Some of her other notable books include "Gather Together in My Name," "Singin' and Swingin' and Gettin' Merry Like Christmas," and "The Heart of a Woman."īeyond her accomplishments as a writer, Angelou was revered as a public figure and social activist. Her poetic style is known for its vivid imagery, rhythmic flow, and deep emotional resonance. Her writing often explores themes of identity, race, gender, and personal transformation. It was during this time that she began writing her first autobiography, "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings," which became an international bestseller and made her a literary sensation.Īngelou's body of work encompasses a wide range of genres, including memoirs, poetry, essays, and plays. and Malcolm X, lending her powerful voice to the fight against racial injustice. She worked with influential figures like Martin Luther King Jr. Her writing career truly took off in the 1960s when she moved to New York City and became involved in the civil rights movement. She studied dance and drama, eventually joining the cast of the landmark African American Broadway production, "Porgy and Bess." She also explored her love for music, becoming a singer and performer in various nightclubs under the name Maya Angelou, which she adopted after her brother's nickname for her. She later gave birth to her son, Guy, at the age of 16, embarking on the challenging journey of single motherhood.Īngelou's thirst for knowledge led her to various artistic and intellectual pursuits. In her early teens, Angelou moved to California to live with her mother, where she attended high school and became the first African American streetcar conductor in San Francisco. Despite the hardships she faced, Angelou found solace in literature and turned to books as a means of escape. At the age of seven, she was sexually assaulted by her mother's boyfriend, an incident that left her mute for several years, believing her words had caused the man's death. This period of her life was marked by poverty, racial discrimination, and trauma. Her journey from a troubled childhood to becoming one of the most celebrated writers of her time is a testament to her resilience, courage, and passion for storytelling.Īngelou spent much of her early years in Stamps, Arkansas, where she and her brother were raised by their grandmother, as their parents were separated. Louis, Missouri, Angelou's life story was as awe-inspiring as her literary works. Born Marguerite Annie Johnson on April 4, 1928, in St. “If we lose love and self respect for each other, this is how we finally die.Maya Angelou was an iconic American author, poet, civil rights activist, and public figure. “Courage-you develop courage by doing small things like just as if you wouldn’t want to pick up a 100-pound weight without preparing yourself.” ♥ 25. “All great achievements require time.” ♥ 24. “Success is liking yourself, liking what you do and liking how you do it.” ♥ 23. She goes where she will without pretense and arrives at her destination prepared to be herself and only herself.” ♥ 22. “A woman in harmony with her spirit is like a river flowing. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.” ♥ 21. “The only thing is, people have to develop courage.” ♥ 20. Get a little success, and then just get a little more.” ♥ 19. We need each other as we need the earth we share.” ♥ 18. It has caused a lot of problems in this world, but it has not solved one yet." ♥ 17. “We need joy as we need air. "We are only as blind as we want to be." ♥ 16. "We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty." ♥ 15. “I’ve learned that making a living is not the same thing as making a life.” ♥ 13. Then when you know better, do better." ♥ 12. "Do the best you can until you know better. “Nothing can dim the light that shines from within.” ♥ 11. "People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." ♥ 9. “I’ve learned that I still have a lot to learn.” ♥ 8. Passion alone will destroy its walls.” ♥ 7. Patience alone will not build the temple. “Seek patience and passion in equal amounts. "When people show you who they are, believe them." ♥ 6. “Determine to live life with flair and laughter.” ♥ 5. And because I do it, I then respect everybody, too.” ♥ 4. “I respect myself and insist upon it from everybody. “Stand up straight and realize who you are. "You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated." ♥ 2.
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