Maya Angelou, poet, activist, and civil rights leader, did not win a Nobel Peace Prize. Her work, however, did garner numerous accolades and awards. She received the National Medal of Arts, two Grammys for Best Spoken Word Albums, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the Lincoln Medal. She also received more than fifty honorary degrees.
In her youth, Angelou was highly active in the civil rights movement. She was an assistant to Martin Luther King Jr. at the Southern Christian Leadership Conference from 1960-1961 and worked as the Northern coordinator of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in 1964. She was instrumental in the organization of the 1968 Poor People’s Campaign.
Angelou’s activism extended beyond her participation in the civil rights movement. In 1995, she published a book of essays called “Wouldn’t Take Nothing for My Journey Now.” It explored the complex relationships between African Americans and whites. Also in 1995, Angelou was appointed by then-President Bill Clinton to serve on the President’s Commission on Race Relations.
In addition to her activism, Angelou was a prolific writer. She wrote essays, novels, poetry, numerous autobiographies, and screenplays. She wrote a series of autobiographies, which started with I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. She was also the recipient of more than fifty honorary doctorate degrees, a testament to the impact of her work.
Finally, Angelou’s impact is felt beyond her tangible accomplishments. She served as an inspiration to many around the world. In addition to being a leader in civil rights and the literary world, she was also a vocal champion of the rights of women, rather than silently allowing those rights to be trampled upon. Angelou never gained a Nobel Peace Prize, but her work will not be forgotten.
Civil Disobedience and Non-Violence
While Maya Angelou might not have received a Nobel Peace Prize for her work in civil rights, her views on the power of civil disobedience and non-violence were influential. Angelou advocated for non-violence in the face of injustice, believing that it was the most effective tactic for significant social change, even when it felt uncomfortable. She believed that peaceful forms of resistance were the only way to move forward as a society and to break down the social and structural racial barriers in the United States.
Angelou also understood the necessity of civil disobedience in the civil rights movement, despite the risks inherent in the act. She wrote that, “The only way to tell our story was to be told by the people who had lived it, who could tell it without bitterness or accusation.” She believed that the narrative and legacy of injustice could not be told through words alone, and that civil disobedience was often required to make real, tangible change.
One of Angelou’s most famous calls for civil disobedience was a speech given in Selma, Alabama to commemorate the 1954 Brown vs. Board of Education ruling, in which she declared, “We may have all come on different ships, but we’re in the same boat now.” This speech was seen as both a call for the end of segregation and a powerful statement of the need for civil disobedience in order to achieve it.
Angelou put her belief in civil disobedience into practice. In 1964, she became one of the first African-American women to run for office in the United States when she ran for the Georgia House of Representatives. Although she ultimately lost the race, her willingness to run demonstrated a commitment to civil disobedience and non-violence as a means to promote change.
Angelou was a powerful and eloquent voice during a time of rapid social change. Although her contributions to the civil rights movement went unrecognized by a Nobel Peace Prize, they remain an integral part of civil rights history.
The Legacy of Maya Angelou
No matter whether or not Maya Angelou was ever awarded a Nobel Peace Prize, her influence on the civil rights movement, the struggle for gender equality, and the world as a whole is indelible and undeniable. Angelou was an advocate for civil liberties, a passionate writer, and an inspirational figure to millions.
From her work as an editor with Vu Magazine in Egypt to her promotion of civil rights legislation in Arkansas to her powerful autobiographical works, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, A Song Flung Up to Heaven, and others, Angelou’s work gave voice to the voiceless, serving as a beacon of hope and empowerment to those without a platform.
Even beyond her work, Angelou is well known as an inspiration to many. The wise words she spoke in her commencement addresses, her five decades of performances as a singer and storyteller, and her prolific writing have inspired journalists, civil rights advocates, poets, and countless others. She has been praised by the likes of Oprah Winfrey, Hillary Clinton, and Nelson Mandela.
Her work and legacy will endure forever, regardless of the lack of a Nobel Peace Prize. As her friend Oprah Winfrey wrote, “Her words make you want to be better, make you wish you had known her in life.” Maya Angelou’s life and work will live on as an inspiration to current and future generations.
The Personal Works of Maya Angelou
In addition to her civil rights activism, Angelou was also a prolific personal writer. Her works include essays, novels, and poetry. Her first memoir, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, was published in 1970, when Angelou was a forty-six-year-old single mother. The book’s success made her a household name and an internationally recognized author of literature.
Angelou followed up Caged Bird with seven more personal works, spanning memoirs, personal story collections, and her book of essays Wouldn’t Take Nothing for My Journey Now. Her memoirs describe her upbringing and experiences as a young woman in the post-slavery South. Her essays endeavored to bridge gap between African Americans and Whites through essays such as “Our Grandmothers,” which discussed what it means to be an African American woman in the 1970s.
Angelou also wrote several acclaimed collections of poetry. Her most widely read book of poems is And Still I Rise, which was published in 1978. This volume contains the poem of the same name, which has since become an anthem of resilience and hope among many activists.
Ultimately, Angelou wrote twenty-two inspirational works and countless other essays and columns. Her works have become staples of high school English classes, and have been seen as important tools in the anti-racism and civil rights struggles since their publication.
The Impact of Angelou’s Poetry
Maya Angelou’s poetry has had a significant impact on society. Her poem Still I Rise became an anthem of resilience, a call to stand up against oppression and injustice and stay true to one’s self. This poem challenges the idea that one’s background, or one’s current hardships, can define them.
The poem has been cited in popular songs, movies, and other forms of media. It was used as a rallying cry for Black Lives Matter protestors, a source of reflection for those who have gone through the pain of racism and oppression, and an anthem to remind those going through hard times that they, too, can rise.
Angelou’s other works of poetry also had a great impact on society. Her poem “Phenomenal Woman” was a statement for women empowerment and self-love, and the poem “Human Family” was an expression of the commonality shared by all human beings, regardless of race, gender, or identity.
Her career as a celebrated poet extended far beyond her early works, with Angelou writing several collections of poetry in multiple languages. She also published Mother: A Cradle to Hold Me in 2014, a collection of poems celebrating motherhood.
The impact of Maya Angelou’s poetry is impossible to overstate. She blazed a trail of self-expression and empowerment, using her works to challenge views of oppression and to inspire her readers to use their power and voice to rise above adversity.
Speaking Engagements and Performances
In addition to her work as a poet, Angelou was also a celebrated essayist and an acclaimed public speaker. At the height of her career, Angelou was a frequent presenter at college and university commencement ceremonies, delivering speeches which were often considered among the best of the year.
Angelou was also a frequent guest on television talk shows and news programs, offering her ground-breaking insights. She was also a successful recording artist, with her works earning two Grammy awards for Best Spoken Word Albums for her works On the Pulse of Morning and A Song Flung Up to Heaven.
Finally, Angelou frequently gave performances in the United State and abroad. Her performances in Germany, Egypt, and South Africa are remembered fondly, as are her spoken word poetry performances at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC.
Through her performances and speaking engagements, Angelou spread her message of hope and resilience around the world. Her speeches and performances gained her international acclaim, and helped to further the civil rights movement.
