What fact best explains why it is significant that Angelou's narrative is set in 1940?

1 answer

One significant fact that explains why it is significant that Angelou's narrative is set in 1940 is that it was a time period characterized by widespread racial segregation and discrimination in America. This context is crucial for understanding the challenges and hardships that Angelou and her community faced as African Americans during this era. The 1940s marked a period of racial inequality, where Jim Crow laws and social norms enforced racial segregation, limited educational and employment opportunities for Black people, and perpetuated systemic racism. By setting her narrative in this specific time period, Angelou highlights the enduring effects of racial injustice and oppression, providing a historical backdrop for her personal experiences and reflecting on the broader struggles and triumphs of the Black community.