The first decade of the twentieth century was not a great time to be born black and poor and female in St. Louis, Missouri.
-- Maya (Chapter 1)

Importance: Maya Angelou sets the stage for what life held in store for her mother when she was born poor, black, and female.

He saw his mother, his home, and then all his lonely birthdays were gone. His nights when scary things made noise under the bed were forgotten. He went to her as if hypnotized.
-- Maya (Chapter 2)

Importance: Maya recalls when her older brother reunited with their mother. He’d forgotten all the bad times and that she had abandoned them. It worried Maya.

My heart beat so loudly, I thought I would burst. I had been with her so long I couldn’t imagine the sun rising without my grandmother putting Vaseline on my arms and brushing my hair.
-- Maya (Chapter 7)

Importance: At ten, Maya was heartbroken when she was forced...