DISSENTING VOICES OF BLACK WOMEN: EXAMINING THE INTRICACIES OF RACE AND GENDER IN MAYA ANGELOU’S AUTOBIOGRAPHIES

Abstract

Maya Angelou’s literary expressions persistently contribute to dispelling the silence and absence experienced by the African-American women in the public sphere. Angelou’s endeavours to imbue women with agency and presence, fostering self-reflection and accountability, are palpable in her autobiographical narratives. The gendered voices within Angelou’s autobiographies serve to delineate the distinctive identity of Black women within the broader societal context. This article examines the dissenting voices of Black women through the lens of Black feminist theoretical frameworks. The nuanced interplay of race and gender positions Black women as ‘the other of the other’. The formation of the subjectivity of Black women is expounded upon in relation to Angelou’s autobiographical works.