why was the caged bird poem written and exactly what does it mean

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is the autobiographical story of the pain that reflects a young girl’s, maya's, loss of innocence. Feeling rejected by a totally segregated society of Arkansas in the 1930s and by her mother who deserts her at age three, Maya must also struggle with a poor body image and feelings of sexual inadequacy., which results in her getting pregnant and dropping out of school.