Maya Angelou rose to prominence with the publication of her first autobiography, “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” in 1969. She went on to write six more bestselling memoirs in a career that also included poetry, plays, screenplays, directing, and acting. The quote above does not come from her extensive writing, however, but rather from a 1973 interview with Bill Moyers. When asked what price she had paid for the freedom to pursue such a varied and illustrious career, Angelou replied, “You only are free when you realize you belong no place — you belong every place — no place at all. The price is high. The reward is great.” This idea challenges the notion that belonging is found in a specific location or group — or even an identity. Forging a sense of belonging in the “everywhere” is difficult, but it can allow us to experience true freedom.
