Paul Laurence Dunbar (poem) and Maya Angelou (autobiography), wrote their pieces separately; however, they will forever be intertwined. Folks often mixup the titles and works. Dunbarâs poem, âSympathyââpublished in 1899, is often referred to as âCaged Birdâ. Maya Angelou, after reading âSympathyâ, years before writing her novelâconnected with the âcaged birdâ, and its symbolism. So much so, that she took a line from Dunbarâs âSympathyâ, and entitled her autobiography: âI Know Why the Caged Bird Singsâ, published in 1969. As shared before, I know what it feels like to either loseâor, not have a voice. Iâll never, ever allow anyone to squeeze me into a place where I am muteâvoiceless. I will walk away đŁđŁđŁđŁđŁ #ExitStageLeft #LevelUp, before I allow people, placed, or things to squelch my voice. Folks fought too hard for me to have one: one on a cross; and, others in the âmovementâ. Thank you to both Dunbar and Angelou for sharing the beauty of your pained voices; and, for refusing to be silentâor, silenced. Salute. âI know why the caged bird sings, ah me!â (Dunbar). đŁ#CanYouHearMeNow? #PaulLDunbar #MayaAngelou #Sympathy #CagedBird https://www.instagram.com/p/B8eVA4VB5kpAw59LSlhp7g-UW3q_I34yL4yJ9Y0/?igshid=19kevjkp4xxdb










