Maya Angelou: A Powerful Voice for Black History
Since her passing in 2014, Maya Angelou has become an icon of the civil rights movement, lending her voice to the collective struggle for equality between African-Americans and other oppressed minority communities. Born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri in 1928, Angelou was a nurse, author, poet, director, and civil rights worker who used the power of her bold, beautiful and poignant words to foster a spirit of hope, understanding and justice in all of her work. She was a true leader who embodied and fostered the very best in African-American culture.
Angelou was very vocal in her fight for equality and justice, as well as her commitment to the African-American way of life. As a part of an effort to spread the message of civil rights, Angelou wrote several essays and poems to raise awareness of the plight of African-Americans living in the United States, including her iconic “A Strong Black Woman” speech. Additionally, she wrote the acclaimed autobiographical I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings which depicted the racism and discrimination faced by many African-Americans in her day. Angelou was an inspiration to those who heard her and listened to her wisdom, as she spoke with conviction and passion about the need for social justice and equality, and for the understanding of the African American experience.
Angelou also spoke and wrote in support of the civil rights of African-Americans. She originally became active in the civil rights movement during the 1950s and 60s and was even arrested during the bus boycotts in Alabama. She also wrote in her autobiography, “We knew that any great change must be preceded by a period of education and organization, that in such a period the most scientific tactics should be used to spread the news and prod the movement into action.” Angelou’s work with civil rights organizations served to inspire, mobilize, and bring awareness to the issues facing the African American community.
Furthermore, in her books and poetry, Angelou demonstrated a deep understanding of the collective African-American historical experience, from slavery to today. Though many of her writings addressed her own personal traumas and struggles, she also addressed larger critical issues experienced by all African-Americans, particularly race and racism. Her acclaimed work spoke of injustice, liberation and hope. In her poem “Still I Rise” for instance, she wrote about overcoming “the odds stacked so high” and the strength and courage required to continue the struggle for social justice.
The wisdom and knowledge that Angelou possessed could not be surpassed. Through her advocacy, artwork, and literature she illustrated the African-American experience in an honest and powerful way and left a legacy that our world continues to be deeply enriched by. Angelou spoke often of her joy and appreciation of the African-American culture, and her impact on black history and humanity is undeniable.
Elementary Education
Throughout her life Angelou was committed to using her stalwart voice and intellect to uplift and empower African-Americans. Prior to becoming a civil rights and literature icon, Angelou taught grammar school from 1955 to 1960 and worked as a volunteer for numerous youth-oriented organizations, establishing a lifelong dedication to teaching children about the importance of black history, culture and literacy. She testified to the “importance of self-love and self-respect for a person’s development” and emphasized the importance of black community, something she had learned from her mother and other family members as a child.
In an effort to educate and empower black children, Angelou wrote several children’s books, including Mom & Me & Mom, which shared her story of growing up with her mother and grandmother. Angelou was a tireless public advocate for Quality Education for all children and her work elevated the importance of ESE (Exceptional Student Education) in public schools. In fact, Angelou was passionate about education from elementary to post-graduate. She spoke at universities and colleges across the country and encouraged young people to pursue higher education and take their place in society as agents of change and leaders for social justice.
Angelou combined a passion for reading and writing with her spirit of activism. She provided an invaluable resource to educators, administrators and parents by sharing her teachings on the importance of teaching black history in our schools, saying, “By learning and then teaching the history of our ancestors we become more in tune with the gifts of our African-American culture.” Her gift of words, knowledge and activism helped to provoke and inspire academic excellence in our children and laid the foundations for African-American learning and education.
By stressing the importance of wisdom and learning, Angelou demonstrated a capacity to capture the imagination and the hearts of the African-American public, especially the youth. Angelou’s commitment to education and racial justice championed by her literary efforts motivated black children to explore a world unknown and sparked a generation of young people to strive for greatness and stand in solidarity with their community.
Advocacy and Literature
Angelou’s activism went beyond her direct involvment in civil rights movements and began to diversify as the cultural landscape of the United States changed during the second half of the 20th century. Angelou’s writing was an essential part of this change as she used her words to speak to and for her people, particularly the African-American community. Her words and her writing helped to open minds, as well as to inform and educate the public on African-American issues.
In several books including The Heart of a Woman, Letter to My Daughter, and I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Angelou wrote stories that both highlighted the struggles and successes of the African-American experience. Her words and her books served as an ode to the black community, depicted the civil rights movement, and lended her voice to generations of black women and men who fought and persevered.
In addition to her books, poems, essays, and civil rights advocacy, Angelou also contributed to Black history through her own activism. She was a vocal supporter of the Equal Rights Amendment and campaigned for the Democratic Party and served in the inaugural committees for both Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson. In 1982, Angelou became the first African-American to be offered the prestigious, albeit now largely forgotten honor of Poet Laureate of the United States, as appointed by the then-current president. Through her many public appearances and advocacies, Angelou was able to bring attention and educate the public, particularly the African-American community, to the strengths and struggles of black culture.
Angelou was devoted to teaching and equipping her readers with the tools needed for understanding and examining the issues of racial oppression, violence, and disadvantage. In many ways, Angelou’s works on the African-American experience connected generations of people who were raised in similar circumstances, brought attention to a common history, and encouraged an appreciation of African-American culture and its many contributions to history and to the world.
Success and Legacy
Angelou’s success as an author, human rights activist, and educator left an indelible mark on the history of the African-American community and beyond. She wrote classics that exposed the racism and discrimination that plagued the black community and taught the power of strength and self-love which is often necessary for survival. Her profound works meant to celebrate and explore the African-American experience have an unbreakable legacy and her impact will be felt and remembered for generation to come.
As a political thinker and as a public speaker, Angelou also spoke to the injustices her people faced, and used her voice as a tool to challenge people to think about the complexities of American culture and the ways in which legal and institutionalized racism thrived and impacted minorities. She connected with others through her written works and inspired them to take a stand against oppression. It is Her profound words that continue to ignite fervor and compel individuals to take a stand in their pursuit of equality and justice.
Angelou was a tireless advocate for promoting African-American culture, recognizing the humanity of all people, and working for her own truth. Her spirit of understanding and peace reached numerous people, and her gift as a storyteller, activist, and educator provided an invaluable resource which affected the lives of those who heard her and those she had already left an imprint on through her works. Angelou’s powerful voice, her urging to always stand tall and have courage in the face of injustice, and her wisdom will continue to inspire generations of African-Americans to come.
Global Impact
Angelou’s message of hope and resilience has reverberated beyond the African-American community, as she aimed to spread her message of humanity and equality worldwide. Angelou’s poetic words and her progressive thinking have found their way to many different corners of the globe. In her poems and stories, Maya Angelou established a narrative of understanding and appreciation which encircled the entire world.
The human rights and civil rights messages which were the cornerstone of her writing were embraced by individuals the world over, and many of Angelou’s works were published and translated in numerous languages. Her books were also integrated into school curriculums in high schools and universities in Europe, Africa, South America, and Asia.
Angelou’s work on the African-American experience also resonated with people across the globe and she gained immense respect in numerous countries. When Angelou passed away in 2014, she had received numerous lifetime awards and honorary degrees around the world, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011, the Langston Hughes Award in 2013 and numerous honorary degrees from colleges and universities. Through her profound work, Angelou also helped to shape a new understanding of African-American history and culture.
Angelou’s words, her life story, and her unyielding courage have left an indelible mark on the collective memory of our time and generations to come, and her legacy of hope, understanding, and of humanity will live on forever.
