Maya Angelou was one of the most influential African American poets of the twentieth century and beyond. As a teen, she was immersed in music, especially spirituals, often performing with her siblings or serenading her friends.
Her early education was largely shaped by her grandmother and mother, who taught her criticism, forgiveness, and perseverance. They had a profound impact on Angelou, instilling a sense of pride and a heightened awareness of the value of education.
In her teens, Angelou was influenced by Paul Laurence Dunbar and Langston Hughes, two African American poets who inspired her to explore the world through their powerful and evocative words. Throughout her life, Angelou was inspired by these two African American poets, as well as several other influential figures, including W.E.B. Du Bois and James Baldwin.
Angelou was also strongly influenced by her experiences in the civil rights movement. As a young woman, she enrolled in the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) in her hometown of San Francisco, and became involved in the struggle for justice and equality in the United States.
As a result of her experiences, Angelou was driven to express her views through her work, often portraying her race through her words. In her later years, she was also influenced by strong feminist icons such as Toni Morrison and Gloria Steinem, who had a great impact on her beliefs and writing.
Ultimately, Angelou was greatly influenced by a variety of people and movements throughout her life, which undoubtedly shaped her views and her writing. From her family members paying homage to her early education, to the civil rights movement, Angelou continued to grow, learn, and write for the rest of her life.
Though she is no longer with us, her impact lives on and her works are a testament to her powerful influence. Her honor and contributions to the civil rights movement, and to the world of literature, will never be forgotten.
Langston Hughes
Among the many influential people that influenced Maya Angelou’s work, Langston Hughes plays a prominent part. Hughes is frequently referred to as “the father of the Harlem Renaissance” and was a central figure in the Harlem movement in the 1920s and 1930s.
Angelou was drawn to his creative interpretation of the African American experience, which deeply resonated with her throughout her lifetime. Built upon the gospel of blues and jazz, Hughes used language to explore a unique vision of Southern life and history, shining a light on being African American in the Jim Crow-era South.
His groundbreaking poetry and plays on race, class and identity inspired a generation of African American writers, including Angelou. Angelou’s work was greatly influenced by Hughes’ frank exploration of race and oppression during a time when topics such as these were rarely discussed. In addition to his formidable visions, Hughes and Angelou shared countless similarities in race, gender, class, educational background and geographic location.
Angelou often acknowledges Hughes as career inspiration. His combination of language and power inspired her to use language for social justice, to open people’s eyes to what is really going on, and to tell truths about oppression and inequality.
In many ways, Hughes and Angelou’s contributions strengthened the importance of African American literature. Their words often awakened and inspired others, especially during the civil rights movement.
W.E.B Du Bois
W.E.B Du Bois was another prominent civil rights activist who had a deep and lasting impact on Maya Angelou’s works. For his lifetime of social and political activism, he is recognized as one of the most influential African Americans of the 20th century.
Du Bois’ writings on racism spurned Angelou to challenge oppression and create works of art that take on issues of race, gender, and identity. He believed that the advancement of African Americans stemmed largely from education, rather than political or economic strategies.
Du Bois was a determined leader in the fight for African American civil rights, along with racial equality and equal access to education. He was also one of the founders of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).
Du Bois was a major influence on Angelou’s work, as she was deeply moved by his mission for human dignity and equality. As a prominent leader in the civil rights movement, Du Bois inspired Angelou to use her words to challenge social injustice, to spread awareness and to break the silence of what was going on in the world.
Angelou admired the courage of Du Bois and his determination to fight for what he believed in. He reinforced the idea to Angelou that silence can be deadly, and that an artist can use their voice to make a lasting impact on the world.
James Baldwin
James Baldwin is yet another prominent figure who had a great influence on Maya Angelou’s writings. Baldwin was an African American novelist, playwright, essayist and poet, who was an advocate for civil rights during the 50s and 60s.
His passionate discourse on race, religion and identity aroused Angelou’s interest and passion. Baldwin’s powerfully expressive words illuminated the struggles of the Black community during this era. His realistic portrayals of the Black experience resonated deeply with Angelou, as she saw in Baldwin an embodiment of strength, courage, and resilience during a time of great racism and discrimination.
Baldwin’s strong and confident writing enabled Angelou to write unflinchingly about her own experiences. His writings gave her a platform to bring her out of her silence. She often speaks about Baldwin’s influence as a sort of “homage” to his courageous voice.
In her later works, Angelou was often encouraged by Baldwin’s work to tackle issues of racism within her own writing. Baldwin’s spirit of rage and compassion injected itself into Angelou’s works, which often focused on African American experiences.
Baldwin’s influence and contribution to Angelou’s work was incredibly significant, as she was greatly inspired by his earnest, outspoken manner of expression and his unyielding dedication to challenging racism.
Toni Morrison
Toni Morrison had a great impact on Maya Angelou’s writings and her life. Morrison was a highly distinguished novelist and professor, who wrote powerful pieces of literature and essays on race and identity.
As a novelist, Morrison wrote of the struggles and beauty of the African American experience and embodied a unique set of teachings — something that Angelou could relate to and learn from. Angelou admired Morrison’s writing, which often tackled difficult topics such as slavery and domestic violence.
Angelou was deeply inspired by Morrison’s strong feminist themes and her approach to her work. As a major figure of the Civil Rights and women’s movements, Morrison provided a sense of hope and strength for Angelou, and her outspokenness enabled her to speak candidly about social and racial issues.
Morrison was a great influence on Angelou and she often spoke of her admiration for Morrison’s work and her unfaltering commitment to her writing. Despite the discrimination, stereotypes and inequality they each faced, they both managed to rise up and persevere, and in doing so, created powerful works of art.
Gloria Steinem
Gloria Steinem, one of the most influential feminists of the 20th century, had a major impact on Maya Angelou’s life and her works. Steinem and Angelou both wrote and spoke extensively on the topics of women’s rights and gender roles.
Steinem’s activism and writing of liberation and equality for women has had a lasting influence on Angelou. In her later works, Angels took inspiration from Steinem’s fight for civil rights, her approach to her work with her characteristic boldness and strength.
Angelou deeply admired Steinem’s strength and determination, especially in the face of fierce opposition from the public and media. Steinem’s work empowered Angelou to write from her own experience, to strive for change, and to speak out for what she believed.
Steinem was an instrumental figure in the women’s liberation movement and was a leader in the struggle for women’s rights. Her powerful words and relentless fight inspired Angelou to do the same and to use her writing to stand up for what believed in and to write of her own experiences.
