Maya Angelou was born Marguerite Ann Johnson on April 4th, 1928 on the Vandercook Plantation near Stamps, Arkansas. As a young girl she moved to St. Louis, Missouri and then to San Francisco to live with her mother. She had a deprived upbringing, as her parents divorced when she was three, and she was subjected to physical and sexual abuse. At the age of seven, she moved to New York City and then travelled back to Arkansas with her brother to live with her grandmother. Angelou’s forays into singing, dancing and acting began at the age of 14, when she participated in various shows, operas and musicals.
Influences in Maya Angelou’s Early Life
Angelou’s early life was marked by poverty and social upheaval. Her father was a house painter, but died when she was eight, and very little is known about his influence on her work. Her mother was a telephone operator, who tried to instill in her daughter a strong work ethic and the importance of education. Angelou’s grandmother, Annie Henderson, was a savvy businesswoman and instilled in her granddaughter a sense of self-esteem and dignity. As a result of her grandmother’s lessons, Angelou believed that it was possible to persevere through difficult times and achieve success, despite her upbringing.
Angelou’s Journey Through the Writings
Angelou’s journey in writing started at the age of 17 when she wrote her first poem, ‘The Graduation’ for her high school writing competition. After this success, she moved back to New York and wrote as a freelance journalist before moving to Cairo with her husband and taking up a post as editor at a Ghanaian newspaper. Her later writings, in particular her autobiography, ‘I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings’, focused on the struggles of being a young African-American woman in a racist and oppressive patriarchal society. Her writing captured her pain through her powerful and poetic language, and her work has left a lasting impact on contemporary literature.
Philosophical Connections in Angelou’s Work
Angelou’s work incorporates a range of philosophical and political stances. She draws heavily on the writings of African-American authors such as James Baldwin, Langston Hughes and Ralph Ellison, who address themes of oppression, race, gender and class. Angelou’s writing also champions the black experience, as well as celebrating female strength, courage and resilience. Moreover, Angelou’s work addresses the power of faith and strength in the face of adversity and her own experiences of racism and exploitation.
Awards and Recognition
Angelou’s writing was widely acclaimed, and she has been awarded numerous honorary degrees, awards and recognitions. In 2010, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Obama, in recognition of her work and her contributions to society. Her books have been translated into multiple languages and have sold millions of copies worldwide. She was also the first African-American woman to have her works published in a Pulitzer Prize-nominated form.
Maya Angelou’s Legacy
Maya Angelou’s life and work has left an indelible mark on American culture. Her powerful autobiographical works, set against the backdrop of racial oppression, injustice and unequal rights, are widely regarded as works of immense significance and influence. Her poems, essays and stories have inspired generations of people to face adversity with courage and strength, and to embrace every aspect of their identity. Angelou’s work has become an integral part of the American literary canon and continues to shape how we think about race and identity.
Angelou’s Poetic Style and Influences
Angelou was deeply influenced by her early training in poetry, music and theater. She frequently used oral forms such as the blues, hymns and folktales in her writing, drawing on the legacy of African-American literature. She often wrote in free verse, playing with metre and rhyme, and her musicality expresses her strong emotions and reactions to injustice and racism. Her words also resonate with powerful images and deep emotions, which have been praised as spiritually and emotionally transformative.
The Impact of Maya Angelou’s Writing
Maya Angelou’s writing is immensely influential, praised for its raw power and emotion, and its ability to capture the experiences and emotions of African-American women. Angelou’s influence extends beyond literature, and her works have had a lasting impact on popular culture and attitudes towards race, gender and identity. Angelou has been an inspirational figure for generations, and continues to touch lives through her lyrical and poetic words.
