Reviews tagging 'Racism'

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

242 reviews

samburkhouse's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Child abuse, and Racism

haileyeh's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Rape, and Racial slurs

Moderate: Violence, Pregnancy, and Sexual assault

Minor: Lesbophobia

meaghanelizabook's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring reflective slow-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Rape, Racial slurs, Racism, and Child abuse

Minor: Death

abception's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective fast-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Rape, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Ableism and Abandonment

Minor: Alcohol, Racial slurs, Suicidal thoughts, Slavery, Dysphoria, Pregnancy, Racism, and Classism

violetends's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective slow-paced

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Child abuse, and Rape

Moderate: Pregnancy

mirandaleighhhh's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced

4.0

Ohhhhhhhh wow. What a treat to listen to Maya Angelou tell her story (and even sing!). This was very difficult to listen to in the beginning pertaining to what happened when she was 8 years old, and I had to take a break before journeying on. I loved how she mentioned her journey with reading since she was very young, and I was flabbergasted at some of her experiences (the junk yard!). This is an important read.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape, Child abuse, Racism, Murder, Racial slurs, and Violence

crybabybea's review against another edition

emotional reflective fast-paced

3.0

This memoir is incredibly important for its time, and Maya Angelou continues to be an important figure in Black history, not only for her clear technical ability in writing, but for her bravery to speak unabashedly about her life as a Black woman in the Jim Crow south. Published during one of the many dangerous peaks of white supremacy, during a time when civil rights activists were being targeted, harassed, and murdered, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings stands out as one of the most important memoirs ever written.

Despite its importance, I found it a bit of a tough read; probably because of the older style of writing that came across at times as disjointed. As a coming-of-age story, it's enjoyable and easy to get through, with plenty of moments of unbelievably beautiful prose that really showcase Maya Angelou's poetic talents.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Racism, Abandonment, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, and Alcoholism

jalexpulliamkepler's review against another edition

challenging slow-paced

4.0

Interesting and often moving but sometimes felt more like a series of essays than a memoir

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Lesbophobia, Misogyny, Child abuse, Classism, Sexism, Pedophilia, Rape, Physical abuse, Racism, Racial slurs, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Alcohol, Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, and Medical content

Minor: Suicidal thoughts and War

torturedreadersdept's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Dysphoria, Body horror, Ableism, Alcohol, Blood, Car accident, Classism, Pregnancy, Cursing, Death, Infidelity, Lesbophobia, Pedophilia, Racism, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Violence, Xenophobia, Rape, and Sexual violence

Minor: Gun violence, Domestic abuse, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Abortion, Misogyny, Murder, Violence, Excrement, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual harassment, and Slavery

bookishkarina's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional fast-paced

5.0

Highly, HIGHLY recommend the audiobook! Maya Angelou's voice is just absolutely magnificent. It draws you in immediately, brings you into the story and holds you there from beginning to end. Angelou's voice just does something to you. Check your trigger warnings tough.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Rape, and Child abuse

Moderate: Racism