Maya Angelou's youth was marked by profound trauma and displacement, which significantly impacted her writing. After experiencing her parents' divorce, she lived with her paternal grandmother, facing racism and oppression in the segregated South. At a young age, she was sexually abused, leading to her mutism for several years—a period during which she developed a deep love for literature. These experiences fostered her resilience and shaped her distinct voice, evident in works like *I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings*. Angelou's writing addresses themes of identity, trauma, and empowerment, making her an enduring literary figure.