I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings

The General Store, which Momma Henderson owns, symbolizes her perseverance even under the most unfortunate circumstances. While in the 1930s and 1940s, many Southern Black people struggled to make enough money to feed their families, Momma Henderson establishes a successful business, which helps her stay afloat during the Great Depression. Because of the earnings from the Store, Momma supports not just her family but also other residents of Stamps, Black and white, who come to her to borrow money when the Depression hits. Apart from this, Momma’s store represents a place of safety, where the Black people of Stamps feel welcomed and protected. When the Ku Klux Klan threatens to come after Uncle Willie, Momma hides him in the Store, and when on a stormy night, Mr. Taylor feels lonely without his recently deceased wife, he also comes to there. This demonstrates that for the Black population of Stamps, the Store is not merely a place to buy goods but a safe harbor. 

Joe Louis is a famous professional Black boxer whose 1935 fight with Primo Carnera Maya watches with other residents of Stamps in the General Store. In this match, Louis represents all Black people who suffer from white oppression and maltreatment, while Carnera is seen as a symbol of racial dominance.