I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings Chapter 7

Momma was married three times: to Mr. Johnson, Marguerite's grandfather, who left Momma, to Mr. Henderson, who Marguerite knows nothing about, and to Mr. Murphy, who Marguerite saw only once and who disappeared fast. Momma had apparently been attractive, but Marguerite sees only her power. She has large hands, a commanding nature, and an amazing voice. She teaches Marguerite and Bailey not to talk to white people at all-it's too dangerous. She was the only black woman in Stamps ever to have been called Mrs. by a white person. She had been called in to court as a witness, and the judge had referred to her that way before she got there, not knowing she was black. The white people in court thought it was funny, and the black people thought it proved how special Mrs. Henderson was.