Maya Angelou is a renowned American poet, singer and memoirist who has written many books in her lifetime. As of 2021, Angelou has a total of seven books—six of which are memoirs and the other a collection of her poems. Her first book, I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, is probably her most famous work and is a coming-of-age story which was released in 1969. It was instantly acclaimed and has since been included in various anthologies of world literature. It was also one of the first autobiographies of a black woman to be published.
In 1976, Gather Together in My Name was published and details Angelou’s life after her parents’ divorce; she moves from one relative to another and struggles against racism and poverty. Third Life of Grange Copeland (1970) is an emotionally intense novel about the complex relationship of a father and son which examines how domestic violence affects everyone in a family. In her acclaimed autobiography Singin’ And Swingin’ And Gettin’ Merry Like Christmas (1976), she chronicles her early years as a singer, actress, and civil rights activist. This book also follows her spiritual journey and recounts in more detail about her life that followed Caged Bird.
The Heart Of A Woman (1981) is her fourth book and it deals with her life as she moves to the cities of Cairo, New York and Accra. In All God’s Children Need Traveling Shoes (1986), this autobiographical tale focuses on her return to America, her move to Harlem and her experiences in Ghana. In 1979, Angelou wrote an inspirational collection of poetry named And Still I Rise. Angelou’s seventh book was a follow-up to Caged Bird; I Shall Not Be Moved (1990) focuses on her life in the ‘70s, including her experiences of the civil rights movement, her travels to Ghana, and more specifically the death of the man she considered her father.
Books by Maya Angelou
The following are individual books written by Maya Angelou: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969), Gather Together in My Name (1974), The Heart of a Woman (1981), All God’s Children Need Traveling Shoes (1986), and And Still I Rise (1979). Additionally, there are two autobiographies written by Angelou: Singin’ and Swingin’ and Gettin’ Merry Like Christmas (1976) and I Shall Not Be Moved (1990).
Acclaim and Achievements
Maya Angelou’s books have been included in several anthologies of world literature and among the bestseller lists of the New York Times, the Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times. Caged Bird was the first non-fiction bestseller by an African-American woman and remains the most widely read book by African-American authors. Angelou has also been awarded several honors for her work, including the Pulitzer Prize for her autobiographical work and the National Medal of Arts by President Bill Clinton in 2000.
Impact of Maya Angelou’s Writing
Maya Angelou’s writings had a profound impact on our society through her thought-provoking, poignantly honest and often humorous works. She brought to light various issues such as her experiences of growing up African-American, the civil rights movement and feminism. Her work also brought to light the struggles of those living in poverty, racism, sexism and injustices. Her writing was revolutionary in inspiring readers to strive for equality.
Maya Angelou as an Inspiration
Maya Angelou was a role model for many throughout her life. She championed for equality and justice for all, inspiring countless people to ‘rise’ above their circumstances. To many, she was a beacon of hope and a symbol of strength in difficult times. Through her writing and activism, she showed that anything was possible if you worked hard and stayed true to yourself.
Influence of Maya Angelou’s Writings
Maya Angelou’s writing has been immensely influential and has been used in various aspects of our culture today. Her words grace movie trailers, magazine covers and newspapers, and are also used by politicians and public figures to inspire people. Songs have been written inspired by her words and have been sampled in various genres of music as well. Her work has also been used to inspire art and design, and her books have been used for influence in the classroom.
