Summary: In Maya Angelou's autobiography I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings she introduces her Uncle Willie in chapter two. Uncle Willie was crippled at a young age when his babysitter dropped him and has to live with the repercussions for the rest of his life. Willie is the laughing stock of the community taking a lot of jokes from mostly men. Willie is disabled and lives a fairly stable lifestyle while most of the working class men have a hard time just supporting themselves. in the chapter Maya witnesses Willie acting as if he weren't crippled to strangers who came in the Store and she sympathizes and is understanding. In the chapter Maya also goes on to express her love for William Shakespeare, she talks about her and Bailey memorizing a scene of his work but explains that Momma would question them because Shakespeare is a white man.
Reflection: It seems as though discrimination with the disabled has not changed much over the years. Many people either stare or try not to look knowing it is probably awkward for both parties while there are people who sympathize for them there are others who make inconsiderate comments such as the ones Willie must live through. Not only does Willie have to endure these remarks but Maya is writing of the time where they were discriminated for their race too. Willie most likely feels as if he cant belong anywhere for he is made fun of in the black community and not welcome in the white one. Maya can see parts of this idea and feels closer to him for that and I believe she finds it commendable that he doesn't normally ignore his defect although it is apparent that he is tired of it after his act of being normal.
