Maya Angelou was an American poet, writer, and civil rights activist who rose to unprecedented fame in mid-century America. Born in 1928 in Missouri and based in the US for most of her life, she quickly and graciously came to the attention of literary circles and the wider public consciousness. Her works are permeated with lyrical language, political incisiveness, and memorable characters. The year of her breakthrough was 1970 when her first autobiography, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, was published.
Although her career before 1970 had already been successful, it was with this publication that Angelou achieved critical fame. In printing her tumultuous life, Angelou shone a spotlight on the many more African-American authors whose work was not just overshadowed, but swept away in history. It was her great empathy for her people and her culture, coupled with the courageousness of her words, which set this piece apart, eventually resulting in the National Book Award nomination.
An intense timeline of success was soon to follow. Her second autobiography, Gather Together in My Name, was released in 1974, in which the memoir recounts her experiences as a single mother in the 1950s. The book was yet again praised and Angelou was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1996 for her work Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water ‘Fore I Diiie. She was even awarded the Presidential Medal for Freedom for her commitment to social justice and activism as well as a constellation of awards for her literary prowess.
Further gifts for humanity followed in the shape of stage and film performances, civil rights advocacy, Humanitarianism, and lectures – from which we can joyfully deduce that Angelou was a complex figure and she had seen a great deal, the moments of which she has sealed in phrase and which many of us now lip-sync and release even in her absence.
What is perhaps most evident, is that Maya Angelou rose up as one of the leading chanters of civil rights and has since earned her place in the pages of modern American history. She is remembered fondly as a pillar of her community, and is proof that the collective stories of African Americans can elevate and illuminate the lives of many.
The Power of Art
In addition to her pioneering autobiography, Angelou’s great success can be seen as having contributed to the wider national awakening for human rights and social justice. Amongst fierce public scrutiny, speechmaking, chapter writing, and creative artistic endeavours, it is clear that Angelou’s art was central to her social work. It was her original writing, her plays and her poems that swept the audience away to an exhausting but harmonious realm of civil rights and peace.
In her debut solo play ‘Look Away’ Angelou illustrates what it was to exist in 1950s America for an African-American woman. It is this kind of detailed, refined storytelling that was key to building the moral conviction and sense of co-responsibility within society. Her works defy the assumption that beauty is mediated – instead, within her masterful rhymes, we are able to access a wealth of experiences that change and enrich our lives.
Angelou clearly saw the strength that lies between humour and pain. It therefore seems natural that her passion was to transcend the boundaries of differences, revealing a shared humanity that cannot be disputed or ruptured by divisions. It is with amazing precision that Maya recreates the tremor of these moments, weaving together the emotional with the political. By rewriting the script for African-American rights, she attempted to bring about peace, refusing to succumb to violence as a form of resistance.
We must not forget that Maya was a prolific creative in more ways than one – her accomplishments in literature include critics’ acclaimed work, Anthony Award-winning dramas, and even the score for composing a top-charting Broadway single. It is with her profound works of art that we are able to honor Angelou for her literary prowess and for her continual fidelity to her community.
The Legacies of a Great Mind
It is with great pride that we take solace in the works of this monumental woman. Youthful and unbowed, Angelou leaves us with a host of original works which work to encourage, restore, and reconnect our broken emotions. Through her intricate language and tender acknowledgments, Angelou was able to find a way to preserve the American experience and to celebrate the soul of the African-American experience with grace and admiration.
Her piece ‘I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings’ became one of the most essential pieces of literature assigned in school syllabi, and has since stayed in many an individual’s heart. With symbolic images and astonishing clarity she demonstrated the power to endure but more importantly the will to, and for that she will continue to be remembered.
In her collections of poetry, Angelou captures the hope and optimism of the burgeoning civil rights movement, acknowledging both joy and sorrow, and in her essays and reflections, she pays homage to both self-reflection and world history, making the study of literature more accessible to all those who wish to learn from the past.
Most importantly, the legacy of Maya Angelou is best honored through remembering her work, and the impact it had on generations of civil rights activists, poets, and admirers of free expression. Through her writing and mentorship, Angelou enabled many to confront oppression and bigotry, and live in the power of resilience.
Maya Angelou and Social Action
Angelou was never a naïve dreamer nor a believer in social theory without activism — in fact, she came from a staunchly activist tradition. As a result, her work always lathered on to meaningful social action, personal and collective.
It has been said before and rightfully so, that to understand one’s past, one must first understand the stories of those who were oppressed, and Maya Angelou was certainly one of those people. For example, the White House Outlook Conference of 1964 in which Angelou was a participating speaker, was amongst the most influential initiatives which backed civil rights movement and set fire to the modern period of American liberation.
Angelou also notably worked in politics and filming, taking up iconic roles in projects such as ‘Roots’, ‘How to Make An American Quilt’, ‘Amazing Grace’, and ‘Georgia, Georgia’. As a champion of civil rights, Angelou also wrote speeches for President Bill Clinton, and delivered the Poem ‘ On the Pulse of the Morning’, for Bill Clinton’s Inauguration Ceremony in 1993 — acting as the first poet to have been featured at such an event.
In addition to her commitment to her career and activism, Angelou also gave to her people through teaching. During her time at Wake Forest University as the Reynolds Professor of American Studies, Maya put all of her energy into raising up a new generation of scholars, artists, and activists. Her students dubbed her “The Mother of the Movement”. She remained steadfast in her dedication to her scholarly pursuits, until her death on 28th May 2014.
The Impact of Narrative on Social Change
It is obvious that Angelou’s work set a new precedent for truth-telling and storytelling, as an essential part of furthering social change. It is with her opening of humanity’s eyes to the beauty and empowerment of stories that we are able to truly appreciate the power which is found in creating and sharing.
The autobiographical tale of her harsh childhood was well received despite expectations that a black woman’s memoir would remain largely unheard. Her story shifted dominant narratives in the world of literature; it was groundbreaking and it pierced through the deafening sound of silence Native American, African American, and Feminine voices were subject to.
As a writer, her techniques in narrating herself to the public firmly shifted the terms of media representation. Within Angelou’s literature, she expands on African American experience from the perspective of an educated, black female. This provides a much-needed repository and platform through which African American literature, women’s literature, and diasporic literature can be explored and celebrated.
This outlook is continued in the lyrics of ‘And Still I Rise’, which immortalizes the freedom-fighting struggles of the civil rights movement, and which remains her most recognizable poem today. Through her words, Angelou enabled us all to get a glimpse of what it was, and still is, to live in America and to remember who, despite adversity, did not succumb to the trauma — but instead, who rose up to face it with courage, fighting for our civil rights.
The Impact of Maya Angelou in the 21st Century
The accomplishments of Angelou have only grown more meaningful with time – her works, though now a few decades old, are more relevant than ever. We hear her echoes in the movements of today, her words flashing in neon on the walls of cities around the world, and as a reminder to fight for hope against injustice.
Angelou’s continued to receive in death what she earned in life — many accolades, memorials and honorary degrees worldwide. Her influence has secured her place in American history, one which will be remembered for many generations to come.
It is doubtful that any application of classification can adequately capture the countless achievements of this singular artist and activist, however her life and her work succinctly demonstrate the ability of expression to alter human history.
Maya Angelou provided a captivating narrative of the African American perspective, speaking her truth through courage, creativity and with great understanding. It is with justice then, that we can celebrate her as one of the most celebrated and influential figures of the 20th and 21st century.
