Brelend Whiteside Mrs. Manes English – IV 15 Apr 2024 The Amazing Life of Maya Angelou "One may write me down in history with your bitter, twisted lies; you may tread me in the dirt, but still, like dust, I will rise," stated Maya Angelou in her famous poem Still I Rise. Maya Angelou's powerful words in her poem show that the negativity sent her way would not demise her character, no matter how the person tarnishes her reputation. Despite the numerous challenges and family issues that Maya Angelou faced, she overcame them to become the successful writer she is today. Maya Angelou has faced many obstacles and hardships since she was born. Born on April 4, 1928, in St. Louis, Missouri (Maya Angelou," Discovering Authors), she moved to Long …show more content…
In 1942, she became the first female car conductor. Additionally, she directed her very first film titled "Down in Delta." Her series of autobiographies published in the 1970s earned her a nomination for a national book award. Even though she published her first series of autobiographies in 1970, she did not gain publicity until she read her poem "On the Pulse of Morning" at the inauguration of President Bill Clinton (Maya Angelou" Newsmaker). Not only was she a writer, but she was also a teacher, dancer, and film director. She even got to host her talk show called "Maya Angelou's America" with Oprah Winfrey. She also created many activism projects, but she was most known for creating the Southern Christian Leadership Conference with Martin Luther King Junior ("Maya Angelo" Newsmaker). Maya Angelou made a remarkable career and household name for herself when she was 30. Maya Angelou started her first Broadway musical titled "Look Away" in 1973 ("Maya Angelou" Newsmaker). In 1975, President Ford made Maya Angelou an honorary member of the American Revolution Bicentennial Council. Though Maya Angelou was an author, she was cast in her first big on-screen debut in the movie "Poetic Justice" with costars Janet Jackson and Tupac Shakur. Two years later, she had a lifetime opportunity to give a speech at the 50th United Nations celebration ("Maya Angelou" Discovering Authors). 2011 President Barack Obama awarded Maya Angelou the Presidential Medal of Freedom. She would publish her final autobiography in May 2014, and she would then take her final breaths the same month, dying at age 84 (Maya Angelou" Discovering