Why Is Maya Angelou Important
Running head: MAYA ANGELOU 1
MAYA ANGELOU 11
An Important Historical Figure: Maya Angelou
Name
Institution
Date
Introduction
Born on the 4th of April, 1928 in St. Louis, Missouri, civil rights activist and writer Maya Angelou is popular for her memoir titled “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings”, which made the literary milestone as the first non-fiction best-seller by a woman of an African-American background (Agins, 2013). In 1971, Maya published the poetry collection “Just Give Me a Cool Drink “Fore I Die.” Angelou …show more content…
She was a poet, dancer, screenwriter, author, and actress. Born Marguerite Annie Johnson, Maya had a very difficult childhood (S. Savitz & Wallace, 2016). Angelou’s parents separated when she was still young, and together with her brother Bailey, they were sent to reside with Anne Henderson, their father’s mother, in Stamps, Arkansas (S. Savitz & Wallace, 2016). Being an African-American, she experienced firsthand discrimination and racial prejudices in Arkansas.
In addition, she went through pain and suffering at the hands of people who she expected would have given her the protection and showed her love. At around the age of seven, she was raped by her mum’s boyfriend (S. Savitz & Wallace, 2016). Afterwards, as retribution for the assault, her uncles murdered the boyfriend. Shocked and traumatized by the experienced, Angelou seized talking and went back to Arkansas, spending several years as a virtual …show more content…
She was a daughter, a woman, a victim, a mother, a survivor, an actor, a singer, a poet, a writer a dancer, a friend, a civil rights activist, a leader and an encourager (S. Savitz & Wallace, 2016). Angelou was not afraid of rising above where the society expected her to stay, and she worked so hard to mentor and inspire other women in the same lessons that she had initially learned. She shared her victories, struggles, and pain. She did not hide behind a mask of what others expected her to be (S. Savitz & Wallace, 2016). Maya’s strength and experiences developed in her a charisma that instantly drew other people to
MAYA ANGELOU 11
An Important Historical Figure: Maya Angelou
Name
Institution
Date
Introduction
Born on the 4th of April, 1928 in St. Louis, Missouri, civil rights activist and writer Maya Angelou is popular for her memoir titled “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings”, which made the literary milestone as the first non-fiction best-seller by a woman of an African-American background (Agins, 2013). In 1971, Maya published the poetry collection “Just Give Me a Cool Drink “Fore I Die.” Angelou …show more content…
She was a poet, dancer, screenwriter, author, and actress. Born Marguerite Annie Johnson, Maya had a very difficult childhood (S. Savitz & Wallace, 2016). Angelou’s parents separated when she was still young, and together with her brother Bailey, they were sent to reside with Anne Henderson, their father’s mother, in Stamps, Arkansas (S. Savitz & Wallace, 2016). Being an African-American, she experienced firsthand discrimination and racial prejudices in Arkansas.
In addition, she went through pain and suffering at the hands of people who she expected would have given her the protection and showed her love. At around the age of seven, she was raped by her mum’s boyfriend (S. Savitz & Wallace, 2016). Afterwards, as retribution for the assault, her uncles murdered the boyfriend. Shocked and traumatized by the experienced, Angelou seized talking and went back to Arkansas, spending several years as a virtual …show more content…
She was a daughter, a woman, a victim, a mother, a survivor, an actor, a singer, a poet, a writer a dancer, a friend, a civil rights activist, a leader and an encourager (S. Savitz & Wallace, 2016). Angelou was not afraid of rising above where the society expected her to stay, and she worked so hard to mentor and inspire other women in the same lessons that she had initially learned. She shared her victories, struggles, and pain. She did not hide behind a mask of what others expected her to be (S. Savitz & Wallace, 2016). Maya’s strength and experiences developed in her a charisma that instantly drew other people to