Maya Angelou: The Power In A Woman

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The Power in a Woman During the late 1950's and early 60's, a movement arose called the Civil Rights Movement. The Civil Rights Movement made great strides in ending racial segregation and inequality. One of the greatest and most influential figures in the Civil Rights Movement was Maya Angelou. She has lived an eventful life, working as a poet, author, teacher, playwright, actor, a strong mother, and an influential human rights activist. The stories she wrote about her experience have made the people who read them feel strong and motivated. Her influential poems and stories and her activism in human rights had a role in changing the world, in terms of ending racial segregation and the progression of the Women's Rights Movement. Maya Angelou …show more content…

On the television show Iconoclasts, she has a conversation with comedian Dave Chappelle on her writing process. She says that she has to go in a room by herself and cleanse her thought. She has to get rid of everything that is on her mind to begin writing. Angelou might be most known for reciting her poem, On the Pulse of Morning, at Bill Clintons presidential inauguration. She captivates and moves the audience with her poem. She tries to get the point across that we are all humans and equal and to make way for change and renewal of American society. She goes on to say, "History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, and if faced with courage, need not be lived again." She is trying to tell everyone to accept the past because that is the only way someone can progress and change for the better. She ends the poem with a strong point by saying, "You may have the grace to look up and out and into your sister's eyes, into your brother's face, your country and say simply very simply with hope good morning." Angelou believes that with small steps people can treat each other as family and not the enemy. As a result of this poem being at the presidents inauguration, millions of Americans were able to absorb Angelou's wisdom and gain hope for a better

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