People are born into the world with a purpose; each passing moment is another step in that direction. Marguerite Annie Johnson, more commonly known as Maya Angelou, was born to inspire the world and leave behind a legacy so great it will never be forgotten. She was a scholar, reading the works of great writers such as “Paul Lawrence Dunbar, Langston Hughes, James Weldon Johnson and W.E.B. Du Bois” (Angelou, I Know Why 15-16). Maya Angelou was a teacher, as stated by Oprah Winfrey, “The world knows her as a poet, but at the heart of her, she was a teacher. ‘When you learn, teach. When you get, give’ is one of my best lessons from her” (Duke). She was a civil rights activist, working with individuals such as Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm
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Maya Angelou was still a child when she first read some of Shakespeare’s works. She and her brother Bailey had planned to memorize some of The Merchant of Venice, however; upon the realization that their grandmother would ask them about the author, they decided to memorize a piece by James Weldon Johnson instead. They knew that they could not pick to learn something by a white author. Thus, much of Angelou’s inspiration came from African-American authors such as Frances Harper, Constance Motley, and Zora Neale Hurston (Tate). Angelou’s interactions with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. made a significant difference in her life. During his time as SCLC president, he had asked Dr. Angelou to assist in his Poor People’s Campaign, however; she declined to help until after her birthday on April 4, 1968. His assassination on that very day deeply depressed her, and led to the existence of her seven volumes of autobiography, beginning with I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings. King was not the only important activist Angelou was involved with; her efforts also extending to Nelson Mandela’s fight against apartheid. Her extraordinary life was documented in her writings, which earned critical acclaim and are the true carriers of her influence and
Maya Angelou was still a child when she first read some of Shakespeare’s works. She and her brother Bailey had planned to memorize some of The Merchant of Venice, however; upon the realization that their grandmother would ask them about the author, they decided to memorize a piece by James Weldon Johnson instead. They knew that they could not pick to learn something by a white author. Thus, much of Angelou’s inspiration came from African-American authors such as Frances Harper, Constance Motley, and Zora Neale Hurston (Tate). Angelou’s interactions with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. made a significant difference in her life. During his time as SCLC president, he had asked Dr. Angelou to assist in his Poor People’s Campaign, however; she declined to help until after her birthday on April 4, 1968. His assassination on that very day deeply depressed her, and led to the existence of her seven volumes of autobiography, beginning with I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings. King was not the only important activist Angelou was involved with; her efforts also extending to Nelson Mandela’s fight against apartheid. Her extraordinary life was documented in her writings, which earned critical acclaim and are the true carriers of her influence and