In China there’s an old saying from the elderlies that “I have had more salt than the rice you’ve had so far in your life.” People who’s spent more time exploring the world often know more than the young ones do. Even for the famous people, they all had to learn from their parents or mentors. Oprah Winfrey is a famous American talk show host, media proprietor, actress, producer, philanthropist--a woman of great talent and intelligence. And then there was Oprah’s mentor, Maya Angelou, who was an American author, poet, and civil rights activist. Dr. Angelou was famous throughout the years because of her amazing books, poetries, and TV shows. Dr. Angelou passed away in 2014, but she left her knowledge and ideas for the world forever. Oprah Winfrey expressed after Dr. Angelou’s death that, “‘When you learn, teach. When you get, give’ is one of my best lessons from her.” …show more content…
Angelou was sexually abused while she lived with her mother’s family before she was 7 years old, then she was sent to live with her paternal grandparents for years. Angelou stopped talking to people for six years after the sexual abuse. People gave her all kinds of bad names while she grew up, only her grandmother showed her the bright side of the world. Angelou’s grandmother encouraged her to become a teacher and teach people all over the world once herself and the lord is ready for it. Grandmother’s encouragement turned out to be true, Maya Angelou eventually became a great writer and taught people what she learned from her grandmother all over the
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.
Maya Angelou was born in St. Louis, Missouri (1928) as Marguerite Johnson; however she grew up in Stamps, Arkansas where her grandmother ran a general store. Angelou has acted and written several plays, poems, and a six-part autobiography “I Know Why the caged Bird Sings” making her one of this country’s foremost black writers. In this story Angelou tells about how her grandmother (momma) triumphs over a pack of taunting neighborhood children. I feel very strongly about this particular piece given the time set and the way black people were treated by the whites, and how without harsh words or threats some black people overcame the taunting and cruelties of the whites.
Maya Angelou was an American, poet, and civil rights activist. She published seven autobiographies, three books of poetry, and was credited with a list of plays, movies, and television shows spanning over 50 years. One of main qualities that she had is a symbol of resilience- the capacity to persist in the face of hardship and adversity, and beyond that a symbol of boundless creativity. She didn’t just survive the significant trauma of her early life, but she made something magnificent of that life. This positive characteristic of hers influence other people to face reality and get to make things to be better for themselves in the future, despite of their mistake that they did in the earlier life.
Dr. Angelou is best known for the first volume of her autobiography, in it, she bravely speaks of her battle to overcome abuse, rape, and poverty. For thousands of young Black women reading the book, it is a way of passage for those who have been similarly victimized, it is like a soothing ointment that helps heal the wounds. Angelou gives a voice to the voiceless; she says, "You're not alone. In happened to me
From her early life as a mute, to her poems, to speaking at the presidential inauguration of Bill Clinton, and even to her time as a teacher, Maya Angelou and her contributions and writing pieces, have taught many, and changed the world immensely. Maya Angelou had a very difficult childhood. When she was 3 years old, Angelou’s parents divorced. Neither Angelou’s father nor mother could take care of her. Angelou and her brother Bailey were sent to live with her grandmother whom they called Momma, in Stamps, Arizona.
Maya’s younger years were filled with pain and tragedy. When she was only three years old, her parents separated, moving Maya and her brother into the home of their grandmother in Stamps, Arkansas. While growing up in this area, Angelou became aware of the discrimination and racism that was prevalent during this time in America. (Hyperlink.com) At the age of eight, Angelou was reinstated into the care of her mother. It was during this time period that Maya was sexually abused by her mother’s boyfriend. Shortly after this incident occurred, Angelou became mute and would not speak again for five years. This time period in Maya Angelou’s life would
Her early years were marked by racial discrimination and misery, but her steady spirit and determination set the stage for her extraordinary career as a writer and activist. Angelou’s memories and poetry explore the complexities of her upbringing, leaving a lasting impact on American literature and culture. Maya Angelou’s adulthood was marked by an amazing journey of self-discovery, activism, and literary achievement. Childhood trauma muted her, leading to multiple careers as a dancer, actress, and civil rights activist. Angelou’s participation in the civil rights movement, alongside leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, set her commitment to social justice and equality.
Maya Angelou is a very well educated and well known black woman. She studied at California Labor School and was appointed Reynolds Professor of American Studies at Wake Forest University (Maya Angelou: Poet and Historian, n.d.). In giving her speech at Spelman College, a predominantly black school, she was very well qualified for the occasion. It is no secret that Angelou participated in the Civil Rights Movement, she was a teacher, a successful writer, and a national figure. According to Thill and Bovee (2015), “Successful communication relies on a positive relationship between sender and receiver”
The confidence and boldness we model today as women have been influenced by the work of Maya Angelou. Coob (2005) in an article titled ‘A woman’s role in the 1950’s’, highlighted how repressive and demeaning the perspectives of a woman were and essentially their dependence on men. The pain that Maya endured during and after her childhood shaped her into the woman she came to be, speaking with compassion and an intimate awareness of the heart within us. She published her award-winning novel, ‘I know why the caged bird sings’ sharing with the world the personal challenges she faced and what it took to overcome her adversity. If at any point you struggled at accepting being born a female, Angelou’s influence stood as a reminder of the immense
Angelou came up in a period that was checked by racial pressure, abuse, and wrecking circumstances for blacks all through the nation. As the girl of a vivacious, fearless and candid mother,
As a young African American woman growing up with the continuous reminder of black as an inferiority, a numerous amount obstacles encountered Maya Angelou. At the age of seven, Maya Angelou was repeatedly molested which caused her to develop low
Maya Angelou, the current poet laureate of the United States, has become for many people an exemplary role model. She read an original poem at the inauguration of President Clinton; she has also appeared on the television show "Touched by an Angel," and there read another poem of her own composition; she lectures widely, inspiring young people to aim high in life. Yet this is an unlikely beginning for a woman who, by the age of thirty, had been San Francisco's first black streetcar conductor; an unmarried mother; the madam of a San Diego brothel; a prostitute, a showgirl, and an actress (Lichtler, 861927397.html). Her book I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings argues persuasively
Oppressed women have been unjustly held back from achieving full equality for much of human history. A woman no matter neither color nor education faces discrimination on a day to day basis. Barriers that are place in their way to advancing includes: lack of mentoring, lack of opportunities for career development, biased rating and testing system and counterproductive behavior and harassment by colleges (Schaefer, pg 15). In the past, women did not have jobs and were to clean, cook and care for the children, also did not have the right to vote. While the man work long hours to provide for his family and gave orders as the women followed. As time went on and rights were given to women, the men did not like the idea that controlled was being lost. They refused to let women become equal to males. Women are allow to work the same career as males, but will never be paid the same as males. This paper addresses Maya Angelou life and how her writing and public speaking inspired women to overcome discrimination.
Maya Angelou was very brave. One of the things that makes her brave is being able to talk about being sexually abused. At the young age of seven, Angelou was sexually abused by her mother’s boyfriend. This happened while she was briefly staying with her mother in St. Louis. For the rest of her life, she would have that memory in her brain, reminding her of such a traumatic experience. In 1970, Angelou had an autobiography that was on the New York Times’ bestseller