Maya Angelou: African American Civil Rights Poet

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The leader I choose was Maya Angelou. Maya Angelou was an African American Civil Rights activist, Author, & poet who issued 7 autobiographies 3 essay books and various poetry books, and had done a number of plays. She was born in St. Louis, Missouri on April 4, 1928 and recently died on May 28, 2014. Some time during World War 2 Maya won a Scholarship to study acting and dance at the California Labor School, in San Francisco, California. At the time Maya became the first African American female cable car conductor(A job she had for a short amount of time). Other than that she was An author, poet , screenwriter, etc.

With being African American, Maya had experience with first hand racial prejudices and discrimination in Arkansas, where …show more content…

On the other hand Maya had overcome her challenges and became really successful. Maya’s first nonfiction book was a best-seller, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, was the name of it. Maya was known for some of the most memorable quotes like:”I 've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” “If you don 't like something, change it. If you can 't change it, change your attitude. Don 't complain” Maya recieved several awards Two from the NAACP.
Timeline of Mays”s life: “April 4, 1928- Maya Angelou is born in St. Louis, Missouri. 1942- Angelou dropped out of school to become San Francisco’s first African-American female car conductor. 1954 through 1955- Angelou toured Europe with a production of the opera "Porgy and Bess." 1957- Recorded her first album, "Calypso Lady." 1958- Angelou moved to New York, where she joined the Harlem Writers Guild. She acted in Jean Genet’s Off-Broadway production, "The Blacks," and performed "Cabaret for Freedom." 1960- Angelo moved to Cairo, Egypt where she served as editor …show more content…

Characteristics of a good leader is being able to listen, step up, speak out loud,etc. I think maya is a good leader because she help people overcome their diffulties while she had her own. So i think this is someone people should look