Essay on Maya Angelou's Influences

Words: 1214
Pages: 5
Open Document
Maya Angelou’s Influence
Maya Angelou is terrific performer, singer, filmmaker, and civil-rights activist. She is a phenomenal woman, one thing that she does best is writing. She is still living today, I believe her legend will never die. If one would talk to her, he or she would think she has lead a normal, happy life. Her life is blissful now, it was not always perfect. Maya beard enough emotional stress in a time frame that most people do not experience in a lifetime. Her experiences and the lessons learned encouraged her to help others become strong. Maya Angelou is one of the best examples of someone overcoming rape, being mute for several years, and having a child at a young age to achieve success of becoming an accomplished …show more content…
She is a mentor and inspiration to many people in the world today. Maya’s work is powerful capturing people’s emotions with passion. Maya goes and speaks to universities and colleges. When she goes to these colleges she speaks of her grandmother, her life experiences and the lessons that she learned from them. Maya Angelou is wonderful motivational speaker. “Wherever she goes there are always interviews to be given; television and radio appearances; book signings; meetings with local officials, community groups, activists, writers and artists, but she always finds time to share laughter with friends old and new.”(Npr, 2008). Many people look up to Maya Angelou and truly shows her much respect and appreciation. Maya went through many things in her life, but she ended up becoming very successful. “Angelou participated in the Civil Rights Movement with Dr. Martin Luther King. Maya has published several outstanding books.”(Academy of Achievement, 1996-2008). In 1972, she won a Puliter Prize nomination for Just Give Me A Drink of Water fore’ I Die. She has published 10 best selling books and numerous articles for which she has been awarded the National Book Award nominations. “In January 1993, Angelou became the first poet since Robert Frost, in 1961, to take part in a presidential inauguration ceremony when she wrote and read “On the Pulse of Morning,” at President Bill Clinton’s inauguration”(SPEC, 2008)
Maya Angelou has also played
Show More

Related Documents: Essay on Maya Angelou's Influences

Maya Angelou Caged Bird

Through Maya Angelou’s poetry, she demonstrated that she had several talents. She was not only a poet, novelist, actor, musician, and civil right activist, but was also known as one of the most influential voices of her time. Not only were these roles critical to her credibility, but she was also African American, a race that was discriminated against at that time, but she gathered a large sum of people to agree with her issues with racism and sexuality. Due to her constant struggle of dehumanization…

Words 1372 - Pages 6

Maya Angelou Research Paper

Maya Angelou Maya Angelou was a poet, activist, singer, dancer, actor, screenwriter, and memoir writer. Maya Angelou did many important things in her life. Some very important things she did was help Malcolm X and help Martin Luther King Jr. Maya Angelou had many challenges that she had to face, but she overcame most of them. Maya Angelou was married twice and got divorced in both of them. Marguerite Johnson (Maya Angelou) was born on April 4, 1928 in St. Louis, Mo. After her parents marriage…

Words 297 - Pages 2

Essay on Maya Angelou: Biography

the famous artist Maya Angelou(“Biography”). She had a very difficult childhood that led to her many career choices. Throughout her life she has held many different careers. Also, her life was constantly changing and full of different stories along the way. She wrote many works, but is only remembered for a few major pieces. She also received many awards for her writings and acting abilities throughout her lifetime. Angelou majorly impacted the literary world with her moving pieces. Maya Angelou wa…

Words 1829 - Pages 8

Personal Identity In Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man

in the way we think and act, and in the way that we feel and desire. Our uniqueness is attributed to personal identity. The factors that play the biggest role in shaping personal identity are social influence and how we are raised. However, one could argue that identity is a choice. Social influence is one of the two factors that play the largest role in shaping personal identity. This is displayed in Ralph Ellison’s “Invisible Man”. “That invisibility to which I refer occurs because of a peculiar…

Words 814 - Pages 4

Classic Nomination Essay example

Brianna McDonald Masters of Western Literature- Honors Bass TR 8:00 Why should a book be a classic? Ester Lombardi states that “a classic makes connections. You can study a classic and discover influences from other writer and great works of literature. Of course this is partly related to the universal appeal of a classic. But the classic also is informed by the history of ideas and literature, whether unconsciously or specifically worked into the plot’. It also says that ‘Great works of literature…

Words 1770 - Pages 8

Maya Angelou Research Paper

Culture Can Influence People’s Lives Some people feel like they are not a part of a crowd. They feel like they are lost because there is nobody around like them. Maya Angelou, the famous poet, felt the same way. Angelou did not think there was anyone around like her until she started to study culture. Culture can influence people’s lives by giving them a voice, confidence, and different beliefs. During Maya Angelou’s early life, she learned that culture can give people a voice. When Maya was seven…

Words 539 - Pages 3

Maya Angelou Graduation Speech

the teacher, who looks at a face and says there's something behind that and I want to reach that person, I want to influence that person, I want to encourage that person, I want to enrich, I want to call out that person who is behind that face, behind that color, behind that language, behind that tradition, behind that culture. I believe you can do it. I know what was done for me” -Maya Angelou. A teacher guides the future of the society. A person in his /her whole life learns a lot from teachers…

Words 1403 - Pages 6

Coming Of Age Story

the thought of her father. This lack of emotion is evident as she says, she feels “the way you feel when they say a star or a old president is dead and you feel sorry for a flash” (Gibbons 69). In this statement, Ellen has finally conquered the influence her father held over her for many years, and through this lack of emotion when concerning her father, Ellen is able to move along and proceed towards a normal life. This shows…

Words 1601 - Pages 7

California's Choices In Antigone

In literature, characters' choices often serve as windows into their inner selves, reflecting their character traits and philosophies of life. This essay explores how the choices made by Emilia in *Othello*, Antigone in *Antigone*, Nora in *A Doll's House*, the customers in "The Latin Deli," and the speaker in "Still I Rise" illuminate their respective character and philosophy of life. Through a careful examination of their actions and motivations, it becomes evident that frequent choices not only…

Words 605 - Pages 3

Examples Of Oppression In America

Rights activists consisting of both black and white individuals who broke Jim Crow barriers by traveling down to the South and demonstrated their dislike of such laws by occupying designated areas for both races. This activist group spread their influence to ensure that ALL are treated equally and fairly. The historical evidence of oppression of blacks is very much evident today. Blacks have made progress but there are still issues of inequality as it pertains to education, workforce, and other areas…

Words 2311 - Pages 10