Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou as a child (http://www.mayaangelou.com/biography/ ())

The Song of the Caged Bird

"'I am the kind of person who really does bring people together.' -Maya Angelou" (Egan, 9). Bringing people together was a skill Maya Angelou used throughout her life. After overcoming a racist and traumatic childhood, Maya Angelou became one of the best authors in America. Born as Marguerite Johnson on April 4th, 1928, in St, Louis, Missouri, Maya Angelou was a writer of all kinds, performer, director and playwright who died April 28th, 2014. Throughout Angelou's life, her family played an important part and were always there to help her. A significant role model in Angelou's life was her grandmother who her brother, Bailey, and she called "Momma" after being sent to live with her in Arkansas when Angelou's parents divorced (Egan 13). Angelou stayed with her grandmother until she was eight and went to live with her mother. However in 1936, Angelou was raped by her mother's boyfriend of the time. Because of this event, Angelou went mute for five years. This became the beginning of her one of her most famous autobiographies, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings ("Maya Angelou Fast Facts - CNN.Com."). Angelou began her writing career in the late 1950s, early 1960s, so she could "'take on the responsibility of making [people] think'" ("Maya Angelou." Contemporary Black). Since then, Angelou began to write a series of autobiographies, poems, and narratives all to bring the world together. Although Maya Angelou had a troubling life, she was able to power through it with bravery. With this, she contributed some of the best work to the world that one could offer. Maya Angelou's bravery allowed her to contribute some of the most amazing work to the world, and because of this Maya Angelou continues to serves as an inspiration to anyone wanting to stand out and make a difference.

Bravery is hard to acquire. Finding bravery in oneself then using it to do something completely out of their comfort zone is more difficult. This is what makes Maya Angelou more remarkable than before. For some time, Angelou had been a singer and performer. However, Angelou always felt as though she owed something more, as if she it were her responsibility to do more for society. So it is understandable as to why "..by the end of the 1950s [Angelou] was increasingly interested in developing her skills as a writer. She moved to New York, ... she joined the Harlem Writers Guild and took her place.with the Civil Rights Movement" ("Maya Angelou Biography."). Angelou dedicated herself to an organization she felt strongly for and although people during that time were prejudice towards she fought for what she believed to be true. Especially during the time period of racism and segregation, Angelou's bravery was rare to have. Her bravery shone through once again after publishing her first biography. Her book, "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, the chronicle of her life up to age sixteen and ending with the birth of her son, Guy, was published in 1970. recounts the self-awakening of the young Angelou" ("Maya Angelou." Contemporary Heroes). Angelou's bravery empowered her to get past the fear of criticism and possible prejudice. Her past troubles and new founded bravery created the beginning of her everlasting legacy. And since then, Angelou served and continues to serve as a symbol of bravery to all writers who wish to say what they feel but are frightened by the possibility of judgment.

Maya Angelou giving a speech for the SCLC (http://www.headcount.org/maya-angelou-poet-activis ())

Maya Angelou's contribution of her work to the world allowed her to redefine writing as a way to write about how she felt. Since first emerging as a writer, Angelou had many opinions about the world going on around her. To show how she felt, "In the early 1960s, Angelou turned to the civil rights movement with its emerging sense of Afro-American identity. She spent one year working for Martin Luther King, Jr., and then went to Africa" ("Maya Angelou." Contemporary Heroes). While trying to figure out who she was and what she was going to do with her life Maya Angelou turned to writing as an outlet; a way to expand on her true emotions. Angelou's positive mindset towards equality and uncanny writing ability allowed her the perfect position for helping a cause she felt strongly for. After working with Martin Luther King Jr. for a year, another opportunity to contribute her wisdom rose in the late 1960s. "Angelou...  later moved to Ghana, where she joined a thriving group of African American expatriates. She served as an instructor and assistant administrator at the University of Ghana's School of Music and Drama, worked as feature editor for The African Review and wrote for The Ghanaian Times and the Ghanaian Broadcasting Company" ("Maya Angelou Biography."). After moving to Africa some time, Angelou contributed her courageous words and wisdom to a place where Angelou had her roots. Not only did she contribute her own time and effort to a school to educate the future generations, but also for the rest of the population so they can become better aware of the world around them. Maya Angelou's redefinition of writing allows readers today to write in a way portraying how they feel while still being able to contribute to the world.

Maya Angelou is a hero because of her bravery and work she gave to the world; she became and will always serve as an inspiration to those wanting to make a difference. Angelou dedicated herself to organizations and movements, wrote about those organizations and movements, she even moved to a different country to teach others. Maya Angelou did anything and everything she possibly could to teach the world about the difference they can do. To me, Maya Angelou is a hero because her work is never done. Angelou inspires people to be as dedicated as to their work as she is. According to Angelou herself, "'I have nothing to rest upon. Every time I write I still have to face an empty page... I will go anywhere at any time. No one frightens me'" ("Maya Angelou." Contemporary Heroes). Maya Angelou inspires writers to write what they feel and be honest to themselves. Angelou wrote what she felt, not how she should feel and that's what's truly inspiring. While authors today write, conforming to society, Angelou wrote to conform society. Maya Angelou is a brave and courageous voice who will always be remembered as one of the few people in the world who write not just to write, but to do something more. And more she did.

Works Consulted

"Maya Angelou." Contemporary Black Biography. Vol. 15. Detroit: Gale, 1997. Biography in Context. Web. 30 Apr. 2015.

"Maya Angelou." Contemporary Heroes and Heroines. Vol. 1. Detroit: Gale, 1990. Biography in Context. Web. 4 May 2015.

"Maya Angelou Biography." -- Academy of Achievement. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 May 2015.

"Maya Angelou Fast Facts - CNN.Com." CNN. Cable News Network, n.d. Web. 2 May 2015.