Our name is as big a part of us as our personality. Maya exclaims, “I was liked, and what a difference it made. I was respected not as Mrs. Henderson's grandchild or Bailey's sister but for just being Marguerite Johnson.” (56) Being called out of our name is something that not only affects Maya, But other characters in I know Why the Caged Bird Sings. Maya along with the other negroes of stamps find it disrespectful to be called something other than the name they were given. In chapter 16, Maya Goes to work for Mrs. Cullinan, she quickly dislikes her because instead of calling her Marguerite Mrs. Cullinan calls her Margaret or Mary for short. To Maya, this is a gargantuan insult because she feels mistreated that Mrs.Cullinan would not show
