Maya Angelou Research Paper

Louis. The man who assaulted her was her mother boyfriend, who was later found dead. He was “kicked to death” the same night of the incident (Bloom 3). The incident concluded with five years of silence for Maya (Eller, 2). Maya’s rape incident was compared to the suffering of the African American community in the South during the 1930’s and 1940’s. Edward Eller, an assistant professor of English at Northeast Louisiana University writes that; “Just as the child had to give in to her rapist because she has no choice but to endure and survive, the blacks had no choice” (Eller, 2). The fight for Maya to fulfill her American Dream of finding a home, and being accepted into American society goes hand in hand with the fight for civil rights for the African American society. Eller states that Angelou’s voice through her literature showed African Americans that they could overcome racism and segregation; “Because Angelou shows us we can do more than endure. We can Triumph” (Eller, 2). Young Angelou along with the blacks in the South were looking for a place to call home, together they searched for a place where they belonged, were they fit in.

Before and during the Civil Rights Era, the United States was extremely biased against African Americans, and especially against African American women. Not only was Angelou black and female, she was also growing up in Stamps, Arkansas, during a time when the south was not welcoming of African American rights. In her autobiography, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Angelou describes her upbringing and states,“If growing up is painful for the Southern Black girl, being

Maya Angelou is a leading literary voice of the African-American community. She writes of the triumph of the human spirit over hardship and adversity. “Her style captures the ca-dences and aspirations of African American women whose strength she celebrates.” (Library of Chattanooga State, n. d.) Maya has paved the way for children who has had a damaged

Maya Angelou is courageous because she fell silent, but she still managed to find her voice through writing. Growing up in the South as an African-American female in the 30's-40's is complex because of all the racial injustices that happened day to day. Maya Angelou was sexually assaulted at the age of eight by her mother's boyfriend (Biography.com). This was only the beginning. Angelou confided in her brother, Bailey, and her uncle found out. Her rapist was then found severely beaten; as a result, she fell silent for five years and blamed herself for the situation. Angelou was sure of the fact that her uncle was the one killed her rapist, and she could not stand for this. She took the burden of going mute because it was her words that caused a life to be taken. Consequently, Angelou voiced her experiences through poetry because no one could take this away from her. Another example of being courageous is how she overcame the sexual assault. While being silent for five years, she studied writing. Her most famous piece is "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings." This book was about her traumatic childhood experiences and how she overcame them. Angelou's story became known as the first nonfiction best-seller by an African-American woman (Biography.com). Maya Angelou has a lot of bravery for falling silent and then soaring through the clouds with success.

Growing up as a African-American girl in California and the south during one of the most segregated times in American history, the 1940s. Maya Angelou was faced with three main deterrents growing up in these times, the racism and

Her legacy was called the "Caged Bird Legacy" because of her famous autobiography "I know why the Caged Bird Sings". Depicting the early life of the American poet, and writer. She paved the way for many women (especially African American women) by daring to do what wasn't done before. For exaple standing up with great African America leaders. Her spirit to dare and risk is what made her legacy what it is today; forever remembered. Her legacy will live on forever "Maya Angelou Biography".

She recited it at President Bill Clinton inauguration ceremony in 1993. Maya Angelou wrote poetry, autobiographies, and short stories. Angelou was best known for writing poetry. Maya’s most popular poem about a caged bird talks about a bird who loves to be in nature but ends up help in captivity.He sings about freedom but it still held in captivity. Many say that Angelou wrote this about having freedom in the world but we allow ourselves to be held down in captivity. Angelou was often criticized by parents about I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. This caused it to be removed from many school

April 4, 1928 in St. Louis, Missouri one of the most famous poets and civil rights activists was born, Marguerite Annie Johnson (Maya Angelou). Angelou was raised by her Grandmother, Annie Henderson, in Stamps, Arkansas, along with her brother Bailey and Uncle Willie, until Bailey got of lynching age then the siblings were sent to live with their parents. During this time, Angelou was sexually assaulted by her stepfather and as a reaction she became mute; to fill her new found free time she fell in love with William Shakespeare and writers of Standardized English. After she gave birth to her son, at the early age of 18, Angelou returned to finish high school then as her raise to fame as both a poet and civil rights activist boomed she was confronted with many great opportunities she got to speak, write, and fight for civil rights alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., recite her poem "On the Pulse of Morning" for the president, and later in her life write her memoir “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” up until she died on May 28, 2014. Maya Angelou’s poetry brings to life her culture and past experiences to show the reality of the best and worst cases in life and guides the readers to embrace and overcome similar affairs.

Initially, Maya Angelou’s poems left me conflicted. They are a testament to her frequent themes of African American history “and now I’ll tell you my Golden Rule I don’t mind work but I ain’t no mule”, love “love, by nature, exacts a pain unequaled on the rack”, painful loss, overcoming hardships, perseverance and most assuredly holding on to hope “just like hopes springing high”. As a caucasian girl living in a relatively affluent suburb in comfort, I feel such gratitude for the gifts I’ve been granted, but I also have guilt. Maya Angelou’s poetry reminds me of my opportunities and my own strength to make a change in the world; “but still like life I rise”. This poetry sample is most often targeted toward African

Maya Angelou is an American author who is known for her poetry and novels that lyrically illustrate the experiences of African Americans and also acts as a spokesperson for black pride and heritage (St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture). Although she speaks for people of color, her messages of hope and strength appeal to people of all ages and races. Angelou is best known for her autobiography, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, in which she recalls herself as a young African American girl finding self-confidence in a highly prejudice world.  Maya Angelou’s work should still be taught in schools today because of her focus on civil rights and feminism, which continues to be a pressing issue in today’s society.

Known for her admirable poetry that spoke to many women in her time, Marguerite Ann Johnson or better known as Maya Angelou, born on April 4 1928, was an influential poet that experienced many dreadful events in her early life that led her to write the type of poetry that many women were able to relate to her poetry and books. At the young age of six Angelou had been sexually assaulted, by her mother’s boyfriend at the time. From this experience Angelou did not speak to anyone for five consecutive years. Throughout this time, Angelou had found her love for literature and writing. Angelou had began to read poems by famous writers, such as William Shakespeare, Edgar Allen Poe and Paul Laurence Dunbar, and started to understand the meaning of poetry (Maya Angelou) . Further on into her life, Angelou had been sexually assaulted again by her former boyfriend and resulted in a pregnancy at the young age of seventeen. Into her late

At a young age, after the divorce of her parents, Angelou and her older brother were sent to live with their grandparents in Arkansas, where they experienced firsthand racial prejudice for the first time. Additionally, at the tender age of seven, Angelou was raped by her mother’s boyfriend who was beaten to death by her uncle soon after, as an act of vengeance. This traumatic event caused Angelou to cease talking for several years, believing it had been her voice which had killed him. As a virtual mute, Angelou spent these years memorizing poetry and developed a deep love for literature. She credits her teacher and friend, Mrs.Bertha Flowers, for helping her to talk again and introducing her to phenomenal authors such as Charles Dickens, Edgar Allan Poe and William Shakespeare.

Maya Angelou was a woman of many names. She was born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1928. Her father, Bailey Johnson, was a doorman and a naval dietician. Her mother, Vivian Johnson, was a professional gambler, registered nurse, and owned a rooming house and bar. As a young girl she endured abuse and trauma that eventually led her to stop talking, for six years she believed that her voice had killed the man who had attacked her but through writing and performing, she found her voice. “I am Maya Angelou, whatever that means to whomever it means.”

At a young age, Maya Angelou realized the worth of words when an incident caused her to stop speaking at the age of seven. She was sexually assaulted by her mother’s boyfriend and when she confided in her uncles about the rape, they murdered him out of rage. She believed that words were powerful and during the time that she did not speak, she began to grow a liking towards books and poetry. Prior to her writing career, Maya Angelou worked various professions such as being “a waitress, cook, and a madam who managed prostitutes” (“Angelou”). Later, she went on to becoming a singer and a dancer and appeared at the nightclub, the Purple Onion. There her pen name Maya Angelou was born. Her writing career began when she published her autobiographical novel, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings and from the success of the book, she continued to publish her poems. Maya Angelou’s personal story influences her works, “In her writings, Angelou has often aimed to speak for all African-Americans by concentrating on her own experiences and feelings” (“Angelou”). Maya Angelou’s works connect to her ancestors and the racial discrimination she herself went through.

Marguerite Annie Johnson Angelou (April 4, 1928- May 28, 2014), commonly known as Maya Angelou, was an American author, poet, historian, singer, civil rights activist, and much, much more. She grew up in St. Louis, Missouri before moving to Stamps, Arkansas because of her parents divorcing. At an early age, she was faced with racial discrimination in Arkansas. Angelou was raped by her mother’s boyfriend at a young age, which devastated her and led to stop talking at an early age. Therefore, the boyfriend was killed by Maya Angelou’s uncles because of this horrific act. When she became a young adult, she moved to San Francisco, where she studied and acted at the California Labor School. She made history by becoming the first African- American