Maya Angelou's upbringing in a racially segregated South greatly influenced her personal and literary identity. Experiencing trauma in her childhood, including the sexual abuse she faced, shaped her voice, leading to a powerful resilience that permeated her work. Her early experiences with displacement and racism informed her reflections on identity, women's empowerment, and civil rights. Through her autobiographies and poetry, Angelou articulated the struggles and triumphs of marginalized communities, prompting readers to confront the complexities of race and gender in American society.