Maya Angelou was a renowned author, poet, and civil rights activist who died on May 28, 2014. She was 86-years-old at the time of her death. Her death was caused by natural causes, according to her family, and she passed away in her home in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Angelou had a long career as an activist, writing about civil rights, women’s issues, and racism. She was also a well-known and celebrated poet whose works have been quoted and referenced by people all around the world. Angelou was one of the most influential authors and public figures of the 20th century.
Throughout her life, Angelou wrote seven autobiographies, as well as numerous collections of poetry, essays and plays. She is most well known for her 1969 collection, “I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings,” which depicted her struggles with racism and dealing with an unjust society. Angelou was also a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011, and numerous awards and honors, such as Grammy Awards for Best Spoken Word Album in 1993 and 1995.
In addition to her writing, Angelou was an acclaimed performer and speaker, giving rousing speeches at universities and other events. She had a long history as a public activist speaking out against racial, social, and economic inequality. She dedicated much of her life to defending the rights of those who were oppressed in American society.
The passing of Maya Angelou was a great loss to the world. She left behind a legacy of courage, strength, and advocacy. Many individuals who were inspired by her words and activism carried on her mission and will continue to do so in the future.
Influence and Accomplishments
Though Angelou’s efforts have been extinguished, her message of civil rights, equality and empowerment is still widely influential today. She wrote seven autobiographies in her lifetime, beginning with the influential I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, which provided rare insight into the struggles of the black experience in America during a period of racial injustice. Her poetic works have consistently addressed issues of racism, identity, poverty and injustice, and her narrative has become the voice of many of society’s marginalized people.
As an activist, Angelou’s fight for justice, equality and civil rights earned her numerous awards, honors and recognition, including a Pulitzer Prize nomination for her collected poems. She received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama in 2011. During her lifetime, she contributed much to the civil rights movement, including her involvement in the 1965 Selma-to-Montgomery voting rights marches as a coordinator and organizer.
Angelou has also worked as an educator at universities such as Wake Forest and UCLA, as well as mentoring young talent through her Maya Angelou Education Alliance. She served as a role model for many writers, particularly black female writers, and influenced a generation to think critically about their situations and to rise up against injustice.
Angelou’s life of activism has been immortalized in writing, film, song, and spoken word. Her legacy has inspired people globally to pursue justice and equity in their lives, and will continue to do so for generations to come.
Notable Works
Maya Angelou’s influence in literature and arts is vast, as evidenced by her seven autobiographies, multiple collections of poems and essays, and collaborations with various other authors. Angelou’s first autobiography, I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, is arguably her most acclaimed work. The book follows the story of Angelou’s early life, recounting her experiences with racism and prejudice in a highly personal account which inspired some of the most popular sayings in literature.
Angelou’s other works include the commemorative A Brave and Startling Truth, a reflection on then-recent national and global events that gained her international acclaim, as well as Even The Stars Look Lonesome, a collection of essays that centers around themes of motherhood, love and the human condition. Angelou was also a songwriter and performer for many blues masters, her music often reflecting the struggles of her fellow African Americans in the post-slavery era.
Angelou’s countless works of literature, music, poetry and performances have pushed the boundaries of racial and gender issues in the U.S. and sparked conversations of Black liberation. She also pushed the boundaries of cultural norms and conversation to argue for justice, fairness and freedom for all people.
Angelou also served as a mentor for many young writers of diverse backgrounds, such as author and activist Michelle Alexander, who acknowledges Angelou’s mentorship and impact on her work. In spite of her death, Angelou’s legacy lives on in the works of many authors, poets, and artists that she influenced.
International Respected Figure
Maya Angelou was an international figure and respected artist who has been greatly influential throughout her lifetime. She was a poet, musician, civil rights leader, screenplay writer, and more, and her work often centered around issues of identity, freedom and human rights.
Angelou’s words were respected and quoted by people all across the world, such as U.S. president Barack Obama, who said, “[Angelou] challenged our conscience and our moral imagination like perhaps few in history have done.” Many of the countries and societies she visited and worked with recognized her influence, resulting in her receiving prestigious awards such as the National Medal of Arts in 2000.
Angelou touched the lives of many, and her works and advocacy have been translated in many languages worldwide. She was an international treasure and a trailblazer for civil and human rights, and her power and mission of liberation will continue to inspire and ignite action for generations.
Representation in Cultural Movements
In addition to the visibility of her voice and advocacy, Maya Angelou was a symbol of liberation and representation for other women and African Americans in mainstream platforms. Her work has been referenced in popular culture as a representation of Blackness and womanhood, such as in the music video of Beyoncé’s “Phenomenal Woman.”
Her activism and writings have frequently been credited with empowering the African American civil rights struggle, with books such as I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings discussing issues of racism and its effects on the Black community from personal and cultural perspectives. This pushed the dialogue of civil rights and representation in American cultural art.
Angelou’s influence on the civil rights movement and its representation in pop culture is powerful and prevalent, with documentaries, books, plays, and performances celebrating her life and work. She also served as a mentor for other young poets, providing them with insight and perspective on the world which ignited many conversations and debates.
Drawing from her own experiences, Angelou provided a powerful example of resilience in the face of adversity; a legacy of courage, defiant optimism, and an unflinching commitment to justice that her readers and activists have inspired to carry on.
Final Thoughts
Maya Angelou was an American icon and civil rights pioneer who left behind an incredible legacy of art and activism for future generations to learn from. Her works are widely influential and often quoted, and she was an advocate for justice, freedom and empowerment for her fellow African Americans and other marginalized people.
Angelou was a multifaceted artist, as evidenced by her works; they variously explored issues of freedom, identity and representation, inspiring conversations of racism and its effecs which still continue today. Her writings and performances stands as a vital source of inspiration to many and a powerful reminder of the timelessness of justice and human rights.
Angelou’s courage, resilience and creativity will continue to be a source of inspiration, and her legacy of advocacy and creativity will live on in many future generations.
