Maya Angelou was a world-renowned poet, author and civil rights activist, remembered as one of the great voices of contemporary literature.
As a young student, Angelou moved between California and Arkansas and worked odd jobs, from fry cook to video-store clerk. Despite reports that she became completely blind by the age of seven, she had limited vision for most of her life.
It is unclear what caused Angelou’s vision impairment, but her doctors believed it was the result of a spike fevers coupled with optic nerve damage. In some accounts, including her autobiography, she claimed that due to her inability to see, she turned to writing as an outlet for expression.
At the age of 12, Angelou memorized the dictionary, adding to her knowledge of words, her verbal fluency and her mastery of language. This would prove invaluable to her later, as the incorporation of language features such as metaphor and imagery in her works, became cornerstone of her genius.
In later years, Angelou relied on a variety of aids to help her with daily tasks. To assist with her vision impairment, she employed a series of readers, mainly African American women, to help her with tasks such as reading, writing and even navigation. Angelou also relied heavily on her keen sense of hearing to grasp a better understanding of her surroundings and in those situations her readers could not be of assistance.
Angelou’s collaborative nature and generosity won her lifelong friends, fans and admirers. They fondly remember her for her quick wit and sense of humour, her razor-sharp sarcasm and her sharp eye for detail. Even late in her life, in her 80s, she continued to teach, mentor colleagues, fans and spellbound audiences with her storytelling and words of wisdom.
Angelou leaves behind a rich legacy of literature spanning poems, plays, films and books that had a profound effect on our culture and the way we view the world. Her works touched on powerful themes of identity, bigotry and sexism, making her one of the most renowned poets and authors of the 20th century.
Maya Angelou’s Accomplishments
Though mostly remembered as a prolific author, Maya Angelou was also a trailblazer in many other mediums and fields. She was an accomplished actress, won an Emmy, had roles in major films, worked as a journalist and even a screenwriter. Angelou’s impressive resume also includes lecturer, editor, songwriter, lecturer and civil rights activist.
Angelou’s significant contributions to the civil rights movement can not be understated. During her role in the Civil Rights movement, she marched in Selma, Alabama and worked with civil rights’ icons such as Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. She continued to push for equality after the passing of the Civil Rights Act, and pushed for economic justice for African Americans.
Angelou also pushed for greater recognition of women of color, drawing attention to their plight for equality. She wrote extensively about her own struggles as an African American woman and her performance pieces, in which she discussed the importance of women’s rights, emblematized an era where women of color finally were given a platform to express themselves freely.
Perhaps her highest achievement, however, was the way Angelou championed people of all walks of life and used her words to give everyone a voice and inspire others to find strength through adversity. Her works brought the subject of racism, feminism, identity and culture to mainstream discourse, making her one of the most important authors and leaders of her time.
Angelou’s Intimate Relationship with Education
Maya Angelou believed education was of paramount importance, and even with her impediment was able to learn; you couldn’t help but recognize her strength and determination when perceiving it through her stories.
Angelou finished high school at the age of 15 and attended California Labor School, a progressive, multiracial school for working class children.This experience intensified her desire for learning. Following this, she began a career as an educated performer, dancer, musician and actress.
When Angelou wasn’t performing and balancing her day job, she was studying at a local community college in San Francisco, but wanted to do more. She wanted a formal degree. To achieve this, she moved to New York in her early 20s and attended school during the daytime, worked at night and comforted herself with the thought that she was investing in a better future for herself.
Angelou wrote about her academic experience in her first autobiography, ‘I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings’, and even dedicated a chapter to paying homage to her old college. By the time she was in her 30s, she took distance education classes and earned her bachelor’s degree.
Throughout her lifetime, Angelou earned over 30 honorary degrees, a presidential medal of freedom and received numerous honors and awards. She ultimately emerged as an educated and accomplished woman, who delved herself into the realms of literature, performance, activism and education.
Angelou’s Role as a Public Figure
Maya Angelou became one of the most respected and recognizable literary figures. Throughout her life, she worked as a dancer, singer, actor, director, educator and civil rights leader. Her works are found throughout the cultures of the African Diaspora, from classrooms to boardrooms, from public parks to Disney movies.
Angelou’s list of movie credits includes major motion pictures such as ‘Come Back, Africa’ and her Emmy-nominated role in ‘Roots’. She also wrote a screenplay for ‘Georgia, Georgia’, and wrote a song for the 1972 animated film, ‘The Dolphin’. Audio recordings of her spoken-word albums won her a Grammy for Best Spoken Word Album in 1994.
In addition to her film credits, Angelou hosted several television shows on PBS and made regular appearances on The Oprah Winfrey Show. She was a muse to the late Coretta Scott King, and her most well-known work, ‘I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings’, became a best seller, making her one of the most celebrated authors of our time.
Angelou lent her iconic voice to the campaigns of many politicians, including President Bill Clinton in 1996 and Barack Obama just after his presidential election. She was appointed Poet Laureate in 1993 and held this position until 2011.
In her later years, Angelou served as a mentor to young African Americans and a powerful spokesperson for the Civil Rights Movement. Her works offered important lessons on racism, sexism, feminism and identity to a wide variety of readers.
Angelou’s Impact on the Black Community
Maya Angelou championed gender and racial equality, and it became evident that her work extended beyond literature. Her works resonated with other black women, many of whom shared her plight and her struggles.
Oppression and racism has been a dominant presence in African American history, and so has the power of resistance. Maya Angelou’s incredible life demonstrated how African Americans rose up in the face of obstacles, and how resilience, courage and strength helped them prevail.
Angelou was a prominent figure in the 20th century and left a lasting legacy, a legacy of her courage and of her human experience, and of how people can overcome racism and sexism, by fighting the good fight.
Her work has resonated with generations of African Americans and other minorities, inspiring them to pursue their passion and find their own confidence to mentor, empower and fight for justice.
Many have been fortunate to have heard her tell her story and be inspired by her writings. Angelou’s ground-breaking works of literature have been an essential part of the civil rights movement and a source of strength for millions of women of color.
Angelou’s Legacy
Maya Angelou was an inspirational figure whose legacy will continue to live on. Despite dealing with immense hardships throughout her life, she didn’t allow herself to become defined by her limitations, but by her potential.
Her profound literature had a major impact on the lives of many people around the world. It’s easy to focus on her blindness but it should not overshadow the courage and perseverance she had while living with it.
She believed that stories speak volumes and her own life story is a reminder that adversity should not be seen as a limitation; instead it should be seen as a challenge that needs to be embraced in order to enrich life and gain fulfillment.
Her determination, intelligence, style and wit enabled her to create powerful and inspiring works. Her literature has been a far-reaching source of wisdom and insight, teaching us that strength lies in the face of adversity.
In honor of her monumental works, tributes to Maya Angelou have been skyrocketing since her passing in 2014. Streets, buildings, countries and schools have been named in remembrance of this great poet and author.
