Maya Angelou Research Paper

Maya Angelou was one of the most influential authors of her time. Through her autobiographies, she told a story of growing up as a black woman in a time of prominent racism and sexism. Angelou combined the worlds of activism and literature to stand up for what she believed in. She was the victim of abuse and was able to overcome the adversity. Because of the challenges she faced, she became an active advocate of civil rights. She was known for her outspokenness and her ability to make the whole room quiet. Angelou grew up to become a multitalented person. She wrote poetry and books, had parts in movies, plays, and television shows, and even had a weekly radio show. After living abroad in the 1960’s, Angelou returned to the United States to write her first memoir I Know Why The Caged Bird …show more content…
This first memoir made literary history for being the first nonfiction best seller by an African-American woman. Later on in her life, Angelou was awarded numerous prizes for her performances and works including a Grammy award, an Emmy award, a Tony award, and a nomination for the Pulitzer Prize. As a civil rights activist, Angelou was able to work with some of the most notable activists including Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Junior. Angelou’s writing was noteworthy because of how it addressed racism from a real-life standpoint. In 2010, Angelou was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. This is the highest civilian honor the United States has to offer. Maya Angelou had a phenomenal cultural impact that was acknowledged by many noteworthy figures. Revered Jesse Jackson describes Angelou by saying, “She has much to teach this generation and generations unborn about what it means to be an authentic person, and the power of the genuine” ("Maya Angelou's Cultural Impact"). Maya Angelou uses difficult themes, literary devices, and challenges society to empower African-Americans