Maya Angelou Research Paper

“Love arrives 
and in its train come ecstasies 
old memories of pleasure 
ancient histories of pain.” This is one of many stunning and thought provoking phrases coming from the Poem, Touched by an Angel by world-renewed poet, Maya Angelou. Originally born as Marguerite Johnson, Maya Angelou was born on April 4, 1928 in St Louis, Missouri. Maya Angelou was raised by her paternal grandmother, and brought up with righteous principles and values. Angelou’s work is filled with subtle as well as forthright criticism and commentary on a variety of themes such as racism, and family, making her one of the most influential writers and civil right activists in the world.

Angelou was raised in Stamps, Arkansas during the time period in which the south was heavy in its practice of brutality and racial discrimination was a common norm. Angelou’s family consisted of herself, brother

Bailey Johnson, Uncle Willie, and Grandma Annie Henderson.

According to The Caged Bird Legacy, a website created by the family of Angelou, Angelou was heavily influenced by the teachings of family, love, respect, courage and independence instilled in her by her uncle and grandma. Furthermore, Mrs. Annie Henderson owned a business, which was significant because it was during a time period when blacks owned very little. Angelou learned the value of work. This was not the only thing she absorbed, for it was through Annie Hendersons dedication to church and singing hymns at home where Angelou was introduced to one of the many arts she would love and master, music. Angelou’s love for the arts led her to study drama and dance at a school in San Francisco with a scholarship. Despite becoming a young single mother working as a waitress and cook, her first hand experiences with racism, single parenting and poverty would further pave the way in her works and participation in the civil rights movement.

Angelou would later join the Harlem Writers Guild in the 1950s where she would write the book that became one of her best and most awarded works, I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings. This book, published in 1970 deals with Angelous early years in St Louis and Arkansas. It was banned in many schools due to its evocative and controversial details on how Angelou was raped by her mothers boyfriend but later avenged when her uncles killed that man for that crime causing Angelou to remain mute for five years but develop a love for language. The autobiography was given numerous awards and recognition for its controversy on race, sexual abuse, and violence. (Poetry foundation)
Despite her early hardships, Angelou would continue on to Act and Sing in various productions and further her career in the arts traveling worldwide to places such as New York and parts of Europe. Her other accomplishments include writing and composing for a 1972 film Georgia, Georgia. Her script became the first by an African American woman ever to be filmed, and was also nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. Angelou went on to win three Grammys: Best Spoken Word Album, Best Spoken Word or Non Musical Album 1993 Grammy for Best Spoken Word or Non Musical Album, 1995 for Best Spoken Word Album, 2000. Her final award was presented to her in 2010, by President Barack Obama. Angelou was awarded the Presidential medal of Freedom, the country’s highest civilian honor. Angelou later died on May 28, 2014 at 86 years old.
With influences such as Malcolm X, and Martin Luther King Jr., Maya angelous service on various conferences and committees ( two of which were presidential) life struggles, as well as her lifetime achievements, enabled her to impact the world of literature and become a widely recognize symbol and ambassador for good will along the lines of race and culture.