Maya Angelou: The African American Legend in Art and History
Maya Angelou A poet, an author, a play-write, an actress, a mother, a civil-rights activists, historian and most important a survivor. Perhaps Maya Angelou, award winning author of many books is one of the most influential African Americans in American history. I believe that she rates at the top of the list of American authors, with Hemingway, Hawthorne, and Voight. I believe through my research and reading of Maya Angelou that she should be among the members of The American Authors Hall of Fame. Maya was born on, April 4th, 1928 as Marguerite Johnson, in St. Louis Missouri. She was raised in Stamps Arkansas, by her Grandmother Annie Henderson and Her Uncle Willie. Stamps was a rural segregated community. However, it was tight knit between the African Americans. Maya grew up during a very difficult time period in American history. They were just recovering from the Great Depression, and learning how to deal with different races of people. Maya knew this and made it clear in her writing. "It was awful to be Negro and have no control over my life. It was brutal to be young and already trained to sit quietly and listen to charges brought against my color with no chance of defense. We should be dead. I thought I should like to see us all dead, one on top of each other. A pyramid of flesh with the whit folks on the bottom, . . . and then the Negro 's." (Angelou Caged Bird 153) "If growing up was painful for the Southern Black Girl, being aware of her displacement is the rust on the razor that threatens the throat." (Angelou, Caged Bird) Little 2
Grandma Henderson was a very religious person, and a key factor in Maya 's upbringing. as with the rest of the people of Stamps. Maya and her brother Baily were punished as necessary. She kept Baily and Maya out of trouble and on the right track. "A devout woman Grandmother Henderson led her family in prayer each day at 4:00am." (Aging and Human Development 181) When Maya was about six, she and
Grandma Henderson was a very religious person, and a key factor in Maya 's upbringing. as with the rest of the people of Stamps. Maya and her brother Baily were punished as necessary. She kept Baily and Maya out of trouble and on the right track. "A devout woman Grandmother Henderson led her family in prayer each day at 4:00am." (Aging and Human Development 181) When Maya was about six, she and
Cited: Aging and Human Development. 1992 ed. Massachusetts: Lexington 1991 Angelou, Maya. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. New York, Norton 1970 Angelou, Maya. All God 's Children Need Walking Shoes. NewYork, Norton 1986 Thomas, Alicia.."Maya Angelou; A Given Gift" People Feb. 2001: 12-17 Thurneo, Jones. "A Woman of Dignity." Times Magazine 27 July 2002: 31-36