th Annie Henderson, her grandmother, whom Angelou referredto as Momma Henderson. It is distinctly exemplified when three white girlsperform a handstand pantyless in front of Momma Henderson revealing theirpower of white sexuality in front of a superior woman. Momma just hymns asong showing her granddaughter how to react to the ridicules of thepowhitetrash. Steven Butterfeld of American Writers views Mommasreaction as a victory in self control(American Writers 3). Angelou exhibitsa similar spirit when describing her visit with Momma to a white dentist whoreveals that he would rather put his hands in a dogs mouth than aniggers(Contemporary Literary Criticism 12 12). The appalling parallel between the dog and the nigger narrates the account of dehumanizationnoted by African American writers. The most powerful emotional response in the first autobiography, IKnow Why The Caged Bird Sings, is Angelous contrary speech after beingraped by her mothers lover. On page four of American Writers the authordescribes the speech in the language used by Angelou describing the tragicepisode: Then there was the pain. A breaking and entering when even the senses are torn apart. The act of rape on a eight-year-old body is the matter of the needle giving because the camel cant. The child gives, because the body can, and the mind of the violator cannot.This phrase suggests that not a single person could fathom the painthat the rape caused her because, not only has she experienced sexualabuse, but she has also received a lifetime of pain prior to this occurrence. Furthermore, Angelou is expressing how she feels about one who performsthis abominable assault, clarifying the mental disorders which come alongwith that person.Angelou remains insecure about her body for an extreme period oftime. She experienced such damage that it drove her to feel negativelyabout her body, forcing her to see dismorphic images of herself. Shebelieved that her small bre...
