Maya Angelou effects of child dispplacement
...r attitude about herself. Maya admired the fact that her family in St. Louis did not subdue to racism. There was one Uncle in particular that taught or told Maya to not worry on her physical beauty but to cherish her intelligence instead. This was when Maya emerged herself into literature and shielded herself against the confusion of St. Louis by reading fairy-tales and telling herself that she didn’t intend on staying there anyway. While in St. Louis Bailey and Maya grew slightly apart when he gained friends and she did not. Not having any friends Maya spent the Saturdays in the library reading adventure stories. In St Louis Maya learned her parts of her history and past stories of her as a child like how she received the name Maya. This gave Maya a foundation in which she could now stand on with confidence that was help her as she grew up. Her new found confidence was temporarily hidden and crushed when she was molested and raped by Mr. Freeman. Maya still being a child and traumatized Maya had no idea what to do so she was silent. Maya escaped her tragic life by indulging in literature with Mrs. Bertha Flowers back in Stamps. Eventually Maya’s voice was regained from reading the works of literature our loud. Obviously Maya had been displaced in St. Louis. Neither Maya nor Bailey were given the attention that they needed from their parents forcing them to find it elsewhere. Maya, being deprived of attention, affection, and love from her parents was taken advantage and had to enjoy the sexual attention that Mr. Freeman gave her because it was the only attention she received. Maya was not a priority in anyone’s life. Maya takes another step to independence by getting a job at Mrs. Cullinane’s home. Maya hates working for Mrs. Cullinane because she calls her Mary, so Maya breaks Mrs. Cullinane’s China. Maya gave into the subtle black resistance to racism by breaking the china to rebel timidly. Maya’s resistance shows her increasing amount of confidence in herself as a black girl, but yet she is still somewhat timid. She has not yet become the bold women like Momma or Vivian. Maya had been shielding people for so long by telling herself that she wasn’t going to live or be somewhere for very long. But Louise’s friendship in the field finally broke that shield and allowed Maya the first opportunity to enjoy her childhood independence. Maya’s move from California to Stamps back to California then back to Stamps, being neglected, and raped forced Maya to mature beyond her expected childhood years. Maya’s life revolved around adults and with Louis, she was able to experience what being a kid is really like. Maya’s individuality was exposed as a child with her new friend Louis and flirtatious crush Tommy provide Maya with some new found innocence as a child. Maya house now found comfort and attention and friendship outside of the house family and adults. She is independent with her friend Louise. It wasn’t until her eighth grade graduation that Maya truly came to understand that blacks have written poetry and literature in celebration of black identity and achievement. She used to only pay attention to Patrick Henry and other white freedom fighters. Now, after listening to the words of James Johnson’s inspirational song Lift Every Voice and Sing at her graduation and not only considered herself just another member of the graduating class, but also a member of “the wonderful, beautiful Negro race”. At first Maya was furious about the racist comments that her principal said, but when the valedictorian gave his speech it renewed Maya’s hope and she gained confidence in being a female black American. After Bailey encounters the black mans dead body with the racist white man, Momma takes both of them to Los Angeles to live with Vivian agai...