Dr. Maya Angelou was a prolific poet, author, and influential civil rights activist. She earned numerous accolades, including three Grammys and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Dr. Angelou was born on April 4th, 1928 in St. Louis, Missouri and died at home in Winston-Salem, North Carolina on the morning of May 28th, 2014. She was 86 years old.
In a career that spanned more than six decades, Dr. Angelou achieved a remarkable array of awards and honors. She was known for her influential works of literature, most notably I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, which was published in 1969. In addition to being a celebrated author, she was a respected public speaker, having given eulogies for both Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr.
She was appointed by President Jimmy Carter in 1977 as a member of the President’s Commission on the Observance of International Women’s Year. In 2011, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the United States. Dr. Angelou was also a recipient of the Lincoln Medal and the National Medal of Arts.
In her later years, Dr. Angelou was a professor of American Studies at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Over the course of her life and career, Dr. Angelou won a number of honors and awards, including three Grammys and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Dr. Angelou’s inspirational writing and passionate activism made her an international icon. Over the course of her life, she gained a devoted following both on and off the page, and her words and story will continue to resonate with new generations of readers and activists. Though she passed away in 2014, her pioneering spirit lives on in her works, her example, and in the hearts of her countless admirers.
Maya Angelou’s Influential Career and Legacy
Maya Angelou’s career was remarkable for its longevity, scope and impact on society. As one of the nation’s foremost poets, authors and public speakers, Dr. Angelou wrote over 30 books, and her works, including I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, were published in more than 10 countries, translated into 17 languages, and won her numerous accolades. Additionally, she appeared in a number of films and was a renowned public speaker, delivering lectures and addressing crowds at historic sites, as well as at top universities across the globe.
Not only did her works influence literature and culture, but her commitment to supporting civil rights and advocating for marginalized voices also inspired generations. As a veteran of the civil rights movement, Dr. Angelou was a vocal proponent for equal rights and advocated for African Americans, women, and other minority groups. Moreover, her experience of being a single mother, as well as being a rape survivor, gave her a platform to raise awareness about these issues.
Maya Angelou’s lasting legacy will be remembered not only through her impact on literature but also the way in which she provided a platform to otherwise silenced voices advocating for the rights of others. Her influence on society was so pervasive, that in 2011 President Obama awarded her with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in recognition of her life long achievements.
Although Dr. Angelou passed away on May 28th, 2014, she left behind a legacy in which her words and actions will continue to reverberate and inspire new generations.
Dr. Angelou’s Impact on Literature
Maya Angelou has been widely celebrated for her groundbreaking works of literature, which cover a range of topics such as race and identity, motherhood, and human rights. She is most known for her autobiography I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, which was published in 1969 and follows her experiences from age four to seventeen. The book was widely lauded for its honest depiction of issues surrounding race and identity, as well as Dr. Angelou’s own journey to self-acceptance. The book has become widely assigned in schools and universities and has been cited as significant in the development of African-American literature.
Throughout her career, Dr. Angelou authored over 30 critically acclaimed works, many of which have won awards, including seven NAACP Image Awards. She was also honored with multiple poetry readings at the Library of Congress, including an invitation from Robert Frost to read her works at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta. Dr. Angelou’s works have been translated into over 17 languages and her influence can be seen in contemporary works, most notably her influence was cited by Oprah Winfrey and Beyoncé.
Dr. Angelou was one of the most influential authors of the 20th century and was among one of the first African-American writers to create works of African-American literature that explored issues around identity, race, and human rights. Her timeless works will continue to be read and studied for generations to come.
Maya Angelou’s Poetry in Modern Culture
In addition to her writings, Dr. Angelou’s influence is evident in the way her works have seeped into the fabric of popular culture. Her words have been popularized in many ways, from becoming the subject of a Google Doodle, to inspiring lyrics in rap songs, to even becoming the title of a Tyler Perry movie. As one of the most globally recognized poets, her works are often used to inspire and empower people across the globe.
Dr. Angelou was an advocate for using the arts to communicate a unique and important message and her words were populated in many forms throughout her career. Her poetry can be heard in two spoken-word albums, On the Pulse of Morning and Phenomenal Woman: Poems aged in 1994 and 1995, respectively. She was given a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, and won three Grammy awards.
In 2014, Google honored Dr. Angelou with a Google Doodle, a digital artwork created to pay tribute to her life and work. In addition, a number of celebrities have cited her influence, including Oprah Winfrey and Beyoncé, who have both cited her words in their speeches and lyrics. Beyoncé’s 2013 song, “Flawless”, contained a sample of Dr. Angelou’s recording of “Phenomenal Woman.”
Moreover, her influence is widest felt through the way her words and message have permeated global culture. She was a powerful advocate for using the arts to speak about our shared humanity, and in doing so she left an indelible impact on our culture, which will continue to inspire and empower generations to come.
Maya Angelou’s Place in the Feminist Movement
As a celebrated feminist writer and civil rights activist, Dr. Angelou was a powerful advocate for equal rights, who appeared in a number of films and ran for U.S vice president in 1972. She used her works to explore a range of topics, such as motherhood and gender discrimination, and was vocal in her support of feminism and civil rights.
Throughout her lifetime, Dr. Angelou faced numerous challenges due to her race and gender, and in doing so she provided a platform to marginalized voices advocating for civil rights. She was a firm believer in the importance of education and advocated for the importance of inclusion and equality in the classroom, as well as in society.
Additionally, her works were strongly inspired by her identity as an African-American, single mother, and rape survivor. Thus, her works have served as an important platform to speak about issues, such as domestic violence and racism, which women of color have experienced throughout history. Among her many works, her poem “Phenomenal Woman” was an anthem of female empowerment, which has been celebrated by feminists around the world.
In her works, Dr. Angelou consistently provided a platform to amplify the voices of often-marginalized communities. She was an advocate for the rights of women, children, and African Americans, and her works have inspired generations of activists and poets to fight for equal rights and social justice.
Dr. Angelou’s Contributions to Philanthropy
Dr. Angelou was a committed philanthropist throughout her life. She actively supported and gave back to her local community and was a vocal proponent of equality and civil rights. In addition, she was a staunch supporter of education, and established an endowed scholarship for disadvantaged students in her name at Wake Forest University in Winston Salem, North Carolina.
In addition to her philanthropic endeavors, Dr. Angelou also donated her time to a number of organizations, most notably she served as the National Executive Director of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in the 1970s, and was a long-time member of the National Council of Negro Women. Moreover, she was on the international board of advisors of the Jane Goodall Institute, and was a staunch supporter of artists, particularly those who were of African-American descent.
Throughout her career, Dr. Angelou was an advocate for supporting disadvantaged and marginalized communities, and her philanthropic efforts will be remembered for generations to come. She was a passionate supporter of education and civil rights, and her works, words and deeds continue to reverberate across the globe.