Read the passage from "LKnow Why the Caged Bird Which line from the passage shows Maya Angelou's
Sings.*
adult viewpoint?
Mrs. Flowers didn't belong to our church, nor was she
Momma's familiar. Why on earth did she insist on calling
Mrs. Flowers didn't belong to our church, nor was she
her Sister Flowers? Shame made me want to hide my
Momma's familiar.
face. Mrs. Flowers deserved better than to be called
Mrs. Flowers deserved better than to be called Sister.
Sister. Then, Momma left out the verb. Why not ask,
With the unbalanced passion of the young, I hated her
"How are you, Mrs. Flowers?" With the unbalanced
for showing her ignorance to Mrs. Flowers.
passion of the young, I hated her for showing her
It didn't occur to me for many years that they were as
ignorance to Mrs. Flowers. It didn't occur to me for many
alike as sisters, separated only by formal education.
years that they were as alike as sisters, separated only
by formal education. h