Whites. For example in 1935, in Detroit, St. Louis, New York, and Birmingham the amount of Blacks on liberation was much higher than Whites, in Detroit four
times as many, and in St. Louis, New York and Birmingham three times as many. Every one was hit by this condition. This condition was very hard for them,
especially for men. Because they had to responsible to provide for their families, it was embarrassing to keep on ask for assistance. In that situation the percentage
of women working increased slightly during the depression. Traditionally female fields of teaching and social services grew. Blacks, women and unskilled lost their
job first; Whites and managerial personnel were next Issues of Race in the
1930s. Discriminatory practices based on race and gender was forced. In the
South, signs went up “No Niggers, Mexicans or Dogs allowed”. Blacks and other racial minorities suffered more than the Whites. In 1930’s, fifty percent of Blacks
was jobless. Nevertheless, Elanor Rooselvelt championed black rights, and New Deal programs prohibited discrimination. It continued in the South. However, as a
result a large number of black voters switched from the Republican to the Democrat party during the depression. The great depression and the New Deal
changed forever the relationship between Americans and their government. Government participation and responsibility in caring for the poor and regulating
the economy came to be expected Black Protest 289.
C. The Criticisms on Maya Angelou and Her Work
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is the first autobiography of Maya Angelou among five volumes of her epic life story. As the first autobiography, it
has received much critical attention. The story tells about Angelou’s childhood raped by her mother’s lover and subsequent struggles to survive an impoverished
youth in the racist, sexist Southern America in 1930’s. The first autobiography has made Angelou become the First African
American woman who has made the bestseller list. Furthermore Bantam Book congratulated Maya Angelou for being the first longest running into two years on
the New York Times Nonfiction Best Seller List. Another author of Random House, Inc., Stephen Butterfield gives
comments related on Angelou’s work. He distinguishes between the male and female autobiographic tradition, which evolved from the slave narratives. He
describes the black men’s desire to speak for whole race. In contrast he sees impetus in Black woman’s narrative and their subsequent literature as being
personal rather than social. However, in responding Angelou’s work, he identifies the further dimension added by Angelou to male ‘success’ story that ‘Angelou
also speaks the special problems encountered by black woman and affirms life in a way that no male could duplicate’. Angelou shows that girl can have experience
of life and further, it can happen to a black girl. Sexism, racism and classis are all ingredients in Angelou’s life. One significant feature of her woks is life
experience that always became her pattern and spirits, poured into her wonderful woks. As Angelou says in Birch, “All my woks, my life, everything is about
survival. All my woks are meant to say’ you may encountered many defeat’. In
fact, the encountering might be the very experience, which creates the vitality and the power to endure 123-124”.
Another reader, Bianca White, states that Maya Angelou is a very inspirational African-American figure. She endures many childhoods and early
life struggles from being raped to losing her ability to speak. However with love and supports of her fears and handicapped and her brother, Bailey, Maya slowly
overcome her fears and handicapped Bianca White. In addition, one of the teachers who use the novel I Know Why the Caged
Bird Sings named Shelia Finalisyon says that she was “surprised” by and “proud” of the mature way her students eagerly and enthusiastically discussed the book.
Moreover, she testified that it had great literary value, and by reading it her students learned about grammar and vocabulary, as well as life lesson about
relationship, families and racism Finalisyon.
D. Theoretical Framework
