<P> The "aristocrat of Stamps" and the town's "black intellectual", Mrs. Flowers is a "self - supporting, independent, graceful" Black woman . She is the first person to treat Maya as an individual, and teaches her about the relationship between Blacks and the larger society, as well as "the beauty and power of language". She gently nurses Maya out of her mutism by reading to her and by loaning her books that inspire Maya to speak again . </P> <P> There are a number of minor characters in Caged Bird, members of the Black and white community in Stamps that fill out Maya's world and inform her influences and early experiences . Among the most notable are: </P> <P> A member of the Black church in Stamps . She is not always able to come to services, but when she does, she shouts as loud as possible to make up for her absences . Many humorous church - related anecdotes focus on her and her behavior . Also, one of the most comical chapters in the book . </P> <P> A "repulsive church official" who visits Stamps every 3 months . Maya and Bailey despise him because he is obese and never remembers their names, and because he eats the best chicken pieces at Sunday dinner . One Sunday, Sister Monroe is so inspired by his preaching that she hits him over the head with her purse; his teeth fall out and onto the floor near Maya, which results in Maya and Bailey's uncontrollable laughter and subsequent beating by Uncle Willie . </P>

Maya angelou i know why the caged bird sings characters