Maya Angelou was an iconic American author, poet, actress and Civil Rights activist who passed away in 2014. She was 86 years old at the time. Throughout her life, Angelou wrote an impressive number of autobiographies, books of poetry, plays and essays and even composed songs. In fact, she was the first African American woman to have a screenplay produced in film. Her entire life and work have inspired many generations.
Maya Angelou was born on April 4th, 1928 in St. Louis, Missouri and was originally named Marguerite Johnson. She was raised by her parents in St. Louis and their mother’s home in Stamps, Arkansas. Angelou’s parents divorced when she was only three and her brother was sent to live with their father, while she and her brother lived with their mother’s grandmother in Stamps, Arkansas. At the age of eight, Angelou was sexually abused and sent back to live with her mother, who was living in Oakland, California by then. As a result, Angelou became mute for five years.
Angelou attended High School and College in California but left after a year to become a performer. She was a successful dancer for a short period before working as a nightclub singer, because she was able to combine her artwork, such as poetry and acting, with her singing. Eventually, Angelou joined the Civil Rights Movement and began writing poetry, essays and autobiography.
She wrote her first memoir, I know why the caged bird sings, published in 1969, and it quickly turned into a success. Her other memoir, Gather Together in My Name, was also well received, and she also wrote books of poetry, magazine and newspaper articles, plays and movies. Among her many accolades, Maya Angelou was the first African-American woman to direct a major motion picture trailer in 1982.
In 2014, Angelou passed away in her home in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She was 86 years old at the time. Millions of people were inspired by her bravery and her relentless determination to use her art and her voice to fight for the rights of African-Americans and other persecuted people.
Maya Angelou’s Early Life
Maya Angelou was born on April 4th, 1928 in St. Louis, Missouri. Her parents soon divorced and she was sent with her brother to live with their mother’s grandmother in Stamps, Arkansas. At eight years old, Angelou was sexually abused and sent to live with her mother in Oakland, California. As a result, she became mute and stayed that way for five years. Despite this traumatic experience, Angelou was able to find a path for her life. She attended school and college in California, although she left after a year to pursue her dreams of becoming a dancer and singer.
At the age of 18, Angelou joined a dance and drama club where she found a platform to pursue her dream of becoming a performer. Angelou was able to combine her artwork, such as poetry and acting, with her singing, allowing her to make a living in nightclubs. Eventually, Angelou was able to direct a major motion picture trailer in 1982, being the first African-American woman to do so.
How Maya Angelou Influenced Culture?
Angelou’s entire life and work have had a profound influence on society. She wrote several autobiographies and books of poetry such as I Know why the Caged Bird Sings in 1969, Gather Together in My Name and also composed songs. Her work was published in both magazines and newspapers and she even wrote plays and poems.
Angelou’s fearless outlook on life and her strength to take a stand against racism and injustice in a changing America has earned her a place among powerful Civil Rights activists. She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011 and the Lincoln Medal in 2008 for her work in literature and was praised for her courage during her acceptance of the award. To this day, Angelou’s legacy lives on in her artwork, her literature and her reflections of a tumultuous period in American history.
Projects Related To Maya Angelou
After Angelou’s passing in 2014, many projects have been developed to highlight her legacy. The Maya Angelou Center for Health Equity was established at Wake Forest School of Medicine to honor her life’s work and help address the health issues of underserved populations in the state of North Carolina. Angelou’s work has also been celebrated in a documentary called And Still I Rise, which premiered on PBS in 2017. It was the first documentary to explore Angelou’s work, her life, her personal challenges and her influential place in American culture.
In April 2018, the WORLD Channel released a six-part documentary series entitled ‘MAYA ANGELOU: And Still I Rise’, which portrays her influence on the world. The series was created to celebrate “her courage, her intellect, her creativity and her contributions on the world stage. The series was also featured at the Sundance Film Festival in 2017.
Analysis Of Maya Angelou’s Life and Writings
Maya Angelou’s life and writings are of great importance in the American and global culture. Most of her works have been related to feminism and the civil rights movement, especially during the 50s and 60s. Her work I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, published in 1969, elevated Angelou to literary stardom and was later nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for Literature in 1970. Angelou’s writings were deeply personal and she often used her own experiences to present themes such as racism, politicization, segregation and identity.
In addition to her autobiography, Angelou wrote an impressive number of poems and essays. In some of these, she expressed admiration for the African American culture, giving voice to the struggles of those who had to live under the rule of racism and segregation. Angelou wrote about the need for justice and for people to be heard and understood, regardless of their gender, race and religion. Through her work, Angelou was able to connect with readers across generations and provide them with perspectives on civil rights and anti-racism that they otherwise would not have access to.
Analysis Of Maya Angelou’s Impact on Society
Maya Angelou had a deep impact on society that has been felt since her passing in 2014. The Maya Angelou Center for Health Equity at Wake Forest School of Medicine was created in her honor and continues to work on tackling health issues in the state of North Carolina. Documentaries and films such as ‘And Still I Rise’ were released in her memory. Angelou was also awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Lincoln Medal for her contributions to literature.
Angelou’s courage, intellect and drive to fight against racism and other forms of injustice inspired millions of people around the world. Her unflinching attitude and honest reflections gave a voice to many who did not have the same platform or outlook to share their own stories. Angelou’s work continues to be celebrated for the way it gave back to the world in literature, films, plays and poems.
Attention To Maya Angelou’s Legacy In Recent Times
Many initiatives have been launched to keep Angelou’s legacy alive. For example, the Humanities Council of Wake Forest University created the Maya Angelou Center for Transformative Leadership. This initiative hosts events where people can come together to reflect on the power of love, healing and resilience to transform lives. Additionally, the #CelebratingAngelou initiative was created to honor Angelou’s contributions to literature. People around the world are encouraged to share their favorite Angelou works online and discuss her contributions to civil rights and anti-racism.
In recent years, Angelou’s work and impact on society have been recognized in various academic institutions. For example, The University of New Mexico created a special Endowed Scholarship for Early Childhood Education in honor of Angelou. This scholarship is awarded to those who demonstrate the same commitment to changing education for the better as Angelou did. Additionally, Columbia College has dedicated an annual international lecture series to Angelou’s memory and legacy. The series is an opportunity for people from around the world to come together and celebrate the role that Angelou’s life and work have played in the civil rights and anti racism movements.
