Speech On Maya Angelou

The power of language and its ability to deconstruct and reconstruct not only the individual’s identity but also a community’s identity is the overall main point in Maya Angelou’s “Graduation” piece. Angelou is able to capture this in her writing through her personal experience, and also simultaneously by using the example of American society’s social infrastructure which can limit opportunities for people of color, specifically the black community. After Edward Donleavy, a white politician during the late 30’s/ early 40’s, had spoken down on the students from Lafayette Country Training School, down on their black community, a sense of defeat filled the auditorium. Angelou’s simile, “the man’s dead words fell like bricks around the auditorium and too many settled in my belly.” (Language Acts,

Maya Angelou was an inspiring activist, poet, and woman. Angelou was born in St. Louis, Missouri on April 4, 1928. Throughout her lifetime she explored her career options as an actress, dancer, singer, writer, and editor among many other careers. Angelou had a tough childhood. Her parents divorced when she was very young and she was sent to live with her grandmother in Arkansas along with her brother Bailey. As an African American, Angelou experienced discrimination and racial prejudices. Angelou gave birth to her son Guy, at the age of sixteen and married her first husband Tosh Angelos, at the age of twenty-four. Angelou and Tosh divorced years later however, she did get married a couple of more times. Angelou experienced many

Maya Angelou (April 4, 1928-May 28, 2014) was an American author, actress, screenwriter dancer and poet. She was known for her memoir, I know Why the Caged Bird Sings (bibography.com). “Her parents divorced when she was only three and she was sent with her brother Bailey to live with their grandmother in the small town of Stamps, Arkansas. In Stamps, the young girl experienced the racial discrimination that was the legally enforced way of life in the American

Maya Angelou’s poetry occupies a very special position in her development as a writer (Chow 1). As a child, Angelou went through five years of complete silence after she was raped at the age of seven years old, by a man named, Mr. Freeman. As a result of telling about her traumatic experience, her uncle’s literally kicked the man that raped her to death. Beings she spoke of her traumatic experience and the result of the man dying, she then imagined that her voice had the potential to kill. Thanks to her teacher, Bertha Flowers, at school Angelou started writing poetry as a means of expression of her life events through her poetry (Chow 1). Poetry thus played an essential part in the recovery of her voice, which in

Maya Angelou, named at birth, Marguerite Johnson was on April 4th, 1928, in St. Louis, Missouri. Her and her family moved from St. Louis to Stamps, Arkansas, where she was raised growing up. Maya Angelou was an American author, dancer, screenwriter, actress, poet and civil rights activist. Angelou gained a majority of her fame with the memoir she wrote in 1969, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. This memoir made literary history as being the first nonfiction best-seller by an African-American woman. Angelou received many awards and honors throughout her entire career. These awards included two NAACP Image Awards in the outstanding literary work (nonfiction) category, in 2005 and 2009. Angelou became one of the most legendary and influential

Maya Angelou is one of the most distinguished African American writers of the twentieth century. Writing is not her only forte she is a poet, director, composer, lyricist, dancer, singer, journalist, teacher, and lecturer (Angelou and Tate, 3). Angelou’s American Dream is articulated throughout her five part autobiographical novels; I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Gather Together in my Name, Singin’ and Swingin’ and Getting’ Merry Like Christmas, The Heart of a Woman, and All God’s Children Need Traveling Shoes. Maya Angelou’s American Dream changed throughout her life: in I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings Maya’s American dream was to fit into a predominantly white society in small town

Maya Angelou was born April 4, 1928. Her real name is Marguerite Johnson, but she later changed it to Maya. She was born in St. Louis, shortly after her birth her family up and move to Arkansaw. Maya grew up there in the rural parts of Arkansaw, and later married to a South African Freedom Fighter. She lived in Cairo with him, there she began her career as editor of the Arab Observer.

Maya Angelou is terrific performer, singer, filmmaker, and civil-rights activist. She is a phenomenal woman, one thing that she does best is writing. She is still living today, I believe her legend will never die. If one would talk to her, he or she would think she has lead a normal, happy life. Her life is blissful now, it was not always perfect. Maya beard enough emotional stress in a time frame that most people do not experience in a lifetime. Her experiences and the lessons learned encouraged her to help others become strong. Maya Angelou is one of the best examples of someone overcoming rape, being mute for several years, and having a child at a young age to achieve success of becoming an accomplished

She also remained politically active throughout her life, continuing to show her support for the Civil Rights Movement, reciting her poem, “On the Pulse of Morning” at Bill Clinton’s inauguration, and publically endorsing both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. Angelou finally passed away on May 28, 2014 at the age of 86. Even in her later years, Angelou never stopped writing. In the last 10 years of her life, she penned over four books and several poems. (Wikipedia.com) Angelou is remembered not only as an awe-inspiring poet and author, but also as a talented musician, playwright, and outspoken activist. She truly left her mark in every aspect of her

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

Angelou went back into writing working on book named I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings which was published in 1970 as well as for many other books that she published becoming bestsellers.

Maya Angelou: An Influential Voice Not many can say they have been a writer, a civil rights activist, and a dominant part of American culture, but Maya Angelou could. By taking on these different identities with grace and dignity, she made a lasting impression on the world and in the lives of millions. Her diligent commitment to the greater good is evident in her many accomplishments and awards. Although most of her prominent efforts took place in the 20th century, Angelou’s lifelong mission to transform humanity for the better is still relevant today.

She wrote an award winning book by the name of “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” (Nelson). The meaning behind the title was a bird trying to escape its cage which made reference to Angelou’s life because of her struggle with racism and her trying to escape it. Growing up a black women was not easy for Angelou, but thanks to her grandmother, she “learned pride and self-confidence” (“Maya Angelou Biography”). Maya Angelou was also a civil rights activist and singer (“Maya Angelou Biography”). She fought for her rights as a black and for all blacks and whites to be equal. As for her songwriting, Angelou said “Music was my refuge. I could crawl into the space between the notes and curl back into my loneliness.”

Flowers took the time to invest in Maya Angelou by requesting her to help carry the paper sacks to her bungalow instead of Angelou's brother, Bailey. This day would change Maya Angelou's life forever. The impact of this moment, as you can tell in the story, put Angelou on the right track. As Mrs. Flowers took the time to invest in a young black girl, Angelou, like most young girls, was craving for someone like her to be a part of her life. Having went through a traumatic event when she was just eight years old, Angelou had not spoken in several years, except to her brother when he would coax her to talk to him. This encounter with Mrs. Flowers would help Angelou realize something. Mrs. Flowers expressed to her how important it is to speak words. Knowing Angelou read a lot, Mrs. Flowers informed her that it is not enough just to read and she explained why. As stated in the story, Mrs. Flowers told Angelou, "language is man's way of communicating with his fellow man and it is language alone which separates him from the lower animals". She also told her "Words mean more than what is set down on paper. It takes the human voice to infuse them with the shades of deeper meaning." This conversation will be a turning point for Maya Angelou. As Mrs. Flowers gave her books to read to push her in the right direction, she was investing in a little girl's life. Along with the books Mrs. Flowers gave Angelou that day, she also blessed her with what she now calls "lessons in living". Maya Angelou left Mrs. Flower's bungalow that day feeling on top of the world. She felt unstoppable. On the way home, Angelou had so many thoughts running through her mind. These were good thoughts. She realized she was somebody. She realized she had potential and her life had meaning. She realized she meant

Maya Angelou is recognized as one of the most profound poets of the twentieth century. With her extensive wisdom of everyday life came a long and rigorous past of overcoming racial prejudices and treacherous mishap. Angelou was born on April 4th, 1928, making her the second child (her brother Bailey Jr. being the oldest) of the calamitous marriage between Bailey Johnson and Vivian Johnson. When Angelou was only three years old, her father and mother divorced. As a result of their divorce, Maya and Bailey Jr moved to Stamps, Arkansas to live with Bailey Sr.’s mother. At the age of eight, Maya was sexually abused and raped by her mother’s boyfriend, Freeman. Soon after his release from prison, Maya’s uncles tracked him down and murdered Freeman.