Actually, Dr. Angelou did not write the poem, "I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings" because of racial segregation. She wrote it because she endured a traumatic event during her childhood that led to a post traumatic issue that affected her ability to speak. (Trust me, I know. I've met her.) Read the BOOK titled "I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings" by Dr. Angelou, which coincides this poem. It will give you much insight and knowledge into what horrific trauma she endured during her youth, how she battled it and eventually conquered it!! At Murray State University in August 2011, Dr. Angelou spoke before an enormous crowd and told her story in detail. She said quote, "I lost my voice for many, many years, but poetry gave it back to me!!" I led the clap when she said that, and the crowd quickly followed. I was one of only seven journalists allotted the opportunity to sit at her feet beneath the stage; after her speech, I was the ONLY journalist Dr. Angelou allotted the opportunity to speak with one-on-one...She literally stopped her own security and stretched out her hand to me, motioning for me to come speak with her...I, of course, ran to her and softly took her fragile hand, and we talked for a good 10 minutes before she got on her tour bus and was driven to a funeral of someone dear to her. What a dream come true it was for me to get to converse with her, though! I will pray without ceasing that you and your family are indeed freed from this trauma related to cancer, and that you all will soon "fly" like the rest of "us" former "caged birds." I say "us" because I was once a caged bird, myself...I lost my voice for ten years due to a neurological voice disorder called spasmodic dysphonia, which was onset by a trauma. In 2009, I flew to UCLA and had experimental vocal cord surgery; it worked!! Now, I speak almost perfectly, with only a "glitch" every now and then. Looking back at how angry I was that I had to endure and battle my voice loss with seemingly no hope at all during the time, as doctors throughout the Northwest Tennessee area told me there was no cure for SD, only treatment options that worked for some but not for others...After trying the "then" best treatment options in this area, I was told my multiple doctors that I would, probably for the rest of my life, be forced to speak through a headset microphone hooked to a voice amp., which I wore on my hip so that it would magnify my whispers, and I would be somewhat understandable...As hard as that decade of my life was, I wouldn't trade a day of my voice loss because it's made me the person I am today, a much better and more sensitive person than I was before I lost my voice...Before my voice trials, I was an arrogant, loud television broadcaster that didn't have a real clue as to what the most important priorities in life were ;) :) I wish the very best for you and your family. We battle, and with Jesus Christ, we indeed conquer our greatest challenges!!
B.Cherry - Letter Press Publications
p.s. I share a birthday with Dr. Maya Angelou: April 4th; she is exactly 50 years my senior ;) :) She was born in 1928; I was born in 1978.
Thanks for the info. That's what is wonderful about poetry, we can use it and interpret it for ourselves. I've always thought it was a good outlet for expression.
Actually, Dr. Angelou did not write the poem, "I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings" because of racial segregation. She wrote it because she endured a traumatic event during her childhood that led to a post traumatic issue that affected her ability to speak. (Trust me, I know. I've met her.) Read the BOOK titled "I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings" by Dr. Angelou, which coincides this poem. It will give you much insight and knowledge into what horrific trauma she endured during her youth, how she battled it and eventually conquered it!! At Murray State University in August 2011, Dr. Angelou spoke before an enormous crowd and told her story in detail. She said quote, "I lost my voice for many, many years, but poetry gave it back to me!!" I led the clap when she said that, and the crowd quickly followed. I was one of only seven journalists allotted the opportunity to sit at her feet beneath the stage; after her speech, I was the ONLY journalist Dr. Angelou allotted the opportunity to speak with one-on-one...She literally stopped her own security and stretched out her hand to me, motioning for me to come speak with her...I, of course, ran to her and softly took her fragile hand, and we talked for a good 10 minutes before she got on her tour bus and was driven to a funeral of someone dear to her. What a dream come true it was for me to get to converse with her, though! I will pray without ceasing that you and your family are indeed freed from this trauma related to cancer, and that you all will soon "fly" like the rest of "us" former "caged birds." I say "us" because I was once a caged bird, myself...I lost my voice for ten years due to a neurological voice disorder called spasmodic dysphonia, which was onset by a trauma. In 2009, I flew to UCLA and had experimental vocal cord surgery; it worked!! Now, I speak almost perfectly, with only a "glitch" every now and then. Looking back at how angry I was that I had to endure and battle my voice loss with seemingly no hope at all during the time, as doctors throughout the Northwest Tennessee area told me there was no cure for SD, only treatment options that worked for some but not for others...After trying the "then" best treatment options in this area, I was told my multiple doctors that I would, probably for the rest of my life, be forced to speak through a headset microphone hooked to a voice amp., which I wore on my hip so that it would magnify my whispers, and I would be somewhat understandable...As hard as that decade of my life was, I wouldn't trade a day of my voice loss because it's made me the person I am today, a much better and more sensitive person than I was before I lost my voice...Before my voice trials, I was an arrogant, loud television broadcaster that didn't have a real clue as to what the most important priorities in life were ;) :) I wish the very best for you and your family. We battle, and with Jesus Christ, we indeed conquer our greatest challenges!!
ReplyDeleteB.Cherry - Letter Press Publications
p.s. I share a birthday with Dr. Maya Angelou: April 4th; she is exactly 50 years my senior ;) :) She was born in 1928; I was born in 1978.
Thanks for the info. That's what is wonderful about poetry, we can use it and interpret it for ourselves. I've always thought it was a good outlet for expression.
ReplyDelete