Maya Angelou is a renowned American poet, memoirist and civil rights activist known for her brave, honest, and uplifting work. After a traumatic childhood, Angelou chose to remain silent for five years, retreating from society and the unhealthy environment of her early years. Her silence continued until she was able to transform her experiences, no longer as a victim, but rather as a more empowered individual. As such, it is difficult to pinpoint exactly when Angelou “started talking again,” however according to experts there are several events and circumstances that allowed Maya to slowly break her long-held silence.
It is believed that Angelou’s transformation into an empowered individual began when, at the age of 14, her grandmother took her to a black church in Arkansas. Here Angelou found comfort in the oppression-focused sermons and singing of her peers, which cultivated an environment in which she could come to terms with her experiences. This also inspired her to write her own poetry, which acted as a means of self-expression and healing. Moreover, Angelou was inspired to join a local civil rights activist group led by Reverend Walter McCall, who encouraged Angelou to take ownership of her identity by overcoming her silence. With the help of mentors and the civil rights movement, Angelou’s voice slowly began to emerge and she found ways to use it in the fight for civil rights and justice against racism.
In addition, after Angelou met singer and songwriter, Porgy Jones, she was invited to New York as part of a celebration for Malcolm X’s birthday. Here she would become an effective voice for civil rights by arranging marches with leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr and later performing a recital of her poem “On the Pulse of the Morning” at President Clinton’s inauguration, inspiring millions to stand up against prejudice and injustices.
By participating in the civil rights movement and beginning to own her experiences, Angelou found the courage to trust and to stand up for herself. This courage was essential in her transformation and her reclaiming of her voice. She was now able to use her poetic medium to express her struggles, feelings, and ultimately her hope in the power of love and justice to stop oppression.
At its core, the silent journey of Angelou’s re-discovery and reclaiming of her voice lies at the heart of her emerging empowered identity. Ultimately, it was her resilience, courage and the Black Movement that enabled Angelou to make the transformation from a voiceless victim to a confident and self-expressive individual. Today, Angelou continues to inspire millions to tell their stories and together fight oppression.
The United States Civil Rights Movement
Maya Angelou’s journey to reclaim her voice began in her teenage years when she was encouraged to join a local civil rights movement by Reverend Walter McCall. Upon joining the civil rights movement, Angelou faced a lot of prejudice and racism but still stood up for herself and her beliefs. This experience, as well as being invited to join the celebration of Malcolm X’s birthday in New York, allowed her to become an effective voice for civil rights. Angelou took advantage of the platform to arrange marches with the iconic civil rights leader, Martin Luther King Jr. With the help of her continual involvement in the civil rights movement, Maya Angelou was able to break her five-year silence and spread her stories of hope and justice to people in the United States and across the world.
The Power of Storytelling
The United States civil rights movement as a platform allowed Maya Angelou to open up her stories. This experience, combined with writing her own poetry, enabled her to own her experiences by transforming into an empowered individual. By having the courage to tell her stories, Angelou was able to become a voice of the oppressed, a kind of leader for a new generation of storytellers. With her poetry and her active involvement in the civil rights movement, Angelou was able to spread the power of storytelling to countless people, no longer a silent victim of prejudice.
The Effect of the Civil Rights Movement
The civil rights movement planted the seed for Angelou to break her silence. By joining the civil rights movement, Angelou was able to stand up for herself and her beliefs. This gave her the confidence to start using her voice and to share her stories, experiences, and messages. Today, Angelou is known for her inspirational uplifting words and is a symbol of the power and success that the civil rights movement achieved.
Angelou’s Impact on Society
Maya Angelou’s story of reclaiming her voice has transcended many boundaries and continues to inspire generations of people around the world. Through her activism, advocacy, and poetic medium, Angelou has become beloved by millions who are drawn to her messages of hope, justice, love, and resilience. Angelou has become one of the often-referenced figures within civil rights history, associated with progress and the power of unity.
