Identity, Displacement and BelongingMaya Angelou epitomises the quest for belonging and identity. Within the text, Maya is moved around to seven different homes between the ages of three and sixteen. Besieged by racism, sexism, and power, Maya is belittled and degraded at every turn. As a displaced girl, her pain is worsened by an awareness of her displacement. She seeks belonging and a feeling that she is worth something. That she is an individual, unique in her own manner. Maya's sense of displacement overwhelms her moral decisions and her naivety is somewhat exploited as she attempts to identify herself in society. Whether she be a victim of rape or a child of racism, Maya searches for her song. By gaining the strength to overcome her personal struggles, Maya is able to realise her full potential, as she learns to confront her own failings with dignity.
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"If growing up is painful for the Southern Black |