I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
by Maya Angelou
Censorship Status
Banned in Various US schools
Reason: Sexual abuse themes, racism, language
An autobiographical work about overcoming racism and trauma.
Why I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings Was Banned
Censorship Concerns
This book was banned for challenging established norms and authority.
Specifically, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings was targeted for: Sexual abuse themes, racism, language. The book's themes and content were deemed threatening to the social, political, or religious order in Various US schools.
Why Read I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings Today?
- ✓ Historical Significance: Understand why this book was considered dangerous enough to ban.
- ✓ Intellectual Freedom: Support the right to read diverse perspectives and challenging ideas.
- ✓ Critical Thinking: Engage with ideas that authorities didn't want people to consider.
- ✓ Cultural Understanding: Gain insight into the fears and concerns of different societies and eras.
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Reported banned 85 times in 2024 alone, this coming-of-age novel about a sensitive teenager has become a major target for Republican parents and school boards. Its honest portrayal of teen sexuality, homosexuality, drug use, and mental health issues challenges conservative views of what teenagers should read about their own experiences.
Don't Let This Story Be Silenced
Support intellectual freedom by reading the books that challenged the powerful. Get your copy of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings today and discover why it's still being banned.
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