Attempting to find herself, Angelou “emerged from her self-imposed silence with the help of a school teacher” who directed her to the significance and power of literature (Martin and Commire, 93). The author spent the majority of her youth fleeing from family problems. During Angelou’s troubled path to recovery, she became “homeless” and often “worked on and off as a prostitute” before changing her name to “Maya Angelou”.
By the time Angelou was 30, she made personal “commitment to becoming a writer” through the inspiration of her “friendship with, the distinguished social activist author, John Killen” (Martin and Commire, 93). Additionally, through “weekly meetings with the ‘Harlem Writers’ Guild’” Angelou learn the craft of and seriousness of writing (Martin and Commire, 93).
Analysis of the “Harlem Hopscotch”
Written in 1969, Maya Angelou accounts for poverty, prejudices, and belittled identity through her poem, “Harlem Hopscotch”, in order to encourage one’s acceptance of identity influenced by the challenges they endured: One foot down, then hop! It’s hot. Good things for those ones that’s got. Another jump, now to the