This piece of autobiographical works is one of the greatest pieces of literature and will continue to inspire young and old Black Americans to this day because her harsh and racially fraught background is what produced an eloquent piece of work that sometimes seems more fiction than nonfiction In 1970, a boy with skinny legs and muddy skin was introduced to African-American literature. Born Marguerite Johnson, she became known as Maya Angelou (Lupton 51). His critically acclaimed works changed the way African American autobiography is written. Angelou, well known as an entertainer, was urged by James Baldwin and the cartoonist Jules Fifer and his wife Judy to try her hand at writing an autobiography. After several supplies he agreed that the result was a unique series of autobiographical stories. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is the first of five autobiographies by Maya Angelous. It covers her life from the age of three when her parents send her and her brother Bailey to live with her paternal grandmother Annie Henderson in Arkansas until the age of sixteen when she becomes a mother. Annie had the major influence on his childhood. (Lupton 24). While staying with her grandmother, Maya is raped by her mother's boyfriend, Mr. Freeman, who warns her to keep quiet or he will kill her brother Bailey. after the trial the free man dies after being violently beaten, presumably by the Mayans, unless. Maya really silent, mute, can't speak. The silent Maya is returned to mother Henderson although she can speak less for five years until she recovers her voice thanks to the patient help of her grandmother's friend, Mrs. Bertha Flowers. (Lupton 52). Many of the problems Marguerite encounters in her childhood stem from prejudice or...... middle of paper ...... is of particular importance for women. Angelou's book, although intended for a broad audience, is also concerned with conveying the difficulties of being black and a woman in America. Angelou addresses these issues in such a way that appeals to all of her readers for understanding and also speaks to the particular segment of her audience that she represents. This piece of autobiographical works is one of the greatest pieces of literature and will continue to inspire young and old Black Americans to this day because its harsh and racially fraught background is what has produced an eloquent work that at times seems more like fiction than not fictionWorks Cited Anderson, John. Blooms bio Criticisms Maya Angelo .bloom hall Pa, chelas house publishing's, 2002.Lupton Jane, Mary. Maya Angelou a critical companion. Westport, CT, Greenwood Press 1998.