The Freedom of Maya Angelou

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“I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back” (brainyquote.com). Being an African-American woman growing up in the early-mid 1900’s, Angelou quickly learned to “throw things back” at ridiculers. Maya Angelou is an author who has inspired people across the globe through her writing. Angelou experienced racial prejudice early in her life, and persevered to find her writing voice (bio.com) Angelou mainly writes about civil and women’s rights, giving a voice of hope to those that feel oppressed. Overall, Angelou is a spirited poet that has rallied millions across the globe with her works, by giving comfort to those in need, and by giving hope to the hopeless. Maya Angelou was a highly skilled poet who used her writer’s voice to strengthen and guide civil rights. Angelou was born in St. Louis on the 4th of April, 1928 and is still currently writing (bio.com). A victim of sexual assault, Angelou spent years after as a virtual mute (poetryfoundation.org). Facing racial prejudice and discrimination through all her youth, a lot of her works were centred around prejudice and civil rights (poetryfoundation.org). Angelou is a strong civil rights activist and her writings such as I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings certainly reflect that. Angelou was an influential and passionate person with strong motives . Angelou was the first African-American woman to have a non-fiction bestseller, impacting the literature world (bio.com). Angelou was a coordinator of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and worked with Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X to bolster civil rights (poetryfoundation.com). Overall, Angelou’s works have affected not only poetry but fr... ... middle of paper ... ...lers. Being a great writer with a great mind, she is well deserving of her respectable reputation. “I’ve learned that people will forget you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel (brainyquote.com).” Overall, Angelou is a great writer that has helped millions, and people will never forget how she made them feel. Works Cited "A Look At Maya Angelou's On the Pulse of Morning. Cyberlearning-world.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Jan. 2014. (3) "Maya Angelou." : The Poetry Foundation. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Jan. 2014. (1) "Maya Angelou." Poets.org. Academy of American Poets, n.d. Web. 23 Jan. 2014. (2) ""An Interpretation of "on the Pulse of Morning"" StudyMode. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Jan 2014. (4) BrainyQuote. Xplore, n.d. Web. 23 Jan. 2014. (5) "Maya Angelou Biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 23 Jan. 2014. (6)

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