Welcome to your online discussion of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings!
Together with members of your book group, you’ll be reading I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings over the next several weeks. Although you're not required to take notes while you read, it would be wise to keep track of important events and characters for your own clarification. You are, however, expected to participate regularly and thoughtfully in an online discussion of FOUR essential questions.
Here's how it works:
Divide your book into three roughly equal sections. You need to have read and blogged about these sections by the due dates below.
There are two kinds of posts in this discussion: responses and comments.
Responses = direct responses to the essential questions
- Post at least TWO responses for each section of your book (SIX overall).
- You must comment on all of the essential questions over the course of your reading.
- One of your six responses can be a “free-response" post.
Comments = comment on someone else’s posted response or comment
- Post at least THREE comments for each section of your book (NINE overall).
Due dates:
- Post your first set of responses and comments by Thursday, April 14.
- Post your second set of responses and comments by Monday, April 25.
- Post your third set of responses and comments by Tuesday, May 3.
Essential Questions:
- How does the story (setting, characters, plot, etc.) illuminate aspects of African-American culture? Be specific! (Page references are helpful.)
- How does the story (setting, characters, plot, etc.) illuminate aspects of African-American history?
- In what ways does this book refute the notion of the “single story”?
- How does the story (setting, characters, plot, etc.) reflect or illuminate the current state of race relations in our country? Have we made any progress as a society?
** Free-response option: Address another issue/episode/or passage in the book that you find
significant for any reason.
Assessment: To earn maximum credit, post thoughtful responses that are at least a short paragraph in length—and carefully proofread! Do not misspell characters' or authors’ names! Also, be sure to include specific references to the text (either details or short quotations). Page numbers, too, are always helpful.
Hey, This is Lauren. This a cool group!
ReplyDeleteHi i'm Emma
ReplyDeleteHi I'm Sydney
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeletesalud! Mon nom est Victoria
ReplyDeleteHi I'm Michelle.
ReplyDeleteHow does the story (setting, characters, plot, etc.) illuminate aspects of African-American history?
ReplyDeleteThe story The Cage Bird Sings tells us about a girl named Maya Angelou who grew up with a hard life all because of her race. She's famous now even though she had limitations. She had a bad life that involved bullying and rape. She was raised by her grandmother and mother, they ran a store. She had a better life compared to what some of the African-Americans went through in the 1800’s. I say this because she wasn't treated like a slave but she still had an extremely difficult life. Overall Maya is a very important person in history. She is very inspirational to everyone, especially African American girls. The story tells us that Maya really couldn't fight back when she was picked on over and over. She had to find another way to escape back and she did this by reading. Reading really helps her overcome the problems in life. She inspired many others to keep pushing through their hard times and make it to where they want to be today, that is why she is a part of African-American history.
How does the story (setting, characters, plot, etc.) reflect or illuminate the current state of race relations in our country? Have we made any progress as a society?
The story reviews that racism is still going on behind the scenes for African Americans. We learn that life is really hard for them. If we don't help them soon this might become something bigger. It also shows that our society is lazy. They don't want to do things themselves. The white people bullied Maya, they felt as is if they had power and control by doing this. For example, in the church at the beginning of the book. They didn't need to trip Maya. Just to be mean they bullied Maya so that they could show everyone that they had power. Everything that happened to Maya scared her, but she decided that she was going overcome everything that happens to her by reading. Yes, we have made progress. For the most part, everyone is considered equal. In the book, some African Americans are still treated poorly. The African Americans should be treated with the same rights as everyone else. We now have laws that say that everyone has equal rights. Although you can't speak for everyone in America. You still see on the news that African Americans might get shot just because they are black or you hear that police do not treat African Americans and white people equally. But this is much better in today's society compared to the time that Maya grew up. People are more educated and understand that we need to follow the laws. They are much more open to treating people equally.
This is really good! Maybe you should have included page numbers though.
DeleteOk, thank you I will see what I can do for page numbers in the next response.
DeleteHi Sydney! I liked your in-depth explanation on Maya's experiences of being subjected to bullying. It's true, that was certainly a part of african-american history at the time. I look forward to your next response!
DeleteI really like your explanation of how racism is still and issue today. And I agree with you completely that if we don't help people, then racism will become a even bigger issue than it already is. Keep up the good work!
DeleteHow does the story (setting, characters, plot, etc.) reflect or illuminate the current state of race relations in our country? Have we made any progress as a society?
ReplyDeleteWithin the text written by Maya Angelou, she speaks of how she wished to be like the other girls, with blonde hair and blue eyes, and I feel like that is a reflection as to many girls or boys nowadays, weather they be black or not. I for one at many times in my childhood wished that I wasn't born with a bland color of hair and wanted to be like many of the other girls in my class. Of course we as people will always strive to be better or alike those we praise or admire in our society. With that, it seems like that light from the past of our society has shown through to today.
How does the story (setting, characters, plot, etc.) illuminate aspects of African-American history?
I believe that the author of the auto biography showed us a window to the past, in the happenings of her experiences she endured. In these ways, she was brutally raped, which as sadly common in those days (no less now,) but was treated significantly better than other girls her age were, to my surprise. She was discriminated against by other girls her age, and had actually never met "a white" until she was older! Maya led a much different life than the average white girl, but she worked harder and endured more than any of them. I suppose that'd be in a way, a reflection of African American history.
This is also really good! To make it even better, I would have included page numbers and a few more details from the text!
DeleteVery nice point Victoria. Nowadays people are very similar to how Maya was back then. Maya has a hard life and it is similar to ours, but only in some ways.
DeleteHow does the story (setting, characters, plot, etc.) illuminate aspects of African-American culture?
ReplyDeleteThe story shows aspects of African-American culture because it shows that African- Americans are treated very different than the white. This book shows that Maya was raped, got a job where they payed her less than the white servants, and forced to pick cotton in the fields. Maya was bullied for her skin color and did not tell the truth in the court case about the rape because she was scared they wouldn't do anything about it and hurt her family. It shows how mistreated the African- American are and even how African-Americans were never used and magazines and payed less than the white.
How does the story (setting, characters, plot, etc.) reflect or illuminate the current state of race relations in our country? Have we made any progress as a society?
It shows how much we have grown to welcome African-Americans and how different it is now then back then. Now, African-Americans can go anywhere safely and be able to be treated with respect. They are payed as much as white people and are featured on magazines and media. We generally do not bully them and they are now respected.
Very nice Lauren, I like how you pointed out that we are all payed equally now. I think to make this even better you could point out that they're are still some problems with African American Culture today. Although African American Culture's problems are not huge today they are still there. I also think that you could try to shorten some of your sentences or add some periods so they don't seem like run on sentences. In all very nice paper good job.
DeleteGood job, Lauren! You did an excellent job of conveying your message on African-Americans being treated poorly. I agree with Sydney on how you've pointed out that we've grown to respect them, that's a great thing to add to a reflection. Although, I once more can say that Sydney was correct in pointing out a few longer than necessary sentences. All in all, you did an nice job! Kudos!
DeleteHow does the story (setting, characters, plot, etc.) illuminate aspects of African-American history?
ReplyDeleteThe story illuminates aspects of African-American history because it shows how even though there was less discrimination in the public, there was still some. When Maya had a bad toothache because she had a few rotten teeth, Momma had to take Maya to the destist. The dentist did not take care of Maya because he said he did not treat colored people. This discrimination was ended by the Civil Right Act in 1964 which was a few years before this book was published. African-Americans were still seen as under white people and Maya's mother was a slave when she was younger. The 13th Amendment of 1865 made slavery illegal, so Maya's mother must have been a slave before 1865. Maya's mother once got in a fight where
she ultimately shot her business partner because he called her a bad name. Maya's mother went to jail. This tells us how things have changed throughout history.
In what ways does this book refute the notion of the “single story”?
Many people reading this book will say that it refutes the notion of the "single story". This story refutes the notion f a single story because even if you had heard about some things that happens to African-Americans, you would still know about most of the events in this book. I think this book shows that we do not have a single story, but many stories from different points of view. In this book, there are some times when the white characters say things that make African-Americans look bad. You also hear when the African-Americans say the same thing in a completely different way. An example of this is on pages 157-164. It is when Momma has to take Maya to the dentist and the dentist does not treat her because she is colored. Momma fights with that dentist for a while and a bit later she gives up and goes home. She tells her family about it and uses a different perspective than the white dentist did. We do not have a single story in this book, we have many stories from many different points of view.
Nicely done Lauren, I like how you mentioned the different points of view. Be careful of typos. Over all good job.
DeleteThank You! I was not aware of the typos until I posted it and could not fix it.
DeleteHow does the story (setting, characters, plot, etc.) illuminate aspects of African-American culture? Be specific! (Page references are helpful.)
ReplyDeleteIn this story Maya Angelou describes the African American Culture. This book described how there was a major difference in how she was treated compared to how we are now. She has to question herself about why she would bother to fight back. Fighting back was very difficult for her and it made her realize how cruel the world really was. (pages 188-193) For example in the dentist scene. Maya had a bad toothache and Momma took her to the local dentist. Momma knew this dentist and thought that he would help. However, the dentist told her no and that they did not serve her kind. Maya and Momma would have to go back all the way to the dentist which was 25 miles away. Theres no reason for this to happen. Momma takes charge of the problem and gets the dentist to pay her interest. This is another example of how rude people can be back then.
How does the story (setting, characters, plot, etc.) reflect or illuminate the current state of race relations in our country? Have we made any progress as a society?
This illuminates that we have definitely improved since back then. Although we still have hardships today when it comes to African American Culture. Not all African American people are treated equally. However, in todays world you wouldn’t see a dentist turn someone away due to their race. There are now laws that prevent this from happening.
Great Job Sydney! I like how you mentioned that we we would be treated differently because of our race today and how far we have come, even though there are still a few problems. There are a few typos, but overall it is a great response!
DeleteThank you, I will make sure to double check my work before posting it next time.
DeleteHow does the story (setting, characters, plot, etc.) illuminate aspects of African-American culture? Be specific! (Page references are helpful.)
ReplyDeleteMaya continues to work hard in school and gets a scholarship to a University of dance and drama. Earlier in the book we notice that she is a very strong and brave girl like her mother. There are times when I wonder what we would do in her shoes. I wonder if I would stand still and not do anything or go make a difference. She is also still trying to figure out who she is. For example, she had mental breakdown and actually ends up getting pregnant. In the end she stays in a junkyard in order to survive. She trusts Vivian and sees her as a strong independent women.
In what ways does this book refute the notion of the “single story”?
This can refute the notion of the “single story” by showing the white people point of view an the black people point of view. For example in the when the Mexicans and Maya stay in the Junkyard other people probably find it strange. But to them this is home.
I really like this response but it seems like you might have answered the same question twice in two different responses. I liked how you said that the Mexicans had a different point of view and would find them strange.
DeleteThanks, I didn't realize I had repeated this question, I'll make sure to double check before posting next time.
DeleteHow does the story (setting, characters, plot, etc.) illuminate aspects of African-American culture?
ReplyDeleteIn the book, it shows that there were many differences within the lifestyles of blacks and whites. The whites were more privileged, and the white women and girls probably never worked a real job in their lives because they were taught that the man of the house supports the family. Whereas with the African-American community, everyone works everyday just to make enough money to get by for a week or two. Maya was a hardworking girl and was very determined to get by in life, even through the rough times. She never backed down in life, she always pushed through, even when she realized how cruel the world could be (pages 188-193).
How does the story (setting, characters, plot, etc.) illuminate aspects of African-American history?
The book sort of gives you glimpses of segregation and the Jim Crow laws from an African-American's point-of-view. Maya and her family went to a separate church from the white community, and when Momma took Maya to the dentist to get her tooth fixed, the dentist discriminated them and said the he doesn't treat blacks.
Very nice Michelle. I like how you mentioned that the white girls probably didn't work. It really shows how different life was for African Americans. Over all good job.
Delete** Free-response option: Address another issue/episode/or passage in the book that you find
ReplyDeletesignificant for any reason.
One of the issues that I find significant in the book is segregation and how the African-Americans do not have as many rights as the white people. One example is when Maya went to the dentist for a toothache and the dentist would not treat her because of her race. In the beginning of the book, Maya is raped by her mother's boyfriend and is blamed at the court trial for the incident. It was not her fault, but rather Mr.Freeman's fault for not controlling himself. African-Americans are also often made slaves and they are beaten when they do something wrong. Maya worked at a rich white person's house when she dropped a dish and got fired. White people pay Black people less or make them slaves and sometimes not even give them a job because of their color. This is ridiculous! Near the end of the book, on page 226, Maya is trying to get a job with the Market Street Railway. She is discriminated because of her color. This book shows many reasons why there is segregation and why African-Americans do not have as many rights as the white.
You've made some quite excellent points here, Lauren. Keep up the good work!
DeleteNice job Lauren, I like how you gave to specific examples from the text. Overall good job.
Delete