In “I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings” Henry Reed inspires the audience at the graduation ceremony to sing the “Negro National Anthem.”
“I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” is an autobiography about the racial and gender discrimination which a southern black girl has to go through. Other issues related to parent children relationship, child abuse and search for one's own identity is touched upon in the book.
At the end of the ceremony, the “Negro National Anthem” was sung by the people. The anthem was banned from been sung at any public places. People joined the anthem and sang it which made Maya feel proud to be black for the first time.