Maya Angelou was a renowned and exceptional poet, memoirist, and civil rights activist. Her work is highly acclaimed, often referred to as timeless and universal. These are not character traits of Maya Angelou, but come from the admiration and respect from society. Looking at Maya Angelou’s character traits, we can see that she was an amazing woman with impressive characteristics. To name a few, she was compassionate, generous, and confident.
Above all, Maya Angelou had a great love for people. Not only did she show compassion for her friends, family and relatives, but also for strangers, people she never knew or even had a chance to meet. Additionally, Maya was an advocate for civil rights and social justice, which required tremendous amounts of courage and dedication to the cause. This reflected her strong character and dedication to those who needed her help and support.
Maya Angelou was generous with her talents and shared them with the world, through her writing and personal experiences. She was never afraid to tell her truths and told them in the most eloquent and profound way possible. From her autobiographies to her poetry, Maya Angelou’s words were inspiring, courageous and at times heart-breaking.
Maya was an exceptionally confident woman and was not afraid, no matter the size of challenge. She worked hard all her life, unashamed of her own achievements and motivated to make a change. She received numerous honours and awards and gave memorable speeches, even in her later years.
Maya Angelou was also incredibly wise. Her words and sayings were often quoted around the world and her wisdom encouraged people to live better, more meaningful lives. She was both a teacher and a student, never afraid to learn new things or acknowledge her mistakes.
She had a great love and passion for literature, and she taught children, often telling them stories and teaching them about African American heritage and culture. Furthermore, she devoted time to several different organizations and charities, from health to education and poverty.
In short, Maya Angelou was a wonderful and complex person who left an everlasting impact on the world. She courageously faced her trials and tribulations head-on and used her experiences to educate, comfort, and bring hope to others.
Courage
Maya Angelou was an exceptional example of courage and perseverance throughout her life. She faced numerous life challenges and racked up an array of experiences, all of which played a part in making her into the remarkable woman she was. Despite the adversities she went through, Maya never gave up, but faced them head-on with an attitude of confidence and unwavering faith.
She never shied away from the truth, always speaking out and standing up for what she believed in. This meant that Maya Angelou often put herself in danger, in order to right an injustice. She abhorred racism and stood strongly against discriminatory practices. As a civil rights activist and an advocate for the underprivileged, Maya Angelou’s courage and heroism led the way for many others.
Maya Angelou’s inherent courage also had a double edge. She also showed tremendous courage in facing her heartbreak, disappointments and losses. In her book ‘I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings’, Maya revealed her very raw emotions, from disappointment to shame. By exposing these experiences, Maya Angelou showed incredible courage, affecting and inspiring generations of women, who faced similar hardships.
Maya Angelou’s courage was an example to us all, especially in times of oppression and danger. She was not afraid to take risks and to express her opinion, even in the face of personal threats. Her unwavering courage, strength and bravery were signature traits of Maya Angelou, used as an example to show how strong we all can be when faced with adversity.
Resilience
In her life, Maya Angelou underwent many experiences which could have easily broken her spirit. Despite the difficult circumstances she faced, Maya Angelou was incredibly resilient, managing to stay positive and proactive in the face of adversity.
At an early age, Maya Angelou found herself experiencing women’s marginalization, enduring an abusive stepfather and living as an impoverished runaway. Moving on from her traumatic childhood, Maya Angelou was determined to rise up and make something of herself, inspiring others to do the same.
In addition to her strength of character, Maya Angelou also displayed a great deal of physical resilience. With rapid overnight fame, she underwent many exhaustive travel trips, never once complaining about fatigue or exhaustion. In her later years, Maya Angelou refused to be hardened by age and continued writing, sharing her experiences and educating the world.
Whatever the circumstances, Maya Angelou was an example of resilience and inner strength, proving that no matter how tough life could be, it is possible to come out victorious. She refused to give up and persevered her entire life, inspiring us to stay positive and continue pursuing our dreams.
Humility
On top of her courage and resilience, Maya Angelou also exemplified incredible humility. Despite her immense success, she never allowed her fame and notoriety to go to her head.
Maya treated everyone equally, from royalty to the most meagre person on the street. She was always kind and generous, sharing her time and money with those in need and was was never known to gloat about her accomplishments.
Her humbleness brought her even closer to people, and they in turn treated her with immense love and respect. When Maya Angelou was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, she joked that it was ‘way too high an honor’ but expressed her tremendous gratitude at being recognised in such a profound way.
Maya Angelou’s humbleness was an inspirational trait, teaching the world that no matter your age and accomplishments, it is always important to remain humble and never forget where you came from. Her humility was a crucial part of her character and was a lesson for us all: that we, too, must remain humble no matter what.
Authenticity
Maya Angelou was an authentic woman, refusing to hide her true personality or feelings. In everything she wrote, there was an unmistakable authenticity, the rawness and realness of a woman true to her character.
Despite her success, Maya Angelou never lost her identity and remained true to her soul. She shared her truths and wisdom with the world, often times exposing her most intimate emotions and experiences. Maya Angelou embraced who she was, never skirting around the truth or hiding her true thoughts and feelings.
Throughout her career, Maya Angelou spoke out against inequality and injustice and did not back down when challenged. She believed in the freedom of expression and never faltered in her resolve to speak out for the oppressed. This was a crucial part of her authentic character and inspired many to tell their own truths.
Maya Angelou was an inspiration to the world and encouraged people to embrace their true selves, no matter their struggles or weaknesses. Throughout her life, she remained authentic in all her words and actions, reminding us all that it is okay to be real and true to ourselves.
Generosity
Maya Angelou was a generous woman who gave her time and energy to various people and organizations. She dedicated her life to educating the public and empowering individuals, particularly those who were marginalized or overlooked.
In her lifetime, Maya Angelou worked with and gave financial and social support to numerous charities and organizations, from young children to the elderly. Additionally, her powerful words often inspired others around the world to make a change in their lives and pursue their dreams.
But Maya Angelou was also generous in smaller ways. She liked to surprise her friends and family with gifts and was often remembered for her generosity of spirit.
Futhermore, Maya Angelou was incredibly generous with her talents, using her writing and speaking to enlighten the public and stand up for those who were unable to do so.
Above all, Maya Angelou was a huge advocate of giving without expecting anything in return. She believed in directly giving to those in need and saw it as our responsibility to look out for each other and support one another.
