SlideShare a Scribd company logo
1 of 15
Download to read offline
Why Is Maya Angelou Important
Maya Angelou, named at birth, Marguerite Johnson was on April 4th, 1928, in St. Louis, Missouri.
Her and her family moved from St. Louis to Stamps, Arkansas, where she was raised growing up.
Maya Angelou was an American author, dancer, screenwriter, actress, poet and civil rights activist.
Angelou gained a majority of her fame with the memoir she wrote in 1969, I Know Why the Caged
Bird Sings. This memoir made literary history as being the first nonfiction best–seller by an
African–American woman. Angelou received many awards and honors throughout her entire career.
These awards included two NAACP Image Awards in the outstanding literary work (nonfiction)
category, in 2005 and 2009. Angelou became one of the most legendary and influential...show more
content...
She is leading the country with her words with her poem at the inauguration in hopes for peace. She
encourages people of all races and sexes to come together to make a change.
Maya Angelou used her celebrity platform to raise awareness on equal rights for everyone. She
proved this by being a civil rights activist. She fought for the end of racism, sexism, and even same
sex marriage. In 1988, Maya Angelou spoke about the importance of coming out at the second
annual Human Rights Campaign. In her speech Angelou said, "When we have enough courage to
come out – I don't mean just out of the closet, I mean out of your spirit – when you have enough
courage to stand and say, 'I came here to say,' it's amazing. You have no idea who you will inform."
She also personally called New York State Senator Shirley Huntley to voice her support of same–sex
marriage. During the call she said, "To love someone takes a lot of courage, so how much more is
one challenged when the love is of the same sex and the laws say, 'I forbid you from loving this
person'?" Shirley Huntley greatly opposed same sex marriage but after the conversation with
Angelou she changed her stance and ended
Get more content on HelpWriting.net
Maya Angelou
Through an examination of the female experience, Maya Angelou's Still I Rise (1978) and Anne
Sexton's Her Kind (1960) utilise the authors' individual styles to inspire and shape our understanding
of oppression and empowerment. In the difference in presentation of their common themes, the
implications of different styles are shaped. Though there are similarities between the poets, it is the
way they choose to utilise literary devices that creates a text that resonates with the audience in
different ways.
Maya Angelou utilises her passionate style to send a clear message and to create an empowering
response within her audience. Through her use of imagery, figurative language, diction and
repetition, she creates an uplifting tone of proud defiance...show more content...
Angelou's style is vivid and passionate, turning her poem into a personal battle– a confrontation with
her oppressors. As opposed to this, Sexton's style is confessional and speculative, examining the
events of her life and her experiences. Both poems are written in the first person which creates a
strong connection between the shunned personas and the poet. However, Angelou choses to
directly address her oppressors with the word "you", marking her poem as a confrontation.
Sexton instead presents her oppressors using symbolism and connotation, shown by the "driver"
and the persona of the witch (the image of her fabricated by society). In this way, Sexton places
the focus onto her personal story, creating more empathy with the audience. In combination with
this, the difference in the use of imagery encapsulates the tone of each poem. Still I rise is filled
with imagery of wealth (diamonds and oil) and celestial power (the sun, stars and ocean).
Angelou uses imagery to metaphorically provide herself with the resources that her oppressors
own, and even more, showcasing the power of her resolve. By contrast Sexton uses imagery to
create each "snapshot" of her life, her use of imagery provides the audience with context and tone.
For example, when she evokes the image of flames and cracked ribs, coupled with the symbol of the
witch, she creates a horrifying image of historical witch
Get more content on HelpWriting.net
Essay on Maya Angelou
Distress in Maya Angelou's Life
Marguerite Ann Johnson, commonly known as Maya Angelou, was born on April 4, 1928 in St.
Louis, Missouri. She is a famous African–American poet, novelist, and playwright and also worked
during the civil rights: "Angelou is a very remarkable Renaissance woman who hailed as one of the
great voices of contemporary literature" (www.mayaangelou.com). She is also an activist in
civil–rights. Angelou went through many controversies during her childhood and adulthood; her
romantic life was never joyful and there are questions that come consecutively in my mind: how does
Angelou's "Artful Pose" demonstrates the attitude toward writing of her poetry? How "In a Time"
does reveal Angelou's ambivalence to love?...show more content...
This thematic element that is present in Angelou's work was likely influenced by Angelou's interest
in civil rights.
Angelou also had pressure with her love life which was always coming to an end. The thematic
element that Angelou uses is also evident in the poem, "In a Time". In addition, in the sentence,
"Left knows not what right is doing" this thematic element is obvious; the poet's choice to use words
such as, "Left" "right" and "not" seem to show the tension among the heart and brain. Angelou has
been married three times and shows the trouble she has had with her romantic life. Although, the
lines,
Joy is brief [...] Then pain stalks in to plunder. (10–12) sustain this frequent element because
happiness that one gets from love is short in time and inevitably love always turns in to heart
break and heartbreak turns into distress. Angelou herself felt grief when she was sexually abused
and raped by her mother's boyfriend. Also, the diction used in this poem, with words such as,
"secret wooing" and "tomorrow's ruin" seem to further advise that "wooing ruin[s]" a woman,
making her greedy and needy for love when she should be fulfilled by other pursuits. Angelou wasn't
able to fulfill her own pursuits when she remained mute for five years. As mentioned earlier, this
thematic element that is present in Angelou's work was likely influenced by Angelou's early
childhood trauma and failed marriages. Angelou felt guilty when her mother's boyfriend was killed
and
Get more content on HelpWriting.net
Essay On Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou is one of the most important American Authors who ever lived. She was an
African–American woman who spoke her mind and when someone told her she couldn't do
something, it made her want to do it even more so that she could prove them wrong (Shapiro). Her
life was incredibly difficult, but it made her who she was and influenced her writing and poetry
immensely. As Gary Younge once said, "To know her life story is to simultaneously wonder what on
earth you have been doing with your life and feel glad that you didn't have to go through half the
things she has." She is important because she influenced women, people of color, and anyone who
has gone through hard times. Maya Angelou is an essential American author because of...show more
content...
Later, she dropped out of school and became the first ever black female streetcar conductor in San
Francisco. After going back to school, she became pregnant with her first child, Guy Johnson.
She moved away from her home and became working as a waitress and cook to support herself. In
the 1950s, she married a Greek sailor. His name is Anastasios Angelopulos. Maya's career as a
performer began to take off in the mid 1950s. She toured Europe with a production of Porgy and
Bess. She studied modern dance on television shows and recorded an album in 1957. At the end
of the 1950s she became more interested in writing so she joined the Harlem Writers Guild and
moved to New York. She acted in the production of The Blacks and wrote and performed in a
Cabaret for Freedom. While Maya was in New York, she fell in love with a civil rights activist
named Vusumzi Make and they moved to Egypt. Maya worked as an editor of an English
newspaper while in Egypt. Angelou and Guy later moved to Ghana where Angelou worked as an
instructor and administrator of Ghana's School of Music and Drama as well as an editor for The
African Review and a writer for the The Ghanaian Times. She also worked at the Ghanaian
Broadcasting Company. While she traveled the world, she learned several languages including
Arabic, French, Italian, Spanish, and Fanti (A West African language). She worked with Malcolm X
in his visits to Ghana and eventually
Get more content on HelpWriting.net
I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings By Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou is an author and poet who has risen to fame for her emotionally filled novels and
her deep, heartfelt poetry. Her novels mainly focus on her life and humanity with special emphasis
on her ideas of what it means to live. The way she utilizes many different styles to grab and keep
readers' attention through something as simple as an autobiography is astounding. This command of
the English language and the grace with which she writes allows for a pleasant reading experience.
Her style is especially prominent in "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings", where the early events of
Angelou's life are vividly described to the reader in the postmodern literary fashion. In order to
understand Maya Angelou's works, one must first...show more content...
Although postmodernism deals with serious themes, humor is often apparent in postmodern works
(1940s Postmodernism) and is prevalent in I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. In the novel, when
Angelou was speaking about an elderly woman she disliked, she stated, "I decided I wouldn't pee
on her if her heart was on fire" (104). This subtly interjected humor and mixed literary style keeps
stories fresh and enticing to read.
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings opens up with a prologue where Angelou is expressing her
displeasure with being black. It is apparent from the very beginning that Maya feels a strong sense
of displacement and racial inferiority. She continually states that she wishes she was white and,
somewhat humorously, describes her appearance as "[ . . . ] a too–big Negro girl, with nappy black
hair, broad feet, and a space between her teeth that would hold a number–two pencil" (Angelou 4–5).
This however, is where her journey begins. Throughout her childhood Maya learns the proper
skills to be a lady and to live a Christian lifestyle. This helps her to discover herself as a person and
begin to evolve more during her teenage years.
As she grows older, Maya begins to search for explanations about herself and her ever changing
life. She ended up living in a junk yard for a month before she returned home to San Francisco.
Here she learned about racial tolerance which helped her to develop into her own person and accept
the fact that she
Get more content on HelpWriting.net
Paper On Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou was born on April 28, 1928 in St. Louis, Missouri to Bailey and Vivian Johnson.
Her given name was Marguerite Ann Johnson, but she was nicknamed "Maya" by her older
brother. Over the course of her life, Angelou had many jobs ranging from a fry cook to a sex
worker. She broke through as both an author and poet with her publication of her autobiography,I
Know Why the Caged Bird Sings in 1969. (Wikipedia.com) From that point on, Maya Angelou
would become a very prominent figure in American literature.
Maya's younger years were filled with pain and tragedy. When she was only three years old, her
parents separated, moving Maya and her brother into the home of their grandmother in Stamps,
Arkansas. While growing up in this area, Angelou became aware of the discrimination and racism
that was prevalent during this time in America. (Hyperlink.com) At the age of eight, Angelou was
reinstated into the care of her mother. It was during this time period that Maya was sexually abused
by her mother's boyfriend. Shortly after this incident occurred, Angelou became mute and would not
speak again for five years. This time period in Maya Angelou's life would...show more content...
She also remained politically active throughout her life, continuing to show her support for the
Civil Rights Movement, reciting her poem, "On the Pulse of Morning" at Bill Clinton's
inauguration, and publically endorsing both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. Angelou finally
passed away on May 28, 2014 at the age of 86. Even in her later years, Angelou never stopped
writing. In the last 10 years of her life, she penned over four books and several poems.
(Wikipedia.com) Angelou is remembered not only as an awe–inspiring poet and author, but also as a
talented musician, playwright, and outspoken activist. She truly left her mark in every aspect of her
Get more content on HelpWriting.net
Maya Angelou Research Papers
Maya Angelou is a phenomenal woman. She was born into a devastating decade, that suffered
numerous tragedies. Not only had society shaped her as a woman, she has also shaped our society
and influenced many lives. She is still living today, yet I believe her legend will never die.
Furthermore I will share with you what motivated her and some of her gratifying experiences. How
she was effected by society, and what she did about it. Also how thetime period she was born into
made her the extraordinary woman she is today.
Maya Angelou was born on April 4, 1928, a year before the crash of 29 (the stock market crash). To
get a sense of what exactly Maya was born into, I will explain what exactly this meant. This...show
more content...
Her parents mover her back, along with Bailey to Stamps, Arkansas as a cure. Her parents moved
to Southern California and were seldom heard from. Her mother remarried in 1940. Maya and
Bailey had daily chores to do at the General Store. Their grandmothers general store was a success,
many people did not believe that a black woman owned and ran it. Maya had a very close
relationship with her older brother Bailey. They always had there secrets jokes in church and she
could always talk to him. He was always there for her, she trusted him completely.
Maya’s family, was one of the few black family’s during the depression
that did not suffer severely, mainly because their grandmother owned the general store. Yet, just
because they didn’t suffer severely, they still suffered, they were well fed enough but
they would still stop by the poorer family’s just to get peanut butter, as a treat.
Maya and Bailey move to San Francisco to rejoin with their mother. May gave birth to her son Guy,
at age 17. When in high school, she received a two– year scholarship to study dance and drama at
the California Labor School. Maya became the first black San Francisco streetcar conductor. She
moved to Laurel Canyon in Hollywood, where she sang and raised her son. She didn’t
like the fame, so she moved to Washington, where she met Bilie Holiday, She and Bilie became
good friends.
Get more content on HelpWriting.net
Essay about Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou has dedicated her life to end prejudices faced by many black females in the 20th
century.
As an author, poet, and entertainer, she is known best for her strong portrayal of African–American
women. Some of her most outstanding work is the series of autobiographies that she wrote telling
about her childhood. Her work has contributed immensely to Americans everywhere. She has also
broken many barriers for black women in writing, entertainment, and in film making. Maya Angelou
is definitely a positive role model to people everywhere. Maya Angelou has made many contributions
through her poetry, writing, songwriting, acting, and film directing. She has written a series of
autobiographical books focusing on her childhood until the...show more content...
In addition to writing, she has had success in other categories of entertainment. Her screenplay
Georgia,
Georgia was produced in 1971, and she wrote and produced a prize winning documentary
"Afro–Americans in the Arts" which received a Golden Eagle award
("Biography" 1) ("Maya Angelou" 1). Her musical compositions have been recorded by many
famous people including B.B. King ("Biography" 1). Likewise, she was nominated for an Emmy
Award for her role in the hit movie
Roots ("Biography" 1). Many distinguished Americans have chosen her to serve on commissions and
attend very important conferences. Martian Luther King, Jr., requested her as the northern
coordinator for the Southern Christian
Leadership Conference; Gerald Ford appointed her to the
Bicentennial Commission, and Jimmy Carter named her to the National Commission on the
Observance of International
Women's Year ("Maya Angelou" 1). Maya Angelou has made an enormous contribution to not only
the black society, but to everyone in the 1900's. Maya Angelou's work has broken many barriers
for the black writers, entertainers, and directors. She has been a woman of firsts among the African
American women. Angelou was the ground breaker for many black women in script writing and
directing. In 1971, she became the first black woman to have an original screenplay produced
("Biography" 1). She was not only the first African–American, but also the first woman to read her
work at a presidential inauguration
Get more content on HelpWriting.net
Essay On Maya Angelou
Saviona Williams
Mr. Vollmer
English
5 October 2017 America's Poet The life experiences of the late Maya Angelou–author, poet, actress,
singer, dancer, playwright, director, producer– became the key element of her most prominent work,
a lyrical poet telling the stories of what it means to be an African American; having a wide range,
multi–series autobiographies that lays the foundation of her identity as a American black woman.
The acclaimed Maya Angelou's legacy not only impacted American culture that will resonate with
people through history, but create insight to a whole new world. Maya Angelou was born Marguerite
Annie Johnson on April 4, 1928, in St.Louis, Missouri. When she was three her parents divorced, and
...show more content...
She also became a member of the Harlem Writers Guild, who exposed racial problems and
experiences in the United States, introducing her to the movement and becoming a civil rights
activist (Feldstein R). Angelou began to write and assemble unions in support of civil rights and
American liberation. She moved away from the show business to take on responsibility of
making people think about the real racial problems in the world. She met her first husband and
moved to Egypt for his work but it only lasted for two years. She ended up moving to Ghana to be
with her son who was in college. During her three years that she stayed in Ghana, she worked as an
editor and a freelance writer and ended up joining " Revolutionism Returnees" a group that explored
pan–Africanism, in participating in this she became close to Malcom X. Angelou helped Malcom X
form an organization called Organization of African American Unity (Duodu,Cameron). A group
that worked on providing a unified political voice for Africa and non–Muslim African Americans.
She wrote books that shed light to what was really happening beneath the surface of the struggle for
civil rights in the United States, "Above all, she was a storyteller and her greatest stories were
true"(Duodo,Cameron), she accurately describes and recall painful events and debates. Eventually
she moved back to the United States due to her divorce.
Get more content on HelpWriting.net
Short Essay On Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou Esteemed African–American poet, Maya Angelou, is renowned as one of the
greatest poets of the Civil Rights Era and also, as one of the greatest poets of all–time. Angelou is an
esteemed woman of many talents, but her most notable was her poetry. Though Angelou had
traumatic experiences as a child, she overcame her past and morphed into a beautiful poet,
songstress, dancer, actress, and writer. Born Marguerite Anne Johnson on April 4th, 1928, in St.
Louis, Missouri (Poetry Foundation), her childhood was anything but easy. Her parents broke up
soon after she was born; Maya and her brother, Bailey, then moved in with their grandmother in
Arkansas. Angelou grew up in a racially divided society where discrimination was the norm. She
was also a victim of sexual assault. When visiting her mom at the age of seven, Angelou was raped
by her mother's boyfriend. After Angelou's family found out about this, her uncle returned and killed
the boyfriend. Maya blamed herself for this and became a...show more content...
After being raped, moving in with her grandmother, and teen pregnancy, Angelou still got her
education and made a better life for her. Though society wanted to tear her down and make her
feel like she was not important, she made a name for herself and continually strived to better
herself and not be limited to the stigma of an uneducated, poor black woman. Angelou asks
rhetorical questions such as "Does my sexiness upset you?" (stanza 7), "Does my haughtiness
offend you?" (stanza 5), "Did you want to see me broken?" (stanza 4), and "Does my sassiness
upset you?" to question the reader and make them think. Doing so in a question form shows her
confidence, which could border on arrogance. No matter what they want to wrong for her, she
continually grows into a mature and respected woman who carries herself as such. She will not be
broken nor will she give in to society's
Get more content on HelpWriting.net
Maya Angelou Research Paper
Maya Angelou was an inspiring activist, poet, and woman. Angelou was born in St. Louis,
Missouri on April 4, 1928. Throughout her lifetime she explored her career options as an actress,
dancer, singer, writer, and editor among many other careers. Angelou had a tough childhood. Her
parents divorced when she was very young and she was sent to live with her grandmother in
Arkansas along with her brother Bailey. As anAfrican American, Angelou experienced
discrimination and racial prejudices. Angelou gave birth to her son Guy, at the age of sixteen and
married her first husband Tosh Angelos, at the age of twenty–four. Angelou and Tosh divorced years
later however, she did get married a couple of more times. Angelou experienced many...show more
content...
Flowers. Mrs. Flowers was the one who helps Maya regain her voice. She used her unusual
techniques to gain Maya's confident. She knew that Maya like poetry and used that as a
reinforcement to free her voice. "That's good, but not good enough. Words mean more than what is
set down on paper. It takes the human voice to infuse them with the shades of deeper meaning
(Street, 2017)," those where Mrs. Flower words to Maya. Furthermore, Mrs. Flowers challenge
Maya by stating "you do not love poetry, not until you speak it (Street, 2017)." It was that saying
and Mrs. Flower's actions that encourage Maya to speak again at the age of 13. Maya's teacher was
her motivation to become an educator in poetry and humanities.
Angelou did many important things during her lifetime. One that marked her life was working for
Martin Luther King and Malcolm X as a civil rights activist. She became a spokesperson for
African Americans and women around the country. Another thing that led Angelou to fame was
President's Bill Clinton invitation to participate in his inaugural. She wrote and recited the first
inaugural poem for his presidency. She read On the Pulse of Morning, and Americans across the
country were able to witness this special moment in time. This poem expressed the need for peace,
social justice, equality as well as racial and religious harmony for all people despite their race,
gender, origin or sexual orientations. Her poem was
Get more content on HelpWriting.net
Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou's tumultuous childhood in the South and the struggles that come with being black are
the basis for her autobiographies such as I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. Through her rich,
insightful literature she is able to record the black experience and ultimately the black struggle. She
"[is] always talking about the human condition – about what we can endure, dream fail at and still
survive."(Matzu 23) Angelou's early life was full of hardships; making her strong and ready to fight
for her rights. As a young child she, along with her brother Bailey and their parents, moved from her
birth place St. Louis to Long Beach. After her parents struggles there, she and Bailey were shipped
off to Stamps, Arkansas; the starting point for...show more content...
She realizes that Stamps is merely in the shadows of white society and she feels trapped and
displaced (Angelou). When she moves to San Francisco she feels right at home in the chaos
(Angelou). Here she is able to find herself Smith 10). "The aura of personal displacement within the
larger black community is counterpointed by the ambiance of displacement within the larger black
community. The black community of Stamps is itself caged in the social reality of racial
subordination and impotence."– Maya Angelou Works Cited Angelou, Maya. I Know Why the
Caged Bird Sings. New York: Random House, 1970. "Biography Information." Maya Angelou.
2006. Lordly and Dame Inc. 21 March. 2008 http:// mayaangelou.com Bloom, Lynn Z. "Maya
Angelou." Dictionary of Literary Biography. 38. Ann Arbor: Edwards Brothers, 1985. 3–12. Kelly,
Ernice B. Harvard Educational Review. 1970: Excerpted and reprinted in Contemporary Matzu,
Roger, ed. "Maya Angelou." Contemporary Literary Criticism. 64. Detroit: Gale Research, 23–24.
"Maya Angelou."Poets.org. 2008. The Academy of American Poets. 21 March. 2008 http://poets.org
Neubauer, Carol E. "Maya Angelou and Carol E. Neubauer, in an interview." The Massachusetts Ed.
Roger Matzu. Detroit: Gale Research, 1991. 38–40. Phelps, Shirelle, ed. "Maya Angelou."
Contemporary Literary Criticism. 15. Detroit: Gale Research, 1997. 4–8. Shuker, Nancy. Maya
Angelou. Englewood Cliffs: Silver
Get more content on HelpWriting.net
Why Is Maya Angelou Essay
Maya Angelou's I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is a novel describing her life experiences in
the racist community that existed in the United States following the Great Depression. Maya's
spent the majority of her childhood in Stamps, Arkansas, with "Momma," her grandmother, and
Bailey, her brother. Life in Stamps, a heavily segregated town, results in Maya's exposure to
prejudice at an early age. Unfortunately, as Maya grows older, the hardships in her life only grow.
She is constantly transferred from Arkansas, where her grandmother lives, to California, where her
mother lives, to Mexico, where her father lives. Through this back and forth movement from one
environment to another lead to her experiencing and learning a variety of lessons, many of which
are traumatic. For instance, Maya gets raped by her mothers boyfriend, Mr. Freeman and this rape
leaves Maya permanently scarred. After the rape, Maya begins to suffer in silence through guilt and
fear. Her childhood has created a strong sense of inferiority that persists in giving her feelings of
self–doubt. Although Maya goes through hard times during which her self–esteem lowers, she
eventually gains confidence once again. She fights persistently for a job and ends up securing a job
as the first San Franciscan black...show more content...
As a black female in a racist and sexist world, Angelou overcomes barriers and obstacles to tell an
empowering, deep–felt story about the value of growing up by accepting oneself. Though Maya
endured traumatizing events and periods of intense insecurities, her ability to rise above and learn
from them helped her grow and mature. Similarly, oppression and injustice define most societies, but
transcending such restrictions and learning to love oneself are vital to the formation of an
individual's identity and forming an identity and growing
Get more content on HelpWriting.net
Maya Angelou Essay
Maya Angelou is an American author who is known for her poetry and novels that lyrically
illustrate the experiences of African Americans and also acts as a spokesperson for black pride
and heritage (St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture). Although she speaks for people of
color, her messages of hope and strength appeal to people of all ages and races. Angelou is best
known for her autobiography, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, in which she recalls herself as a
young African American girl finding self–confidence in a highly prejudice world. Maya Angelou's
work should still be taught in schools today because of her focus on civil rights and feminism,
which continues to be a pressing issue in today's society.
Born...show more content...
The first biography in her series and the book she is most known for, I Know Why the Caged Bird
Sings(Italicize), gives insight into how young African Americans saw the world ("Themes and
Construction: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings."). She talks about the many women who had
contributed to her success in life, including her mother, grandmother, and high–school teacher
("Themes and Construction: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings."). She explains their similar
struggles through childhood and how that taught her to push through what she was going through.
She portrays the male support as negative with no help from them towards her success. The novel
is a feminist manifesto that tells the story of a shy, awkward, segregated black girl who blossoms
into a confident, headstrong woman ("Themes and Construction: I Know Why the Caged Bird
Sings."). This theme is showed within in the novel as Angelou writes "The fact that the adult
American Negro female emerges a formidable character is often met with amazement, distaste and
even belligerence. It is seldom accepted as an inevitable outcome of the struggle won by survivors
and deserves respect if not enthusiastic acceptance," (Angelou, Maya. I Know Why the Caged Bird
Sings.). Although it is an
Get more content on HelpWriting.net
Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou was an African American that grew up to be a well known poet. I chose to write
an analysis on her because she was the main character in the book I know why a caged bird sings,
and interested me the most. She grew up in the 1990s, when discrimination was still a problem.
She has endured so much in her lifetime. She describes herself as big, elbowy and grating on
page 22. She is very insecure because number one, people made fun of her, and number two, she
was black. In chapter 24, she had serious tooth aches. She and her mama went to a white dentist that
didnt treat black people after 4 days. The dentist discarded the idea of treating Margurite, and said
some awful things. While her mama broke into his office to talk to him, Maya
Get more content on HelpWriting.net

More Related Content

More from Custom Paper Services (20)

Essay On Heritage Of India
Essay On Heritage Of IndiaEssay On Heritage Of India
Essay On Heritage Of India
 
Song Analysis Essay
Song Analysis EssaySong Analysis Essay
Song Analysis Essay
 
Personal Experiences Essay
Personal Experiences EssayPersonal Experiences Essay
Personal Experiences Essay
 
Structure Essay
Structure EssayStructure Essay
Structure Essay
 
Write Me Essay
Write Me EssayWrite Me Essay
Write Me Essay
 
Oedipus Tragic Hero Essay
Oedipus Tragic Hero EssayOedipus Tragic Hero Essay
Oedipus Tragic Hero Essay
 
Tempest Essay
Tempest EssayTempest Essay
Tempest Essay
 
Persuasive Sample Essays
Persuasive Sample EssaysPersuasive Sample Essays
Persuasive Sample Essays
 
Prison Overcrowding Essay
Prison Overcrowding EssayPrison Overcrowding Essay
Prison Overcrowding Essay
 
Custom College Essay
Custom College EssayCustom College Essay
Custom College Essay
 
How Do I Write An Argumentative Essay
How Do I Write An Argumentative EssayHow Do I Write An Argumentative Essay
How Do I Write An Argumentative Essay
 
Biodiversity Essays
Biodiversity EssaysBiodiversity Essays
Biodiversity Essays
 
Informal Essay Sample
Informal Essay SampleInformal Essay Sample
Informal Essay Sample
 
I Want To Be A Nurse Essay
I Want To Be A Nurse EssayI Want To Be A Nurse Essay
I Want To Be A Nurse Essay
 
Sickle Cell Anemia Essay
Sickle Cell Anemia EssaySickle Cell Anemia Essay
Sickle Cell Anemia Essay
 
Essay Edit
Essay EditEssay Edit
Essay Edit
 
Graduation Essay Ideas
Graduation Essay IdeasGraduation Essay Ideas
Graduation Essay Ideas
 
Descriptive Essay About My Mom
Descriptive Essay About My MomDescriptive Essay About My Mom
Descriptive Essay About My Mom
 
The Qualities Of A Good Leader Essay
The Qualities Of A Good Leader EssayThe Qualities Of A Good Leader Essay
The Qualities Of A Good Leader Essay
 
My Education Essay
My Education EssayMy Education Essay
My Education Essay
 

Recently uploaded

EPANDING THE CONTENT OF AN OUTLINE using notes.pptx
EPANDING THE CONTENT OF AN OUTLINE using notes.pptxEPANDING THE CONTENT OF AN OUTLINE using notes.pptx
EPANDING THE CONTENT OF AN OUTLINE using notes.pptxRaymartEstabillo3
 
How to Configure Email Server in Odoo 17
How to Configure Email Server in Odoo 17How to Configure Email Server in Odoo 17
How to Configure Email Server in Odoo 17Celine George
 
Framing an Appropriate Research Question 6b9b26d93da94caf993c038d9efcdedb.pdf
Framing an Appropriate Research Question 6b9b26d93da94caf993c038d9efcdedb.pdfFraming an Appropriate Research Question 6b9b26d93da94caf993c038d9efcdedb.pdf
Framing an Appropriate Research Question 6b9b26d93da94caf993c038d9efcdedb.pdfUjwalaBharambe
 
Solving Puzzles Benefits Everyone (English).pptx
Solving Puzzles Benefits Everyone (English).pptxSolving Puzzles Benefits Everyone (English).pptx
Solving Puzzles Benefits Everyone (English).pptxOH TEIK BIN
 
MARGINALIZATION (Different learners in Marginalized Group
MARGINALIZATION (Different learners in Marginalized GroupMARGINALIZATION (Different learners in Marginalized Group
MARGINALIZATION (Different learners in Marginalized GroupJonathanParaisoCruz
 
Earth Day Presentation wow hello nice great
Earth Day Presentation wow hello nice greatEarth Day Presentation wow hello nice great
Earth Day Presentation wow hello nice greatYousafMalik24
 
Organic Name Reactions for the students and aspirants of Chemistry12th.pptx
Organic Name Reactions  for the students and aspirants of Chemistry12th.pptxOrganic Name Reactions  for the students and aspirants of Chemistry12th.pptx
Organic Name Reactions for the students and aspirants of Chemistry12th.pptxVS Mahajan Coaching Centre
 
Employee wellbeing at the workplace.pptx
Employee wellbeing at the workplace.pptxEmployee wellbeing at the workplace.pptx
Employee wellbeing at the workplace.pptxNirmalaLoungPoorunde1
 
भारत-रोम व्यापार.pptx, Indo-Roman Trade,
भारत-रोम व्यापार.pptx, Indo-Roman Trade,भारत-रोम व्यापार.pptx, Indo-Roman Trade,
भारत-रोम व्यापार.pptx, Indo-Roman Trade,Virag Sontakke
 
Introduction to AI in Higher Education_draft.pptx
Introduction to AI in Higher Education_draft.pptxIntroduction to AI in Higher Education_draft.pptx
Introduction to AI in Higher Education_draft.pptxpboyjonauth
 
Roles & Responsibilities in Pharmacovigilance
Roles & Responsibilities in PharmacovigilanceRoles & Responsibilities in Pharmacovigilance
Roles & Responsibilities in PharmacovigilanceSamikshaHamane
 
Crayon Activity Handout For the Crayon A
Crayon Activity Handout For the Crayon ACrayon Activity Handout For the Crayon A
Crayon Activity Handout For the Crayon AUnboundStockton
 
KSHARA STURA .pptx---KSHARA KARMA THERAPY (CAUSTIC THERAPY)————IMP.OF KSHARA ...
KSHARA STURA .pptx---KSHARA KARMA THERAPY (CAUSTIC THERAPY)————IMP.OF KSHARA ...KSHARA STURA .pptx---KSHARA KARMA THERAPY (CAUSTIC THERAPY)————IMP.OF KSHARA ...
KSHARA STURA .pptx---KSHARA KARMA THERAPY (CAUSTIC THERAPY)————IMP.OF KSHARA ...M56BOOKSTORE PRODUCT/SERVICE
 
Painted Grey Ware.pptx, PGW Culture of India
Painted Grey Ware.pptx, PGW Culture of IndiaPainted Grey Ware.pptx, PGW Culture of India
Painted Grey Ware.pptx, PGW Culture of IndiaVirag Sontakke
 
History Class XII Ch. 3 Kinship, Caste and Class (1).pptx
History Class XII Ch. 3 Kinship, Caste and Class (1).pptxHistory Class XII Ch. 3 Kinship, Caste and Class (1).pptx
History Class XII Ch. 3 Kinship, Caste and Class (1).pptxsocialsciencegdgrohi
 
Interactive Powerpoint_How to Master effective communication
Interactive Powerpoint_How to Master effective communicationInteractive Powerpoint_How to Master effective communication
Interactive Powerpoint_How to Master effective communicationnomboosow
 
Presiding Officer Training module 2024 lok sabha elections
Presiding Officer Training module 2024 lok sabha electionsPresiding Officer Training module 2024 lok sabha elections
Presiding Officer Training module 2024 lok sabha electionsanshu789521
 

Recently uploaded (20)

EPANDING THE CONTENT OF AN OUTLINE using notes.pptx
EPANDING THE CONTENT OF AN OUTLINE using notes.pptxEPANDING THE CONTENT OF AN OUTLINE using notes.pptx
EPANDING THE CONTENT OF AN OUTLINE using notes.pptx
 
How to Configure Email Server in Odoo 17
How to Configure Email Server in Odoo 17How to Configure Email Server in Odoo 17
How to Configure Email Server in Odoo 17
 
9953330565 Low Rate Call Girls In Rohini Delhi NCR
9953330565 Low Rate Call Girls In Rohini  Delhi NCR9953330565 Low Rate Call Girls In Rohini  Delhi NCR
9953330565 Low Rate Call Girls In Rohini Delhi NCR
 
Framing an Appropriate Research Question 6b9b26d93da94caf993c038d9efcdedb.pdf
Framing an Appropriate Research Question 6b9b26d93da94caf993c038d9efcdedb.pdfFraming an Appropriate Research Question 6b9b26d93da94caf993c038d9efcdedb.pdf
Framing an Appropriate Research Question 6b9b26d93da94caf993c038d9efcdedb.pdf
 
Model Call Girl in Bikash Puri Delhi reach out to us at 🔝9953056974🔝
Model Call Girl in Bikash Puri  Delhi reach out to us at 🔝9953056974🔝Model Call Girl in Bikash Puri  Delhi reach out to us at 🔝9953056974🔝
Model Call Girl in Bikash Puri Delhi reach out to us at 🔝9953056974🔝
 
Solving Puzzles Benefits Everyone (English).pptx
Solving Puzzles Benefits Everyone (English).pptxSolving Puzzles Benefits Everyone (English).pptx
Solving Puzzles Benefits Everyone (English).pptx
 
Model Call Girl in Tilak Nagar Delhi reach out to us at 🔝9953056974🔝
Model Call Girl in Tilak Nagar Delhi reach out to us at 🔝9953056974🔝Model Call Girl in Tilak Nagar Delhi reach out to us at 🔝9953056974🔝
Model Call Girl in Tilak Nagar Delhi reach out to us at 🔝9953056974🔝
 
MARGINALIZATION (Different learners in Marginalized Group
MARGINALIZATION (Different learners in Marginalized GroupMARGINALIZATION (Different learners in Marginalized Group
MARGINALIZATION (Different learners in Marginalized Group
 
Earth Day Presentation wow hello nice great
Earth Day Presentation wow hello nice greatEarth Day Presentation wow hello nice great
Earth Day Presentation wow hello nice great
 
Organic Name Reactions for the students and aspirants of Chemistry12th.pptx
Organic Name Reactions  for the students and aspirants of Chemistry12th.pptxOrganic Name Reactions  for the students and aspirants of Chemistry12th.pptx
Organic Name Reactions for the students and aspirants of Chemistry12th.pptx
 
Employee wellbeing at the workplace.pptx
Employee wellbeing at the workplace.pptxEmployee wellbeing at the workplace.pptx
Employee wellbeing at the workplace.pptx
 
भारत-रोम व्यापार.pptx, Indo-Roman Trade,
भारत-रोम व्यापार.pptx, Indo-Roman Trade,भारत-रोम व्यापार.pptx, Indo-Roman Trade,
भारत-रोम व्यापार.pptx, Indo-Roman Trade,
 
Introduction to AI in Higher Education_draft.pptx
Introduction to AI in Higher Education_draft.pptxIntroduction to AI in Higher Education_draft.pptx
Introduction to AI in Higher Education_draft.pptx
 
Roles & Responsibilities in Pharmacovigilance
Roles & Responsibilities in PharmacovigilanceRoles & Responsibilities in Pharmacovigilance
Roles & Responsibilities in Pharmacovigilance
 
Crayon Activity Handout For the Crayon A
Crayon Activity Handout For the Crayon ACrayon Activity Handout For the Crayon A
Crayon Activity Handout For the Crayon A
 
KSHARA STURA .pptx---KSHARA KARMA THERAPY (CAUSTIC THERAPY)————IMP.OF KSHARA ...
KSHARA STURA .pptx---KSHARA KARMA THERAPY (CAUSTIC THERAPY)————IMP.OF KSHARA ...KSHARA STURA .pptx---KSHARA KARMA THERAPY (CAUSTIC THERAPY)————IMP.OF KSHARA ...
KSHARA STURA .pptx---KSHARA KARMA THERAPY (CAUSTIC THERAPY)————IMP.OF KSHARA ...
 
Painted Grey Ware.pptx, PGW Culture of India
Painted Grey Ware.pptx, PGW Culture of IndiaPainted Grey Ware.pptx, PGW Culture of India
Painted Grey Ware.pptx, PGW Culture of India
 
History Class XII Ch. 3 Kinship, Caste and Class (1).pptx
History Class XII Ch. 3 Kinship, Caste and Class (1).pptxHistory Class XII Ch. 3 Kinship, Caste and Class (1).pptx
History Class XII Ch. 3 Kinship, Caste and Class (1).pptx
 
Interactive Powerpoint_How to Master effective communication
Interactive Powerpoint_How to Master effective communicationInteractive Powerpoint_How to Master effective communication
Interactive Powerpoint_How to Master effective communication
 
Presiding Officer Training module 2024 lok sabha elections
Presiding Officer Training module 2024 lok sabha electionsPresiding Officer Training module 2024 lok sabha elections
Presiding Officer Training module 2024 lok sabha elections
 

Maya Angelou's Impact as a Poet, Author and Civil Rights Activist

  • 1. Why Is Maya Angelou Important Maya Angelou, named at birth, Marguerite Johnson was on April 4th, 1928, in St. Louis, Missouri. Her and her family moved from St. Louis to Stamps, Arkansas, where she was raised growing up. Maya Angelou was an American author, dancer, screenwriter, actress, poet and civil rights activist. Angelou gained a majority of her fame with the memoir she wrote in 1969, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. This memoir made literary history as being the first nonfiction best–seller by an African–American woman. Angelou received many awards and honors throughout her entire career. These awards included two NAACP Image Awards in the outstanding literary work (nonfiction) category, in 2005 and 2009. Angelou became one of the most legendary and influential...show more content... She is leading the country with her words with her poem at the inauguration in hopes for peace. She encourages people of all races and sexes to come together to make a change. Maya Angelou used her celebrity platform to raise awareness on equal rights for everyone. She proved this by being a civil rights activist. She fought for the end of racism, sexism, and even same sex marriage. In 1988, Maya Angelou spoke about the importance of coming out at the second annual Human Rights Campaign. In her speech Angelou said, "When we have enough courage to come out – I don't mean just out of the closet, I mean out of your spirit – when you have enough courage to stand and say, 'I came here to say,' it's amazing. You have no idea who you will inform." She also personally called New York State Senator Shirley Huntley to voice her support of same–sex marriage. During the call she said, "To love someone takes a lot of courage, so how much more is one challenged when the love is of the same sex and the laws say, 'I forbid you from loving this person'?" Shirley Huntley greatly opposed same sex marriage but after the conversation with Angelou she changed her stance and ended Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 2. Maya Angelou Through an examination of the female experience, Maya Angelou's Still I Rise (1978) and Anne Sexton's Her Kind (1960) utilise the authors' individual styles to inspire and shape our understanding of oppression and empowerment. In the difference in presentation of their common themes, the implications of different styles are shaped. Though there are similarities between the poets, it is the way they choose to utilise literary devices that creates a text that resonates with the audience in different ways. Maya Angelou utilises her passionate style to send a clear message and to create an empowering response within her audience. Through her use of imagery, figurative language, diction and repetition, she creates an uplifting tone of proud defiance...show more content... Angelou's style is vivid and passionate, turning her poem into a personal battle– a confrontation with her oppressors. As opposed to this, Sexton's style is confessional and speculative, examining the events of her life and her experiences. Both poems are written in the first person which creates a strong connection between the shunned personas and the poet. However, Angelou choses to directly address her oppressors with the word "you", marking her poem as a confrontation. Sexton instead presents her oppressors using symbolism and connotation, shown by the "driver" and the persona of the witch (the image of her fabricated by society). In this way, Sexton places the focus onto her personal story, creating more empathy with the audience. In combination with this, the difference in the use of imagery encapsulates the tone of each poem. Still I rise is filled with imagery of wealth (diamonds and oil) and celestial power (the sun, stars and ocean). Angelou uses imagery to metaphorically provide herself with the resources that her oppressors own, and even more, showcasing the power of her resolve. By contrast Sexton uses imagery to create each "snapshot" of her life, her use of imagery provides the audience with context and tone. For example, when she evokes the image of flames and cracked ribs, coupled with the symbol of the witch, she creates a horrifying image of historical witch Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 3. Essay on Maya Angelou Distress in Maya Angelou's Life Marguerite Ann Johnson, commonly known as Maya Angelou, was born on April 4, 1928 in St. Louis, Missouri. She is a famous African–American poet, novelist, and playwright and also worked during the civil rights: "Angelou is a very remarkable Renaissance woman who hailed as one of the great voices of contemporary literature" (www.mayaangelou.com). She is also an activist in civil–rights. Angelou went through many controversies during her childhood and adulthood; her romantic life was never joyful and there are questions that come consecutively in my mind: how does Angelou's "Artful Pose" demonstrates the attitude toward writing of her poetry? How "In a Time" does reveal Angelou's ambivalence to love?...show more content... This thematic element that is present in Angelou's work was likely influenced by Angelou's interest in civil rights. Angelou also had pressure with her love life which was always coming to an end. The thematic element that Angelou uses is also evident in the poem, "In a Time". In addition, in the sentence, "Left knows not what right is doing" this thematic element is obvious; the poet's choice to use words such as, "Left" "right" and "not" seem to show the tension among the heart and brain. Angelou has been married three times and shows the trouble she has had with her romantic life. Although, the lines, Joy is brief [...] Then pain stalks in to plunder. (10–12) sustain this frequent element because happiness that one gets from love is short in time and inevitably love always turns in to heart break and heartbreak turns into distress. Angelou herself felt grief when she was sexually abused and raped by her mother's boyfriend. Also, the diction used in this poem, with words such as, "secret wooing" and "tomorrow's ruin" seem to further advise that "wooing ruin[s]" a woman, making her greedy and needy for love when she should be fulfilled by other pursuits. Angelou wasn't able to fulfill her own pursuits when she remained mute for five years. As mentioned earlier, this thematic element that is present in Angelou's work was likely influenced by Angelou's early childhood trauma and failed marriages. Angelou felt guilty when her mother's boyfriend was killed and Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 4. Essay On Maya Angelou Maya Angelou is one of the most important American Authors who ever lived. She was an African–American woman who spoke her mind and when someone told her she couldn't do something, it made her want to do it even more so that she could prove them wrong (Shapiro). Her life was incredibly difficult, but it made her who she was and influenced her writing and poetry immensely. As Gary Younge once said, "To know her life story is to simultaneously wonder what on earth you have been doing with your life and feel glad that you didn't have to go through half the things she has." She is important because she influenced women, people of color, and anyone who has gone through hard times. Maya Angelou is an essential American author because of...show more content... Later, she dropped out of school and became the first ever black female streetcar conductor in San Francisco. After going back to school, she became pregnant with her first child, Guy Johnson. She moved away from her home and became working as a waitress and cook to support herself. In the 1950s, she married a Greek sailor. His name is Anastasios Angelopulos. Maya's career as a performer began to take off in the mid 1950s. She toured Europe with a production of Porgy and Bess. She studied modern dance on television shows and recorded an album in 1957. At the end of the 1950s she became more interested in writing so she joined the Harlem Writers Guild and moved to New York. She acted in the production of The Blacks and wrote and performed in a Cabaret for Freedom. While Maya was in New York, she fell in love with a civil rights activist named Vusumzi Make and they moved to Egypt. Maya worked as an editor of an English newspaper while in Egypt. Angelou and Guy later moved to Ghana where Angelou worked as an instructor and administrator of Ghana's School of Music and Drama as well as an editor for The African Review and a writer for the The Ghanaian Times. She also worked at the Ghanaian Broadcasting Company. While she traveled the world, she learned several languages including Arabic, French, Italian, Spanish, and Fanti (A West African language). She worked with Malcolm X in his visits to Ghana and eventually Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 5. I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings By Maya Angelou Maya Angelou is an author and poet who has risen to fame for her emotionally filled novels and her deep, heartfelt poetry. Her novels mainly focus on her life and humanity with special emphasis on her ideas of what it means to live. The way she utilizes many different styles to grab and keep readers' attention through something as simple as an autobiography is astounding. This command of the English language and the grace with which she writes allows for a pleasant reading experience. Her style is especially prominent in "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings", where the early events of Angelou's life are vividly described to the reader in the postmodern literary fashion. In order to understand Maya Angelou's works, one must first...show more content... Although postmodernism deals with serious themes, humor is often apparent in postmodern works (1940s Postmodernism) and is prevalent in I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. In the novel, when Angelou was speaking about an elderly woman she disliked, she stated, "I decided I wouldn't pee on her if her heart was on fire" (104). This subtly interjected humor and mixed literary style keeps stories fresh and enticing to read. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings opens up with a prologue where Angelou is expressing her displeasure with being black. It is apparent from the very beginning that Maya feels a strong sense of displacement and racial inferiority. She continually states that she wishes she was white and, somewhat humorously, describes her appearance as "[ . . . ] a too–big Negro girl, with nappy black hair, broad feet, and a space between her teeth that would hold a number–two pencil" (Angelou 4–5). This however, is where her journey begins. Throughout her childhood Maya learns the proper skills to be a lady and to live a Christian lifestyle. This helps her to discover herself as a person and begin to evolve more during her teenage years. As she grows older, Maya begins to search for explanations about herself and her ever changing life. She ended up living in a junk yard for a month before she returned home to San Francisco. Here she learned about racial tolerance which helped her to develop into her own person and accept the fact that she Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 6. Paper On Maya Angelou Maya Angelou was born on April 28, 1928 in St. Louis, Missouri to Bailey and Vivian Johnson. Her given name was Marguerite Ann Johnson, but she was nicknamed "Maya" by her older brother. Over the course of her life, Angelou had many jobs ranging from a fry cook to a sex worker. She broke through as both an author and poet with her publication of her autobiography,I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings in 1969. (Wikipedia.com) From that point on, Maya Angelou would become a very prominent figure in American literature. Maya's younger years were filled with pain and tragedy. When she was only three years old, her parents separated, moving Maya and her brother into the home of their grandmother in Stamps, Arkansas. While growing up in this area, Angelou became aware of the discrimination and racism that was prevalent during this time in America. (Hyperlink.com) At the age of eight, Angelou was reinstated into the care of her mother. It was during this time period that Maya was sexually abused by her mother's boyfriend. Shortly after this incident occurred, Angelou became mute and would not speak again for five years. This time period in Maya Angelou's life would...show more content... She also remained politically active throughout her life, continuing to show her support for the Civil Rights Movement, reciting her poem, "On the Pulse of Morning" at Bill Clinton's inauguration, and publically endorsing both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. Angelou finally passed away on May 28, 2014 at the age of 86. Even in her later years, Angelou never stopped writing. In the last 10 years of her life, she penned over four books and several poems. (Wikipedia.com) Angelou is remembered not only as an awe–inspiring poet and author, but also as a talented musician, playwright, and outspoken activist. She truly left her mark in every aspect of her Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 7. Maya Angelou Research Papers Maya Angelou is a phenomenal woman. She was born into a devastating decade, that suffered numerous tragedies. Not only had society shaped her as a woman, she has also shaped our society and influenced many lives. She is still living today, yet I believe her legend will never die. Furthermore I will share with you what motivated her and some of her gratifying experiences. How she was effected by society, and what she did about it. Also how thetime period she was born into made her the extraordinary woman she is today. Maya Angelou was born on April 4, 1928, a year before the crash of 29 (the stock market crash). To get a sense of what exactly Maya was born into, I will explain what exactly this meant. This...show more content... Her parents mover her back, along with Bailey to Stamps, Arkansas as a cure. Her parents moved to Southern California and were seldom heard from. Her mother remarried in 1940. Maya and Bailey had daily chores to do at the General Store. Their grandmothers general store was a success, many people did not believe that a black woman owned and ran it. Maya had a very close relationship with her older brother Bailey. They always had there secrets jokes in church and she could always talk to him. He was always there for her, she trusted him completely. Maya’s family, was one of the few black family’s during the depression that did not suffer severely, mainly because their grandmother owned the general store. Yet, just because they didn’t suffer severely, they still suffered, they were well fed enough but they would still stop by the poorer family’s just to get peanut butter, as a treat. Maya and Bailey move to San Francisco to rejoin with their mother. May gave birth to her son Guy, at age 17. When in high school, she received a two– year scholarship to study dance and drama at the California Labor School. Maya became the first black San Francisco streetcar conductor. She moved to Laurel Canyon in Hollywood, where she sang and raised her son. She didn’t like the fame, so she moved to Washington, where she met Bilie Holiday, She and Bilie became good friends. Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 8. Essay about Maya Angelou Maya Angelou has dedicated her life to end prejudices faced by many black females in the 20th century. As an author, poet, and entertainer, she is known best for her strong portrayal of African–American women. Some of her most outstanding work is the series of autobiographies that she wrote telling about her childhood. Her work has contributed immensely to Americans everywhere. She has also broken many barriers for black women in writing, entertainment, and in film making. Maya Angelou is definitely a positive role model to people everywhere. Maya Angelou has made many contributions through her poetry, writing, songwriting, acting, and film directing. She has written a series of autobiographical books focusing on her childhood until the...show more content... In addition to writing, she has had success in other categories of entertainment. Her screenplay Georgia, Georgia was produced in 1971, and she wrote and produced a prize winning documentary "Afro–Americans in the Arts" which received a Golden Eagle award ("Biography" 1) ("Maya Angelou" 1). Her musical compositions have been recorded by many famous people including B.B. King ("Biography" 1). Likewise, she was nominated for an Emmy Award for her role in the hit movie Roots ("Biography" 1). Many distinguished Americans have chosen her to serve on commissions and attend very important conferences. Martian Luther King, Jr., requested her as the northern coordinator for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference; Gerald Ford appointed her to the Bicentennial Commission, and Jimmy Carter named her to the National Commission on the Observance of International Women's Year ("Maya Angelou" 1). Maya Angelou has made an enormous contribution to not only the black society, but to everyone in the 1900's. Maya Angelou's work has broken many barriers for the black writers, entertainers, and directors. She has been a woman of firsts among the African American women. Angelou was the ground breaker for many black women in script writing and directing. In 1971, she became the first black woman to have an original screenplay produced ("Biography" 1). She was not only the first African–American, but also the first woman to read her work at a presidential inauguration Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 9. Essay On Maya Angelou Saviona Williams Mr. Vollmer English 5 October 2017 America's Poet The life experiences of the late Maya Angelou–author, poet, actress, singer, dancer, playwright, director, producer– became the key element of her most prominent work, a lyrical poet telling the stories of what it means to be an African American; having a wide range, multi–series autobiographies that lays the foundation of her identity as a American black woman. The acclaimed Maya Angelou's legacy not only impacted American culture that will resonate with people through history, but create insight to a whole new world. Maya Angelou was born Marguerite Annie Johnson on April 4, 1928, in St.Louis, Missouri. When she was three her parents divorced, and ...show more content... She also became a member of the Harlem Writers Guild, who exposed racial problems and experiences in the United States, introducing her to the movement and becoming a civil rights activist (Feldstein R). Angelou began to write and assemble unions in support of civil rights and American liberation. She moved away from the show business to take on responsibility of making people think about the real racial problems in the world. She met her first husband and moved to Egypt for his work but it only lasted for two years. She ended up moving to Ghana to be with her son who was in college. During her three years that she stayed in Ghana, she worked as an editor and a freelance writer and ended up joining " Revolutionism Returnees" a group that explored pan–Africanism, in participating in this she became close to Malcom X. Angelou helped Malcom X form an organization called Organization of African American Unity (Duodu,Cameron). A group that worked on providing a unified political voice for Africa and non–Muslim African Americans. She wrote books that shed light to what was really happening beneath the surface of the struggle for civil rights in the United States, "Above all, she was a storyteller and her greatest stories were true"(Duodo,Cameron), she accurately describes and recall painful events and debates. Eventually she moved back to the United States due to her divorce. Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 10. Short Essay On Maya Angelou Maya Angelou Esteemed African–American poet, Maya Angelou, is renowned as one of the greatest poets of the Civil Rights Era and also, as one of the greatest poets of all–time. Angelou is an esteemed woman of many talents, but her most notable was her poetry. Though Angelou had traumatic experiences as a child, she overcame her past and morphed into a beautiful poet, songstress, dancer, actress, and writer. Born Marguerite Anne Johnson on April 4th, 1928, in St. Louis, Missouri (Poetry Foundation), her childhood was anything but easy. Her parents broke up soon after she was born; Maya and her brother, Bailey, then moved in with their grandmother in Arkansas. Angelou grew up in a racially divided society where discrimination was the norm. She was also a victim of sexual assault. When visiting her mom at the age of seven, Angelou was raped by her mother's boyfriend. After Angelou's family found out about this, her uncle returned and killed the boyfriend. Maya blamed herself for this and became a...show more content... After being raped, moving in with her grandmother, and teen pregnancy, Angelou still got her education and made a better life for her. Though society wanted to tear her down and make her feel like she was not important, she made a name for herself and continually strived to better herself and not be limited to the stigma of an uneducated, poor black woman. Angelou asks rhetorical questions such as "Does my sexiness upset you?" (stanza 7), "Does my haughtiness offend you?" (stanza 5), "Did you want to see me broken?" (stanza 4), and "Does my sassiness upset you?" to question the reader and make them think. Doing so in a question form shows her confidence, which could border on arrogance. No matter what they want to wrong for her, she continually grows into a mature and respected woman who carries herself as such. She will not be broken nor will she give in to society's Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 11. Maya Angelou Research Paper Maya Angelou was an inspiring activist, poet, and woman. Angelou was born in St. Louis, Missouri on April 4, 1928. Throughout her lifetime she explored her career options as an actress, dancer, singer, writer, and editor among many other careers. Angelou had a tough childhood. Her parents divorced when she was very young and she was sent to live with her grandmother in Arkansas along with her brother Bailey. As anAfrican American, Angelou experienced discrimination and racial prejudices. Angelou gave birth to her son Guy, at the age of sixteen and married her first husband Tosh Angelos, at the age of twenty–four. Angelou and Tosh divorced years later however, she did get married a couple of more times. Angelou experienced many...show more content... Flowers. Mrs. Flowers was the one who helps Maya regain her voice. She used her unusual techniques to gain Maya's confident. She knew that Maya like poetry and used that as a reinforcement to free her voice. "That's good, but not good enough. Words mean more than what is set down on paper. It takes the human voice to infuse them with the shades of deeper meaning (Street, 2017)," those where Mrs. Flower words to Maya. Furthermore, Mrs. Flowers challenge Maya by stating "you do not love poetry, not until you speak it (Street, 2017)." It was that saying and Mrs. Flower's actions that encourage Maya to speak again at the age of 13. Maya's teacher was her motivation to become an educator in poetry and humanities. Angelou did many important things during her lifetime. One that marked her life was working for Martin Luther King and Malcolm X as a civil rights activist. She became a spokesperson for African Americans and women around the country. Another thing that led Angelou to fame was President's Bill Clinton invitation to participate in his inaugural. She wrote and recited the first inaugural poem for his presidency. She read On the Pulse of Morning, and Americans across the country were able to witness this special moment in time. This poem expressed the need for peace, social justice, equality as well as racial and religious harmony for all people despite their race, gender, origin or sexual orientations. Her poem was Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 12. Maya Angelou Maya Angelou's tumultuous childhood in the South and the struggles that come with being black are the basis for her autobiographies such as I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. Through her rich, insightful literature she is able to record the black experience and ultimately the black struggle. She "[is] always talking about the human condition – about what we can endure, dream fail at and still survive."(Matzu 23) Angelou's early life was full of hardships; making her strong and ready to fight for her rights. As a young child she, along with her brother Bailey and their parents, moved from her birth place St. Louis to Long Beach. After her parents struggles there, she and Bailey were shipped off to Stamps, Arkansas; the starting point for...show more content... She realizes that Stamps is merely in the shadows of white society and she feels trapped and displaced (Angelou). When she moves to San Francisco she feels right at home in the chaos (Angelou). Here she is able to find herself Smith 10). "The aura of personal displacement within the larger black community is counterpointed by the ambiance of displacement within the larger black community. The black community of Stamps is itself caged in the social reality of racial subordination and impotence."– Maya Angelou Works Cited Angelou, Maya. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. New York: Random House, 1970. "Biography Information." Maya Angelou. 2006. Lordly and Dame Inc. 21 March. 2008 http:// mayaangelou.com Bloom, Lynn Z. "Maya Angelou." Dictionary of Literary Biography. 38. Ann Arbor: Edwards Brothers, 1985. 3–12. Kelly, Ernice B. Harvard Educational Review. 1970: Excerpted and reprinted in Contemporary Matzu, Roger, ed. "Maya Angelou." Contemporary Literary Criticism. 64. Detroit: Gale Research, 23–24. "Maya Angelou."Poets.org. 2008. The Academy of American Poets. 21 March. 2008 http://poets.org Neubauer, Carol E. "Maya Angelou and Carol E. Neubauer, in an interview." The Massachusetts Ed. Roger Matzu. Detroit: Gale Research, 1991. 38–40. Phelps, Shirelle, ed. "Maya Angelou." Contemporary Literary Criticism. 15. Detroit: Gale Research, 1997. 4–8. Shuker, Nancy. Maya Angelou. Englewood Cliffs: Silver Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 13. Why Is Maya Angelou Essay Maya Angelou's I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is a novel describing her life experiences in the racist community that existed in the United States following the Great Depression. Maya's spent the majority of her childhood in Stamps, Arkansas, with "Momma," her grandmother, and Bailey, her brother. Life in Stamps, a heavily segregated town, results in Maya's exposure to prejudice at an early age. Unfortunately, as Maya grows older, the hardships in her life only grow. She is constantly transferred from Arkansas, where her grandmother lives, to California, where her mother lives, to Mexico, where her father lives. Through this back and forth movement from one environment to another lead to her experiencing and learning a variety of lessons, many of which are traumatic. For instance, Maya gets raped by her mothers boyfriend, Mr. Freeman and this rape leaves Maya permanently scarred. After the rape, Maya begins to suffer in silence through guilt and fear. Her childhood has created a strong sense of inferiority that persists in giving her feelings of self–doubt. Although Maya goes through hard times during which her self–esteem lowers, she eventually gains confidence once again. She fights persistently for a job and ends up securing a job as the first San Franciscan black...show more content... As a black female in a racist and sexist world, Angelou overcomes barriers and obstacles to tell an empowering, deep–felt story about the value of growing up by accepting oneself. Though Maya endured traumatizing events and periods of intense insecurities, her ability to rise above and learn from them helped her grow and mature. Similarly, oppression and injustice define most societies, but transcending such restrictions and learning to love oneself are vital to the formation of an individual's identity and forming an identity and growing Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 14. Maya Angelou Essay Maya Angelou is an American author who is known for her poetry and novels that lyrically illustrate the experiences of African Americans and also acts as a spokesperson for black pride and heritage (St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture). Although she speaks for people of color, her messages of hope and strength appeal to people of all ages and races. Angelou is best known for her autobiography, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, in which she recalls herself as a young African American girl finding self–confidence in a highly prejudice world. Maya Angelou's work should still be taught in schools today because of her focus on civil rights and feminism, which continues to be a pressing issue in today's society. Born...show more content... The first biography in her series and the book she is most known for, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings(Italicize), gives insight into how young African Americans saw the world ("Themes and Construction: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings."). She talks about the many women who had contributed to her success in life, including her mother, grandmother, and high–school teacher ("Themes and Construction: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings."). She explains their similar struggles through childhood and how that taught her to push through what she was going through. She portrays the male support as negative with no help from them towards her success. The novel is a feminist manifesto that tells the story of a shy, awkward, segregated black girl who blossoms into a confident, headstrong woman ("Themes and Construction: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings."). This theme is showed within in the novel as Angelou writes "The fact that the adult American Negro female emerges a formidable character is often met with amazement, distaste and even belligerence. It is seldom accepted as an inevitable outcome of the struggle won by survivors and deserves respect if not enthusiastic acceptance," (Angelou, Maya. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.). Although it is an Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 15. Maya Angelou Maya Angelou was an African American that grew up to be a well known poet. I chose to write an analysis on her because she was the main character in the book I know why a caged bird sings, and interested me the most. She grew up in the 1990s, when discrimination was still a problem. She has endured so much in her lifetime. She describes herself as big, elbowy and grating on page 22. She is very insecure because number one, people made fun of her, and number two, she was black. In chapter 24, she had serious tooth aches. She and her mama went to a white dentist that didnt treat black people after 4 days. The dentist discarded the idea of treating Margurite, and said some awful things. While her mama broke into his office to talk to him, Maya Get more content on HelpWriting.net