their outrage. We will provide a list of organizations that fight these atrocities that we can support with our time and money. We will teach them to write letters to government officials on behalf of good legislation.
In other words we will give them the means to DO something with their horror; to act on their education. Which ought to be the purpose of all education.
Okay, so you read the book. You are now 'educated.' What are you going to DO with that education? How has this education changed you, your thinking, motivated your actions? How does this knowledge influence you?
1. The author is friends with Oprah and the Clintons.
2. The book is considered a classic.
The book is mostly set in the tiny town of Stamps, Arkansas. I lived much of my childhood within an hour's drive of Stamps so I found that detail very interesting.
The account of life as a Negro (the term Ms. Angelou uses) in rural Arkansas was fascinating. Some of it brought to mind memories of my own childhood (though I am "lily white"). Ms. Angelou's detailed description of food left my mouth watering. Barbecue. Mmm! Fried chicken. Oh, yeah! Where can I get some of that?!
I felt outrage at the shoddy treatment Maya and other Negoes in her community received at the hands of Whites. I sympathized with the fear of lynchings (which I confess I've never learned much about). And I admired their ability to feel proud and strong under oppressive circumstances.
That's what I liked about the book.
I did NOT appreciate the explicit descriptions of Maya's rape at age 8 by her mother's boyfriend. Or those of her 11 year old brother "playing family" in a tent in the backyard. Or of her emotionless experience with a teenage neighbor which leaves Maya pregnant.
These accounts left me feeling sick to my stomach and in need of some way to cleanse my mind. I realize that these acts were horrendous but it seemed that Ms. Angelou went out of her way to make them as vulgar and disgusting as possible, which wasn't necessary to get her point across.
It is outrageous to me is that this book is used in 9th and 10th grade English classrooms. This book is NOT appropriate for teenagers! I won't quote you the explicit details Ms. Angelou uses. Trust me, I've read trashy romance novels that had less detail than this book.
So, because of the explicit portions of the book, I cannot recommend it to anyone. Not adult. Definitely NOT teenager.
Edited October 2014:
About once a year I come to this review and read all of the comments that people have left. The older I get (now 40 yrs old) and the older my kids get (currently 6-11 yrs old) the more I stand by my review.
This book is disturbing. The descriptions of sexual abuse are graphic. The thing about words and images is they burn themselves into our minds. They influence our thinking and our decision-making, often without us realizing it. If they didn't influence us then there would be no purpose for their existence. That's why we must be careful about what we expose ourselves to!
I am saddened that the overwhelming argument in the comments FOR tweens/teens reading this book is that it's no worse than what they are exposed to in their interactions with friends, or what they view on TV/movies. Just because they've already learned about rape doesn't make that knowledge healthy or good for them!
That's called 'desensitization.' When you are exposed to something over and over it eventually loses it's power to influence you; it impacts your emotions and thoughts differently than when you were first exposed. Eventually you lose the sense of shock, horror, and outrage. You become numb or calloused.
I do not want to ever become numb or calloused to the horror of sexual abuse. To do so would dishonor my real life friends who endured sexual abuse. It would belittle the 8 yr old victim of the level two child molester living in my neighborhood (that I learned about today).
The other argument for this book is to educate about the terribleness of sexual abuse. Education of this nature should always have a purpose.
Knowledge just for the sake of knowledge is only good if you are a contestant on a game show.
Reading this book influenced me in two ways: it made me more committed to choose age-appropriate materials for my children AND to empower my children to handle inappropriate situations.
We talk a lot about how private parts of your body are ONLY for you and if anyone asks to see them or touches them you tell your parents. We discuss NOT going somewhere alone with an adult. We also explain that some movies/TV shows are not appropriate for them at their current ages.
We make these choices for our children because an education of this graphic level would have no purpose. It would only horrify and frighten them. Eventually we will educate our children about the proliferation of child pornography, about child sexual abuse, about the sex slave trade that is alive in well in our country and around the world. We won't need to go into graphic detail because the horror of such activities is natural.
After they are educated we will offer them outlets for their outrage. We will provide a list of organizations that fight these atrocities that we can support with our time and money. We will teach them to write letters to government officials on behalf of good legislation.
In other words we will give them the means to DO something with their horror; to act on their education. Which ought to be the purpose of all education.
Okay, so you read the book. You are now 'educated.' What are you going to DO with that education? How has this education changed you, your thinking, motivated your actions? How does this knowledge influence you?
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Katie
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rated it 5 stars
May 04, 2009 09:48PM
Yes, this is a terribly disturbing account of Ms. Angelou's life. While I agree with you that it is not appropriate for 9th and 10th grade classrooms- her stunning portrayal of triumph despite adversity should not be belittled. She is a brilliant writer and I think some empathy for her honesty is in order.
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Your review disturbs me. Not only are you using terms like "negros" (I don't care if that's what the author used herself) but you are suggesting to silence her traumatic story because it's too explicit. Rape is explicit. Child abuse is explicit. The book was supposed to disturb you, and that's what you're afraid of. The most you have to worry about is those words being stuck in your mind, not the physical and emotional pain.
Many people defend Angelou's account on the basis of her honest treatment of hard things. Your response, Stephanie, I also find completely legitimate. And I too find it horrifying that some teachers give this book to high-schoolers Young people do not have the resources and experience to effectively cope with the materials, images, and hatred within this book. Angelou can be very lyrical (although among good writers, I think she's a bit over-rated). Certainly Americans do well to learn from the past mistake of racism. Ultimately, however, this book is best described as a case study of the psychological effects of childhood sexual abuse. It could be effectively read in a class on child psychology or for social work majors or some-such. But, no, it is not light reading and certainly not appropriate for under-eighteen. Adrianna: it is not that we wish to silence Maya Angelou. But there is a place for innocence and for studying that which is good, beautiful, and nurturing... things which a young person needs to deeply understand and contemplate *before* they read this book.
There are some 9th and 10th graders who are rapped, pregnant, and go through other traumatic and unmentionable things. Should we not speak of it and only talk about the way life should Be. life was not so good, beautiful, and nurturing to me as and adolescent. I was relived to find this book as a child. i realized that someone can go through hardships and succeeded in the end. Everybody needs a different kind of mentor. i personally believe that teenagers 16 and up can handle truth. Depends on what they are taught. If you feel like rape is something that should wait to be talked about until teens are 18 thats your choice. But sometimes inconvenient things happen in between adolescents and adulthood. its called life. Shes just very raw with it. how do you describe those things so that they sound light and fluffy to young readers?
You should consider changing your choice of words. Referring to black people as Negroes may be offensive to some people. There are other choices. Black, African American, ebony decent. Pick one.
I am a fifteen year old teenager and this book was on my wider reading list for english literature. I think that you have a remarkably narrow minded idea of what teenage children can take and what we might find appropriate or not. I am exposed to worse stories than this practically every day in school. I am not going to shrivel up and die from the mention of a rape or from explicit writing in a book, and with all respect I think that you should remember that teenagers are not as innocent as people would like to belive. I am fifteen, not five.
I entirely disagree with the description as vulgar and disgusting. I thought these honest descriptions were handled with dignity. We can't force sexuality in a safe little box.
I was unfortunate enough to pick this book up and read it for an English class. (Who knows how it ended up in our school library?) My teacher approved it and even said it was a great choice, but he was wrong. I honestly wish I had never given it a second glance. I'm only 14, and it pretty much ruined my childhood innocence, which is not something I enjoy losing. Just because the kids I walk by at school are corrupted and perverted doesn't mean I have to be. Call me sheltered or naive or whatever you want. I'd rather be naive than to have those things going around my mind.
I have to say, honestly, that after reading the book I can say that her discription of rape was neither tramatic or horrific. It was very matter of fact and she didn't go into explect detail of every little event or use graffic language. Have you been to the movies in the last decade? This is nothing compaired to what most 9th and 10th graders watch on the big screen.
I wanted to comment and say how shocked I was that this reviewer was disgusted by the "vulgar" description of rape. I see, however, that several readers have beat me to it, so I will save my rant. I can't however, stay completely quiet, when I come across someone who refuses to acknowledge the shocking truth of our world. Women get raped because close minded, fearful, weak, people refuse to speak about it, refuse to gain insight about it, and refuse to stand up for what is right. Shame on you.
I think that as a woman reading about rapes leaves me feeling very vulnerable and violated myself. I have set down perfectly good books because the descriptions of rape is to vivid. I think it is because when I read I want to be taken to a place different then my own. Some of these places I have read about I would rather not go. But that doesn't mean I would want out literature censored.
Maya is a brilliant writer and yes, her story is a little vulgar at times, but it's a TRUE story based on her life. This is what happened in those days and if it makes people uncomfortable, then she's doing a good job. The stuff she talks about shouldn't be taken lightly and all women should read this book someday.
Why rate something bad if it makes you uncomfortable? You should judge the book on the plot and the writing style, not how she purposefully wrote something that would give people an obvious adverse reaction. That was the whole point, it was supposed to make you feel disgusted.
If real life is so uncomfortable, stick to fiction. If you dislike it, you need to look at yourself.
Women do NOT get raped because "close minded" people don't stand up. Women and girls are raped because some men choose to do evil acts.I still believe that this is a book best read by adults. I can only imagine how a teen girl who has been raped would feel after reading this book for a high school literature class. It is completely inappropriate for school.
It seems to me that your beef is more with America's education system allowing and even encouraging this book to be read in school, rather than with the author's uncloaked and unglamorous portrayal of her childhood. Perhaps, out of fairness, you should find a website where you can rate the education system with a one star rather than this beautiful artist's magnum opus.Also, you really should consider using a different term to describe black people, as you are a white woman and this is not 1950.
exactly, elisa. You beat me to it. Perfectly put
No, Brita, is right. Sexual violence and domestic abuse are so prevalent because of the cultural context. Many people discredit victims or simply would rather not acknowledge the horrors that happen to other people. You should be happy that this is simply a story you can read about and decide how uncomfortable it makes rather than a memory you have to bear that haunts you. As for teenagers, being sexually assaulted is a very alienating act whether or not the victims come forward. If anything, I would think it would be a sign of inspiration to see how Angelou has turned a traumatizing act in her childhood into an award-winning masterpiece. It is so important for women, especially if they've been abused, to tell their stories, not ignore them.
Teaching teenagers how to deal with complex themes is what high school literature is for. If you take away stories with issues and trauma you're destroying the point, which is to challenge them intellectually and morally. You're also attempting to directly deceive them from the true happenings in the world. I can't imagine a greater disability to explore newly found independence with at 18, than a sheltered mind.
I agree that this book isn't appropriate for young audiences, however I do believe that Maya Angelou's writing style is beautiful and fluid. Her depictions of the graphic scenes that you mention weren't meant to sensationalize the behavior or circumstances involved, but rather to expose them.
I suggest you read Lolita. If you think this is bad, you'll have a field day with Nabokov.
Oh lordy no, don't give teen girls a dose of reality!
The point of the book was to stress the good and the bad sides of growing up in the era and circumstances that Angelou did grow up in. And unfortunately those were bad. If you paid attention in any American history class you should of been expecting that! The things Angelou went through were explicit. She made them vulgar and disgusting because rape and abuse is very much vulgar and disgusting. I admire her ability to look back on those events and write them in the detail she did. Sincerely,
The 10th grader analyzing this book for summer reading.
I continue to be amazed that 3 years after I wrote this review it is still getting comments and that people who do not know me or my life experiences continue to attack ME rather than discussing the book.For the record, I hold a BA degree in history with a minor in political science and a focus on American History. Before my children were born I was licensed to teach 7-12 grade social studies in two states. I think I know just a little about southern American history and the American educational system.
The purpose of high school literature is to teach students to analyze and critique the writings of others so that their own compositions will transmit the ideas and beliefs they intend to express. It is not a high school teacher's job to teach students how to handle complex issues in life - that is a parent's job.
I do not have to read the explicit details of a violent crime to know that it is horrific. Just as I do not need to read the explicit details of war, or starvation, or dying from cancer to understand these are terrible things and feel empathy for those who suffer from them.
In my opinion those three sexual experiences consist maybe four pages of the whole book and it would be ignorant to project your own disgust with childrens sexuality and also with negative sexual experiences on Maya´s writing. To me it is so obvious the whole book is written in a very natural way, without the need to impress, conceal, let alone disgust the reader. There seems to be no other intention then to tell the story the way she has experienced it, which is rare to find in an autobiography. It may be shocking to you but that is completely different than saying the writer intended to be shocking. And that being said only of those couple of pages. So a few pages color your whole perception of the book?
Stephanie, I just joined GoodReads and wanted to let you know that your review is the 3rd one down for this book; it's not hard to notice, which is probably why you're still getting comments. Also, I don't think anyone here is attacking YOU as much as they're attacking your review. As we are discussing the book, like you said, I don't see why your educational background is relevant at all. Like a reviewer mentioned previously, it seems as though you're more upset about the availability of this book to teens than the book itself.Anyway, I'm 25 now but I read this while I was in high school ten years ago, but on my own time as it was getting a lot of hype back then. I don't think I was ever required to read it. Regardless, I loved it. Personally, though I'm older now, I'm a little offended that you think teenagers are either too naive or not "strong" enough to deal with this type of material.
In fact, your belief of such, along with your incredulity of the scenes in this book, and your mention that there are "trashy romance novels" that aren't as graphic...lead me to believe that 1)You haven't been reading the right romance novels and 2)You apparently have the maturity of what YOU assume teenagers to have.
Everything about this book is real. THAT is why I loved it.
If you don't want people to discuss your review there's a simple solution, delete it, as long as it's up here people are going to keep commenting. Plenty of people have echoed my thoughts here, but I just wanted to add I think it's pretty appalling you'd compare the author's (actually pretty brief and non-explicit) description of her own rape to a romance novel. Also, how hard would it have been for you to just say black? Which is also used in the book, so your word choice reflects pretty badly on you.
I read this book in middle school and I am so glad that I did. Being a victim of sexual brutality at a young age also given the high rates of sexual harassment and rape of teenaged girls how is this not appropriate for teens and youth? Rapists and child molesters sure dont have limits on age and timing. Rape and molestation is vulgar and disgusting and im not even sure words can capture how vile it is. This book was a cornerstone in my life even in middle school. It is something many young girls should read as statistics show most women have been sexually violated at least once in their life. And that is just one aspect covered in this book.
Many people have already expressed my thoughts on the subject matter of this review so I will try my hardest not be redundant. Stephanie, you shouldn’t throw out an uneducated guess without research. Check the statistics. It is very true that sexual abuse is higher in numbers because people don't speak up. Because victims are unaware of sexual abuse and its seriousness, popularity, and symptoms. Many children, mothers and women who are victims of sexual abuse aren't aware of what it "looks like" so they don't speak out and in return the predators have the upper hand and are able to continue a vicious cycle. I was a victim of sexual abuse as a preteen. I knew very little about it because I was uneducated on the subject matter and didn't have the strongest support system at that time in my life. It was books like Push by Sapphire and I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou that got me through it. I read those books on my own in middle school which were actually referred to me by my child psychologist. Rape, molestation, sexual abuse in all ways are very real. The majority of people affected by it are between the ages of 7-13 years old. Why shouldn't they be the ones to read "vulgar" novels about abuse? Because their own abuse was likely just as "vulgar". Sometimes worse. It's ok to say that you can't relate to the novel as you were probably a blessed soul who didn't have to go through those types of life struggles. I'm not saying your opinion his wrong, just saying I disagree. And also, you misquoted what statistics would disagree with when you said that "Women do NOT get raped because "close minded" people don't stand up. Women and girls are raped because some men choose to do evil acts."
I support stephanie, there are better books out there for young adults to read, especially high schoolers.
Maxy wrote: "I was unfortunate enough to pick this book up and read it for an English class. (Who knows how it ended up in our school library?) My teacher approved it and even said it was a great choice, but he..."Good for you for posting your opinion here, Maxy! It's hard to stand up against the crowd, but your feelings are real and valid. I'm sorry you had your innocence shattered. Reading this book may be helpful for some people, but that doesn't mean it was good for you. My son feels the same way as you do. I strongly feel that this book should not be required reading for high school kids. Optional reading okay, but it was required for my son's English class and a teacher saw no problem with it. So many negative comments on here, but I support Stephanie and Jones.
You can't be serious. These things, rape and unexpected pregnancy, they happen to teenagers too. Maybe even mostly to teenagers. Why on earth should they not read about it? What is this talk about their "innocence"? Nothing good can come from not talking about rape. Yes, it leaves you feeling uncomfortable. Rape is uncomfortable, and if reading about it doesn't make you feel that way, the writer is doing something wrong.I am honestly really upset that you are so naive that you don't see how teenagers are exposed to these things all the time. Talking about it is a good thing. How are they supposed to know it's okay to feel bad about being raped, and that it's not their fault, and they shouldn't feel ashamed, if no one ever tells them? By reading this book, people who have been through this can see that they are not alone. And that is so important.
I cried when I read this. I wanted to throw something at the wall, because it hurts me that people do this. Rape. But that's an okay reaction, that means I understand how wrong it is. And that makes me stronger.
I have several friends who got raped, before the age of eighteen. I've talked with them about this and it made them feel better.
Never, ever stop talking about this.
And remember this actually happened to Maya. She didn't make it up to provoke. It happened, and it happens everyday.
Maja, perhaps if you read my actual review, you may understand my viewpoint better. I agree with you that rape is terrible and should never be covered up. It makes me cry, too. I agree that girls should be warned and educated about it. My problem is with the graphic nature of Ms. Angelou's account and with other graphic sexual content in her book. I believe that teens can understand about rape without having to be dragged through every sordid detail, almost as if they were experiencing it themselves. A very good book about rape for teens and for parents is Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. Have you read it? If not, I recommend it. It is quite powerful, and it accomplishes that without being graphic about the actual rape, yet clear that it happened. You are welcome to your own opinions, of course. Do you pronounce your name "Maya" like Ms. Angelou, or with a "j" sound?
If it happens to young girls, then why not discuss it the way that Angelou does? There are much more graphic representations of it. She does it in a tasteful manner that actually lets you feel the true terror of the situation. If you give high schoolers tamer versions they are going to know they are being treated like children. This is an excellent transition into young adulthood.
I feel you have a right to your opinion. Books remain classic for good reason, and that you created such a backlash through your comment demonstrates how deeply some feel for the story.
Think critically though, if she--as a writer-- made you feel disgusted, that alone, is very powerful.
Silence would have been defeat. Some victims of abuse and violence die because they are too afraid to tell anyone and are threatened to remain silent.
She needed to speak out about the abuse and how she had been violated, and she used her pen to do so.
Even the title of the book tells a story: a caged bird (imprisoned) sings (speaks out; begs for freedom or communicates to those who are free).
This is not my favorite book. Infact it's not even in my top 20 but I will say this, I am PROUD of her for voicing her life. For voicing the horrors that women go through. For showing me what the world was like to an impoverished black child and woman. Rape is disgusting. Racism is horrible. Poverty is ugly. Sex sometimes can be completely meaningless.
I don't ever want to read a book where some ones tries to "soften the blow" "make nice of a bad situation" or "mellows out" the real and fucking honest truth of life.
Also, any teenager that would read this book and not be able to "recover" has been sheltered and just had their eyes opened to the real world. That is not the problem, it's a solution. You have to know what this world really is to make it and maybe then change it
You should put SPOILER ALERT at the beginning of your review
You really out to change the use of the N word in your review. It doesnt matter if the author used it in the book, it is offensive to every black person reading your review of the book.
Wow, I am shocked about the ignorance and close minded thinking of some people. As a woman and one who read this book at 16, never once did I think I was too young for the book. It is a beautiful piece of art that expresses the truth. As a young woman, I've seen much of the student body at my high school go through hardships. They were deffinelty able to handle this book.
I am absolutely astounded that you have the nerve to criticise someones account of a sexual assault for being 'too graphic'. I feel deeply sorry for your children that they are so harboured and sheltered by you that you feel them too 'weak' or 'young' to be able to cope with this novel.You wouldn't even recommend it to adults? This is how ignorance continues to rear it's head in our society. It also demonstrates your ignorance that the sexual aspects of this book are the only ones you feel the need to comment on.
Just stop and think for a second: If you feel uncomfortable and find it vulgar and detailed, remember that this is a TRUE STORY, not fiction. Maya did not make this up, that is what she experienced. So if this is how it made you feel, how about you turn your discomfort into empathy, towards what Maya endured. Most people when they feel uncomfortable, it's because they fear what they do not understand. Let's hope none of your children are ever harmed, raped or assaulted, as your lack of understanding is already evident.
This review kills me. As a kid who had gone through some abuse, this book probably saved my life. Was the lord of the flies ok then? Why hide the ugliness of society? How about To Kill a Mockingbird? Is a child magically an adult at 18, but there is no build up? Teenager have bad things happen to them. They need to build coping skills. Turn on your television- do you allow them to watch? If not, do you plan on maintaining that reign their whole lives? If I need someone to introduce these difficult topics to the youth, my own offspring someday, I pray it is Maya, or Morrison, because they can do it with decorum and class, and art, rather than blunt MTV style shove it in your face. Now, I understand that IKWTCBS hits on some things that may be shocking to some students. Incest. Rape. Poverty (hey that alone is shocking to some kids). Racism. But sheltering these kids instead of letting the goddess of language show (not tell) how these things can affect a society, or 3 girls, or 1 little girl? Open a conversation? Why would we do that?!Maya has a many well earned awards (a Pulitzer, and a million other awards). She did not win that for naught. Her stories are the most beautifully written, musically inclined, works of art I can read. I would give all limbs to be able to craft a story like any of hers. There is pulse there. Better than that, she has real people that bleed real blood on her pages. What do we think? All of the children are stupid, weak, and unable to form thoughts and opinions? Do not underestimate our children- do not hold their minds back. (Shout out to Dr. Humprey at E- High, who forced opinions out of all of us in 10th and 11th grade, making me realize a lot of things about myself, making me a better person, communicator, writer, and getting me to college. Also, for giving me a huge stack of Morrison and Angelou.) Why are you afraid of the kids?
I recognize the argument is "think of the children," but it reads like "oh no! I may have to explain some awful things, and I'm not prepared to do that!" or maybe "parental yelling! React! React!" The stupid thing is, it's not REQUIRED that all schools use the novel, it's just on a list of approved books. There is obviously great use of the literary devices used in order for people to keep coming back and call this novel a classic. So, what's next? What other books should be eliminated? Who else should be silenced? I'm thinking if you cut out Maya, and silence victims, then you've got to take out the Catcher in the Rye. Only fair. And then, obviously, To Kill A Mockingbird. I'm sure there's more. They basically act out raping a pig and then violent murder children in Lord of the Flies (Latin translation: Beelzebub, Satanism too!), so why is that ok?
PS- just bc the author uses the term negro, doesn't mean you can repeatedly use it. You may quote once or twice, but c'mon. You know.
Why did you continue to read it? If it bothered you so much?
Would you have preferred Dr Angelou had skipped over the child abuse she experienced or made it "fluffy"? The reason her experiences were described graphically is because they were graphic and horrific. To omit them, or minimalise them would be to deny how severe and disturbing these incidents were. Teenagers cannot be protected from everything. Bad things happen in this world. If Dr Angelou hadn't even brave enough to frankly talk about the abuse she experienced then she wouldn't be as inspirational to as many people. She survived and prospered despite the abuse she suffered. This could inspire a teenager going through similar to keep going. And anyway, kids see so much lewdity and sex on TV that to think this book would damage them is quite condescending.
The "shattering" of innocence means nothing more than the fact that you learned something that made you think about what we are capable of.No it's not always comfortable, but it is a necessary lesson on the road to adulthood. Better reading about it than experiencing it. Now you, as a young girl, will better able to protect yourself, and Dawn's son who "didn't like" the book will be able to empathize with victims of sexual abuse.
Well said Stephanie and Elisa.
Tom wrote: "I am absolutely astounded that you have the nerve to criticise someones account of a sexual assault for being 'too graphic'. I feel deeply sorry for your children that they are so harboured and she..."Masterfully said Tom.
Life is explicit. You can't skip over it or ban it. You're going to have to find a way to cope with it. Dr. Angelou expressed the horrific events in her life through her writing, which included rape. She wrote what she knew and how she felt. I would recommend this book to teenagers (probably 15+). This book gives insight into Angelou's life and I think she did a pretty damn good job. Sometimes parents shelter their children from tough stuff because they don't think they should be exposed to these topics. I believe that it is best for parents and teachers to introduce such topics to us teenagers with an open mind rather than with bias or waiting until it actually happens to us. I understand that parents don't want their children to get hurt---physically or emotionally/mentally. You have to put yourself in someone else's shoes to understand their situation! Also, if parents and teachers don't share this knowledge with children and teenagers, how are they supposed to understand it?It's not fair that Maya Angelou and others have to go through things like rape and are mistreated for confronting it. They don't have a CHOICE!!! Reading books like this require the reader to empathize with the writer, which is what she deserves! It takes courage to relive these experiences and share them with the world.
All it takes is a little understanding...
Oh, and by the way, I chose to read this book on my own. No one influenced me to do so. I formed my own opinion about it.I am a seventeen year old female and I could relate to this book in other ways than the rape scene.
I've also read Speak, a couple of times actually! That is another beautiful book about the hardships of coping with rape.
Maya Angelou was just explaining her experiences they she went through them. If her parents monitored and censored her behavior, her life would have been completely different and she probably would not have been able to mature in such an honorable fashion. She became a stronger woman because of her experiences.
I don't have any issues with this being taught in schools. I've never had to read it for school and I probably never will because parents believe it should be banned for graphic and sexual content.
However, that's just life. Kids need to learn about life to grow into mature adults. Life is not a censored book with parts left out.
Take Anne Frank's diary, for example. Otto Frank requested that parts of it should be edited out and now there is some controversy about how much her diary could have been manipulated (i.e. adding or subtracting details to change things up).
