I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings Lesson Plan

Why are Daddy Clidell and Maya close?

Maya was prepared to treat Daddy Clidell like all of Mother’s past conquests, but his character and personality make her admire and respect him. Unlike Daddy Bailey, Daddy Clidell is a simple, humble man with no self-delusions. He “owns” the fact that he lacks formal education, and does not act superior even though he is relatively successful. All of these qualities are important in Maya’s opinion. In turn, Daddy Clidell treats Maya as his daughter. He spends time with her, introducing her to members of the Black underground and teaching her how to play card games. In many respects, Maya is the daughter he never knew he wanted.

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