Maya Angelou

How Powerful Words Are Through Poetryw Powerful Words Can

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By: Teleisha Latimore

English 1102, Semester 4, Ecampus Professor E. Owens

Early Life Born Marguerite Ann Johnson on the

date of April 4, 1928 Changed her name after managers at a

nightclub requested that she obtain a more “theatrical” name -used “Maya”, a nickname from her brother, and “Angelou” from an ex-husband

Had son at early age and had to take on numerous jobs

Careers Throughout Lifetime Fry cook Film Director Educator Public speaker Actor Been in numerous plays and films Influential poet Essayist

Poems• Some of her Famous Poems

– Son to Mother– Still, I Rise– Phenomenal Woman– The Black Family Pledge– In All Ways a Woman– Ain’t That Bad?– On the Pulse of Morning

• Collections– Just give Me a Cool Drink of Water ‘Fore I Diiie

• Nominated for the Pulitzer Prize

Autobiographies

I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings Gather Together In My Name Singin’ and Swingin’ and Getting’ Merry

Like Christmas The Heart of a Woman All God’s Children Need Traveling

Shoes A Song Flung Up To Heaven

Style

In each of her autobiographies, Angelou sticks to Four themes

- Style, Identity, Family and RacismWhen keeping with the themes of her books,

the events are obviously not in the order in which they happened in her life.

Used “her roles, incarnations, and identities to signify multiple layers of oppression and personal history.”

Accomplishments

-Served on MLK Jr.’s Southern Christian Leader Conference as Northern Coordinator-Published five autobiographies, her first being I Know Why the Caged Birds Sing, in 1969.

-Discussed the first sixteen years of her life-Nominated for a National Book Award

Accomplishments (cont.)

In 1993, at President Bill Clinton’s inauguration, Angelou read her poem “On the Pulse of Morning.”

-first poet to make an inaugural recitation since Robert Frost at John F. Kennedy’s inauguration in 1961

Quotes:

“History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again.”

“Nothing will work unless you do”.

Angelou’s Poetry and Its Affect on People Maya Angelou touches people with her poetry,

autobiographies, speeches and writings. Not only is her poetry “spiritually uplifting and full of

hope,”5 it’s also motivating, moving, honest, humorous, strong, and beautiful.

Each of her poems are touching and liberating in their own unique way

Angelou’s poems bring memories and clear perspective into our lives

Angelou’s writings have brought change to society, creating diversity in literature and the theater. Her autobiographies provide readers with insights on the growth of black women in the twentieth century.

Overview

The world has had the opportunity to be blessed with Maya Angelou’s presence, and as it is that she continues to write, readers and fans will continue to be awed by her flawless style and way with words.

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