On April 4th of 1928 Maya Angelou was born Marguerite Johnson in St. Louis, Missouri. She was given the name “Maya” by her brother, Bailey. Both Maya and Bailey were sent to live with their grandmother in Stamps, Arkansas after her parents divorced. When Maya went to visit her mother at the age of eight she was raped by her mother’s boyfriend.
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).
The rock, the river, and the tree, used in the poem On the Pulse of the Morning by Maya Angelou read during the inauguration of President Bill Clinton, speak of times in which they have lived through. A time that was simpler, and more humble. However, these three objects in nature have seen many wars, and much hate between different races. They ask for a change that allows for people to come together and live humbly amongst one another.
April 4, 1929, St. Louis, Missouri was the birth of the multitalented, Marguerite Annie Johnson. Family of Marguerite is mother, Vivian Baxter Johnson, father, Bailey Johnson, and brother, Bailey Johnson, Jr. Later in the early twenties of Marguerite Johnsons’ life, she changed her name to Maya Angelou. Since the divorce of Maya’s parents, her life has been nothing but an uncontrollable rollercoaster. As a youth, Maya Angelou had to eventually overcome her strugglers and regain what she once lost years ago when troubled occurred.
Maya Angelou philosophy and teachings are timeless. There is a lesson to be learned in her more than 30 published works and her lessons taught as a professor and lecturer. More important she lived what she preached. She had a strong belief in humanity as a whole, in the human spirit and in the African American community. She fought tirelessly to change extinguish racism, prejudice and discrimination during a time when she herself as a black woman experienced its effects.
Maya Angelou was not always called by that name, she was originally named Marguerite Johnson. She was born in St. Louis, Missouri on April 4th, 1928. Mrs. Angelou was a poet, educator, actress, producer, historian, and a civil rights activist. Maya Angelou is significant in American history because she always fought for women’s rights, her songs always meant something, and people looked up to what she stood for.
Maya Angelou said, “I believe that every person was born with a talent”. Her exquisite poems are filled with literary devices such as extended metaphors, similes, rhyming words, and vivid imagery. The modern day poet, Maya Angelou is comparable to William Shakespeare, who is considered as one of the most inspiring poets in history, having written 37 plays and 154 sonnets (Holt Elements of Literature). Today, Shakespeare is renowned because of his accomplishment of creating or popularizing the iambic pentameter style of 10 syllables per line. His writing is recognized as being rich, eloquent, and varied.
Martin Luther King Jr. amid that time, accurately from 1960 to 1961 she served as Northern facilitator for the Southern Christian LeadershipConference(SCLC). Angelou had numerous renowned works, however, she was extremely recognized for her self-portrayed: "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings." Which served as her autobiography, I know Why The Caged Bird Sings depicted initial 17 years of her life in a very dramatic way. She wrote, if growing up is painful for the Southern Black girl,being aware of her displacement is the rust on the razor that threatens the throat (Angelou 4). Maya Angelou, I know Why The Caged Bird Sings, a woman's voice heard loud and clear through her writing narrating her ordeal growing up with her parents, grandmother, uncle, stepfather, brother and so many other people in Stamps,Arkansas and California during the Civil Right
An influential American is someone who influences America to be what we know it as today. Maya Angelou, Bill Cosby, and Malcolm X are all people who lived during the time of segregation, a hard time that African American faced. They used their life situations, and impacted Americans with their positivity and inspiration. Angelou was a positive poet, teacher, dancer, and songwriter; Cosby produced positive television shows revolving around ideal families; and X was a civil rights activist and minister. Maya Angelou was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on April 4th, 1928, she lived a long inspirational and positive life and left a huge mark on many during her time here; Angelou died May 28th 2014 in Winston-Salem North Carolina.
Inspiring Change Maya Angelou’s article, "Encounter with Martin Luther King Jr.”, shows the personable and real Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.. Throughout the story, Angelou demonstrates how meeting Martin Luther King Jr. solidified her sense of purpose and a belief in the possibility of change. Angelou's descriptions of her encounter with King express the theme of hope and inspiration through his words. King was totally gracious in his encounter with Angelou. King said “‘We’re so grateful for the job you all are doing up here.
He later died and their plans were stopped (Source 5). Angelou got into T.V but she still worked as an activist with Martin Luther King Jr. (Source 5). Martin Luther King asked Maya Angelou if she would become his northern coordinator for for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and she agreed (Source 4).
Maya Angelou began her writing career thanks to a number of influential people in her life, her experiences growing up in segregated Southern society, and her career as a political activist and journalist Of the many people who inspired Maya Angelou to write, a number of individuals stand out. One of these individuals was Angelou’s childhood neighbor and mentor, Mrs. Flowers. Early on in her life, Angelou was the victim of sexual assault by her mother’s boyfriend. The event left her with significant feelings of guilt, and as a result, she refused to speak for several years. It wasn’t until she was introduced to Mrs. Flowers that Angelou regained the confidence needed to speak again.
By Martin Luther King. was a brave man who fought like a lion against many who supported racism and segregation, Martin Luther King also had a soft place for everyone, even despite their social or economic status. In the story of Encounter with Martin Luther King Jr. by Maya Angelou, we see how an intimidating person could have a kind heart towards not only those who were high in society, but those who were suffering immensely, regardless of race. This short story also provides analysis into how someone can go through hard things, and have the strength to endure hardships when they are motivated by the right thing. The story further teaches us that to endure hardships, one must stay optimistic, respect others and not be blinded by rage, and boldly stand
Angelou’s contribution to the Civil Rights Movement and her achievements as an activist were remarkable. While these achievements seem to be enough to last a lifetime, the Civil Rights Movement was only the beginning for Angelou. Angelou worked as an outspoken Civil Rights activist during the movement. But even after the Civil Rights Movement had ended, she continued to be a voice of humanity, speaking out against anything that harmed the human spirit. Angelou moved on to influence American society as a whole, from the 1970’s to the day she died, May 28, 2014.
Being of African American origin and having a very difficult background full of discrimination and racial prejudice, Maya Angelou was then acting to protect and defend rights of other. All the set of activities she carried out just proves how important she was in terms of development of the America society. Where was
