The Heart of a Woman

The chapter opens with a sweeping overview of both the literature and activism of the civil rights movement. She cites novels by Baldwin and Killens and fundraising concerts by Harry Belafonte and Miriam Makeba. Back in the personal sphere, Guy is preoccupied with schoolwork, his own political commitments, and his adolescent hormones while Make is constantly traveling for work. Angelou feels increasingly isolated from political and literary circles. She is no longer in the SCLC, nor is she part of the Nation of Islam. Her domestic duties have even led to her withdrawing from the Harlem Writers Guild. When Make returns to New York, he takes Angelou to a formal reception at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. Surrounded by predominantly male African dignitaries, none of whom speaks to her, Angelou feels isolated and awkward. When she sees her husband dancing with another woman, she begins to overindulge in the drinks that are being handed around.

Realizing that she is drunk, Angelou retreats into the kitchen in search of something to eat. She starts a conversation with the African American cook, who gives her gin to drink and sympathizes with her situation. Make is furious when he finds Angelou and commands her to come home with him, repeatedly asserting his authority over her with the words, “You are my wife” (203-04). Angelou laughs in his face and runs away from him. She spends the night at Rosa Guy’s house. The next morning, Make arrives with flowers and takes her home. The two are reconciled and do not discuss the incident again.

Sheriffs deliver an eviction notice to the Manhattan apartment, and Angelou realizes that her husband has neglected to pay the rent for some time. Make plays down the notice, denying that they are short of money and moving his family into a hotel while they prepare to leave, earlier than scheduled, for Egypt. Angelou is nonetheless mortified since, despite the many moments of financial hardship which she has undergone, this is the first time she has ever been evicted. Guy is also upset by the situation and, in a turnaround which leaves Angelou with “a small but savory knot of satisfaction” (208), he looks to his mother, not to Make, for reassurance and resolution.

While Make travels ahead to Cairo, Angelou travels to visit her mother in San Francisco with Guy. On the way, Angelou looks forward to being inspired by her mother’s strength, resilience, and self-sufficiency. Instead, she finds her mother a sadly diminished figure. She is unhappily married to a heavy drinker and is sad and lonely. She observes that they have reversed roles, with her becoming the strong maternal figure and her mother needing protection. The chapter closes with Angelou and Guy preparing to leave for Cairo. Angelou realizes that a “new life” awaits them and that this prospect excites her, regardless of what the future may hold.

Angelou and her son arrive in Cairo, and their first impression is culture shock and disorientation. They are also thrilled at the chaos of Cairo, which to Angelou seems like a “year-long Mardi Gras” (213). Make shows them around their rented apartment, which is lavishly furnished with antiques, with the exception of the kitchen, which is bare and poorly equipped. Make explains that he hasn’t bought a proper stove yet because they are very expensive and he wanted to wait until Angelou arrived. This leads Angelou to realize that Make has purchased all of the fine furnishings of the apartment. Somewhat shocked, she blurts out, “You mean, we own all that crap?” (215). Make looks hurt, and Guy seems ashamed of his mother’s behavior, so Angelou immediately feels guilty and apologizes.

Guy enrolls at the American College at Mahdi, and Angelou is delighted to see him thriving academically and socially. The two compete as they both study Arabic.

At an Afro-Asian Solidarity Conference in Cairo, Angelou is delighted to be introduced to a fellow African American, the journalist David Du Bois. Angelou remarks on how much she had missed hearing the voice of an “adult American black man” (217). Make and Angelou hold frequent gatherings at their home, during which Du Bois and Angelou often come together to discuss the civil rights movement and to sing African American spirituals.

Make learns from her housekeeper that they are deep in debt once more, and realizes that she will have to seek employment. She arranges to meet Du Bois and asks if he can help her find a job. Du Bois arranges for her to meet with Zein Nagati, President of the Middle East Feature News Agency, who has started a new magazine called The Arab Observer. Angelou is anxious, as she feels underqualified for the job and will have limited access to English-language books. However, as she looks at the covers of books that Make has brought over from America, she finds herself encouraged by the title of Baldwin’s Nobody Knows My Name: “I had been called everything from Marguerite, Ritie, Rita, Maya, Sugar, Bitch, Whore, Madam, girl and wife. Now in Egypt I was going to be called ‘associate editor’” (224).

Make is furious when he finds out that Angelou has taken a job without consulting him. As she listens to Make’s tirade, Angelou comes to the realization that she no longer loves him.  The conflict is resolved by the arrival of David Du Bois, who successfully talks Make around by appealing to his pride. Maya’s sense of affinity with David increases, and she describes him as a “brother” (229).

Angelou is accompanied to her first day of work by Make and Du Bois. She initially feels very lost and is largely ignored by all the men in the office, where she is the only woman. However, after Nagati comes to the office and makes further introductions, she receives more support from her colleagues. Her desk is moved into a room containing a library with hundreds of books in English. Although this effectively isolates her even further, she is secretly delighted.