I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings Study Guide

One Easter when Maya was a young girl, her grandmother makes her a yellow dress. She imagines herself a blonde movie star with blue eyes. When she wears the dress, she is disappointed to find she still looks the same. She views her black skin as ugly. Maya walks out of the church because she needs to go to the bathroom. She waited too long and urinates on herself outside the church. She runs away before her family and the other kids see her. She fears they will make fun of her. (read more)