Prologue, Chapters 1-5 Summary and Analysis

The prologue begins with Maya Angelou and a group of others chanting an old spiritual. The author talks about blacks and whites being befuddled. The 1950s and 1960s were a tumultuous time and there were many cases in which people simply did not know which side was up. The time signified many accomplishments for blacks in all areas of society.

Angelou took her small son, Guy, and moved to a commune in Sausalito. The move seemed to be a good one for Angelou at the time. Angelou's mother, Vivian Baxter Johnson, did not think so. However, Johnson said little and attempted to be supportive in any way she could, which included visiting her daughter and often leaving money underneath Angelou's pillow.

After a year, Angelou realized that she missed taking regular showers and getting manicures. Guy was...