From a historical perspective, this poem aligns itself with the long history of Black people struggling for equality and justice in America. The image of the caged bird singing comes from Paul Laurence Dunbar. Dunbar was one of the first Black poets to rise to prominence in America. Dunbar was born a few years after the end of the Civil War, and his poetry encapsulates many aspects of the Black experience in America during the second half of the 19th century. Critics often consider Dunbar to be one of the first prominent Black poetic voices in America, and they considered him a profound inspiration for many Black writers throughout the 20th century.

Dunbar’s poem “Sympathy” uses the caged bird metaphor to speak about the experiences of people who feel confined. Though Dunbar didn’t necessarily write the poem with slavery in mind, many of its interpretations focus on the Black experience in America during the time of slavery.

Angelou considered “Caged Bird” a continuation of Dunbar’s poem. With that in mind, it is logical to trace the poem’s historical context to the history of Black art in America.