Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou was an award-winning American author and poet. She became an iconic literary figure during her lifetime, winning numerous awards such as a Pulitzer Prize and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Angelou wrote over 30 books including essays, memoirs, and plays, but she is best known for her poetry. Her work sought to enlighten others with her own experiences of racism and oppression while also encouraging them to live life with grace and dignity.
Angelou was born on April 4th, 1928 in St. Louis, Missouri. Her family moved often and as a result she had a peripatetic upbringing, living in places such as Stamps, Arkansas and East St. Louis, Illinois. At the age of seven, Angelou was raped by her mother’s boyfriend and a few years later she was sent to live with her grandmother in Stamps, Arkansas. Angelou credited the people of the small town for inspiring her later works and for giving her an insight into the African American experience.
Angelou moved to San Francisco in her late teens, where she attended high school, but decided against attending college. During this time, she began working as a waitress and guide to tourists. She soon began writing and after writing a few pieces of journalism, she earned her first payment as a writer.
In 1954, her brother, who had been struggling with drug addiction, was murdered and Angelou entered a period of mourning. It was during this time that she wrote her first autobiographical work, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. In it, she recounts the struggles she faced growing up and living through several lifetimes of racism and abuse.
The book was an instant success, earning Angelou numerous awards, including the Pulitzer Prize for Literature. It is widely regarded as a seminal work in African-American literature and has been used as a reference point in many studies.
Angelou went on to write over 30 books including Gather Together in My Name and All God’s Children Need Traveling Shoes. Her essays and poetry explore a variety of topics, from racism, civil rights and identity, to love, feminism, and self-respect. Angelou was deeply influenced by the great personalities of her time, from Martin Luther King Jr. to James Baldwin, her work reflecting her own personal struggles while speaking truth and power to all.
Angelou passed away in 2014 at the age of 86, leaving behind an incredible legacy. Her writing continues to be an inspiration to readers and writers alike, and she is celebrated as one of the best authors of her generation. Her works remain timeless and will continue to provoke thought and discourse for many generations to come.
