Remembering Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou: poet, activist, wife, mother, global citizen, author, actress, director, award winner, professor, icon, just to name a few of the many labels that have been earned by this phenomenal woman.The legacy of Maya Angelou is unmeasurable, the impact she had in American culture was widespread. The renown poet passed away early morning on the 28th, she was 86 years old . Her death was an immense lost to the world and the many followers she had. The legacy of Ms. Angelou goes beyond words and was seen through her courageous actions throughout her life.

Born Marguerite Annie Johnson in St. Louis, Missouri on April 04, 1928, she grew up in an impoverished upbringing and accomplished beyond imaginable. At age eight Angelou was sexullay molested by her mothers boyfriend which greatly affected her causing her to go mute for five-years, “I thought, my voice killed him; I killed that man, because I told his name. And then I thought I would never speak again, because my voice would kill anyone …”, she commented on the incident. It was during this time that Maya Angelou grew a fascination for literature, such as Shakespeare, Dickens, and many others.

She later went on to write one of her most known pieces, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. The autobiography described her life in the 1940’s and her life in California working as the first black streetcar conductor, to working in nightclubs, and at one point at a sex brothel in San Diego. She also was part of plays on broadway and took dancing classes but never became successful. At the same time she released an album Miss Calypso and performed in night clubs, she was known to be a regular performer at The Purple Onion.

In 1960 after she met civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. she became involved in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and became an organizer helping fundraise money for civil rights causes. During her time working in Arca as an administrator at the University of Ghana, she met Malcolm X, another civil rights leader. They both them came back to the United States and built the Organization of Afro-American Unity , Malcolm X was assassinated shortly. She was devastated by his death calling him, “One of the most influential person in my life.”

Maya Angelou influenced many of the greats including Oprah Winfrey, and changed the world for the better. She represented every women, and the struggle of being a minority in all aspects. Her resilience made her excelle and become the icon she was. The impact she had will be eternal and she will forever the women who did it all.