Annotated Bibliography On Maya Angelou

Initially named Marguerite Annie Johnson, Maya Angelou, the daughter of Vivian and Bailey Johnson, was born in 1928. From the ages of three to seven, Maya Angelou grew up with her grandmother, a great role model whom she admired for her strength, integrity, and faith and whom she wrote about in later life. When she returned to her mother in Missouri as a seven-year-old, her mother’s boyfriend raped her. The court found the man guilty, but strangely released him resulting in his murder by Angelou’s uncles soon after, which Maya Angelou felt responsible for, having supported his release by lying at his trial. Maya Angelou proceeded not to speak for the next five years in fear that others might die. Eventually she acknowledged her blamelessness in her sexual assault and the man’s death. Soon after she found that she had a talent with words and the same strength and attitude as her mother. At sixteen, she became pregnant with her son Guy and raised him despite her young age. She worked various jobs, until working as a prostitute, nearly losing her son, changing her ways, and taking up performing. Angelou’s tour of Europe performing Porgy and Bess inspired her to take up work as a civil

Most important accomplishment of Maya Angelou is writing of the book “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings”. The book turned out to be the first nonfiction bestseller written by a woman of African American origin. Thanks to this book she became famous even outside the United States. When it comes to accolades, Maya Angelou received Audience Choice Award at the Chicago International Film Festival in 1998 and two NAACP Image Awards for her nonfiction

Maya Angelou and Alice walker are two women that contributed to The Civil Rights Act by using family, friends, their personal stories to make a difference. These two women wrote about different things that impacted their lives. Maya Angelou wrote about her and her families experiences as opposed to Alice Walker who wrote about her political views about segregation and women 's rights. They both have things in common as well such as their contribution to the The Civil Rights Act in the 1960s and they are both recipients of the Pulitzer Prizer. Alice walker and Maya Angelou both wrote about the experiences they have encountered being an African American woman. Some of the differences between these women are what they sparked their writing. This is important because both women wrote about things important to them. Even though they are different Alice Walker and Maya Angelou have many similarities and when it comes to the reasons why they are writing.

Maya Angelou, one of the most influential African Americans, tells her story to reveal the humanity of their times. Segregation in her time was primal. She learned how to evolve during this time without doubting her character. Raised by her grandmother who had the largest influence in her life, Angelou learned how to accept the environment she was brought up in. In “Grandmothers Victory” Maya Angelou shows innocence, recognition, and bravery to exemplify a powerful message that shows the humanity of her time. The phrase “Powhitetrash,” (Angelou) is used throughout the story to show how they referred to the others.

Maya Angelou, born fourth of April 1928 in St. Louis, Missouri, was an Afro-American author, poet, dancer, singer, actress, and most importantly a civil rights activist and a feminist. Angelou was very much aware of the discrimination she faced in the society because of her race and sex. Nevertheless, she was a proud woman and that confidence showed through not only her work but in everything, she did. Angelou reached international recognition in 1969 when she posted her memoir “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings”, the first non-fiction best seller by an African-American woman. Moreover, in 1971 she published the collection “Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water ‘Fore I Die” which was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. In 1995, Angelou published “Phenomenal Woman” to inspire women and celebrate all the obstacles she overcame in her life.

Throughout the course of history, African American people have made tremendous sacrifices to obtain equality and overall success as members of society. Many of these individuals have documented their thoughts, feelings, and experiences through various forms of art and writing. One particularly striking example of this, is a poem written by Maya Angelou titled “Still I Rise”. “Still I Rise” is a poem filled with strength and confidence, revealing Angelou’s character and positive outlook on life despite her previous grievances. Within the poem, Angelou is seemingly speaking to those who do not wish her success and prosperity. Maya Angelou uses the art of the rhetorical question to ensure the reader understands that neither her strength nor sass

Angelou was, “Born Marguerite Johnson in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1928 abandoned by both her parents when they divorced ” (Ramey 1). Since her parents got a divorce when she was a baby, this could be one more reason to believe in heaven and God. She grow up in the 1930s, and as an adult, “She has been at various times in her life a streetcar conductor, Creole cook, madam, prostitute, junkie, singer, actress, and civil-rights activist” (Ramey 1). Being well rounded like this inspired her to write poems like “Preacher, Don’t Send Me”. Angelou experience in the south was racially divided for example she explains, “ the racial separation of the town, and the innumerable incidents of denigration which made life in the south an abomination against God and man” (Cudjoe 28). Maya Angelou is also a big part of African American history especially in the sixties during the civil rights movement. She also influents main civil rights activist it shows, “Angelou’s quest for self-identity and emotional fulfillment continues to result in such extraordinary experiences as her encounters with Malcolm X and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.” ( “Maya” 1 ) This demonstrates that she was an active civil rights activist. In addition the main leader of the civil right movement, activist Dr. Martin Luther King was a preacher. All the events that happens in Maya Angelou life correlates in her

“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you” Angelou expressed. Maya Angelou was a famous American poet, memoirist, and civil rights activist.Throughout her lifetime Maya starred in movies, wrote many poems, autobiographies, and essay books. She never wanted to hold anything back, whatever was on her mind she always wanted to write it down or announce it out loud. She loved the feeling of being able to express herself. With the mindset Maya had she was always qualified to come up with things to write about.

Born Marguerite Annie Johnson in 1928, Maya Angelou had a very brutal upbringing. She encountered firsthand racial prejudice and discrimination from a very young age, as well as being taken advantage of sexually. While visiting her mother when she was seven years old, she was “raped by her mother’s boyfriend.” Angelou’s uncle murdered her mother’s boyfriend as vengeance for the crime. This was all so traumatizing for Angelou that she “spent years as a virtual mute” (“Maya Angelou”). She believed that because she had confessed who raped her, that is why the man was killed; therefore she stopped talking for five years because she blamed herself for ruining her rapist’s life. Her school life also reflected how she encountered racism. While comparing the ‘white school’ to the ‘black school’ she said “Unlike the white high school, Lafayette County Training School distinguished itself by having neither lawn, nor hedges, nor tennis court, nor climbing ivy” (Angelou.) As a young girl, she was

Through trials of tough times she overcame it all and Angelou’s life started to look up. She became a member of the Harlem Writers Guild and a civil rights activist. Through this she organized numerous groups and starred in numerous musicals. She traveled to different countries performing and when she came back she decided to write about the struggles and adventures of her life. She wrote “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” in 1969 which made history being the first nonfiction best-seller by and African-American woman. She became an even bigger star after her success with this book. She kept building up her life from this point on showing that woman are capable and everyone should be treated equal. She continued to write autobiographies and also published many different

"Maya Angelou was born as Marguerite Annie Johnson in St. Louis, Missouri"("Maya Angelou Biography" 1). "Maya and her brother, Bailey, moved to Stamp, Arkansas, to live with their grandmother after their parents divorced." "While living in Stamps, she faced racial discrimination that was the legally enforced way of life in the South, but she also absorbed the deep religious faith and old fashioned courtesy of traditional African American life." "Her brother, Bailey was unable to pronounce her name as a young child so he called her "My" as in "My sister." "After a few years, he started calling her "Maya" when he read about the Maya Indians." "When she turned seven, she went to Chicago to visit her mother 's during

Maya Angelou was born in 1928 which was a time when segregation was very real. To make matters worse, her parents got divorced early on. At the time of the divorce, she was only two, so of course this event influenced her greatly. She went to live with her uncle and grandmother. Her brother came too. Her uncle decided that even though they were of color, they needed to flourish their minds. He taught them to read and write, and that is what started Maya’s love of poetry.

When Maya was a child she was unfortunately raped. She told on the raper and the person was killed. Maya thought that it was her fault that the man was killed because she told on him. For the next year Maya never said a single word, until she met This woman was a neighbor who was very divine who wore silk African dresses and hats. One day that woman invited over. Maya to her house to eat tea cookies. When they got to the house Maya said the house was dark and cool like the woman who owned the house. When they got to the house the woman read Maya a poem collection with her smooth, creamy voice. Maya was stunned. After a few poems the woman said “I want you to go home and read this out loud and come back when you can say it all.” Maya was actually frightened about the task of reading this outLoud, so she read under her grandmother's bed so nobody heard her. After reading for a whole month Maya was finally to speak out to the woman and this was the first time she had said a word in a whole year. Now, she could say a whole poem. This was a very important element in her poetry career because she was opened to poetry by this situation. Maya Angelou’s poem reflect how civil independence is good for the soul but, how did Maya get her message out

Maya Angelou was born in 1928; she lived through some of the worst oppression for African American people. One of Maya Angelou’s most celebrated poems is ‘Still I Rise”. The Poem “Still I Rise” is a call for others to live above the society in which they were conduct up. Throughout the poem Maya conveys her sense of confidence. No matter what happens or what is thrown at Maya Angelou, she will always rise. Maya Angelou goes into details in stanza one by allowing her heart and soul to proclaim that nothing and no one could abuse her or keep her down. People will talk behind your back and spread whatever kind of rumors that they can to bring you down. However, she likes to be seen as a strong person. In the second stanza, Maya asks, “Does my sassiness upset you?” She knows that she will be successful in life. With this being said, Maya goes into deeper details in stanza three, she lets society know that she will always rise up out of her affliction. She feels that society might keep her down, but her nature will rise above and stand against what society is trying to do. In stanza four, she knows that the racist people in society will show bitterness towards her own success. She felt that they did not want to see a black woman rise up and be successful. Maya knows that society hate to see black women that is full of pride in stanza five. In this stanza, which is stanza six, she lets society know that no matter how much they try to down her, she will still be successful in life. She lets them know that talking down on her with words, looks, and hatefulness she

Angelou uses these poetic devices to emphasise her message to readers. The poem 'Still I Rise ' utilises poetic devices to communicate the message of how her oppressors will not prevent her moving forward. Stanza eight of the poem uses personification to convey her message to readers. The line 'Out of the huts of history 's shame ' uses personification. Angelou personifies history by giving it the human emotion of shame. Personification can allow the poet to help readers relate and understand the ideas expressed in the poem. Angelou also uses similes throughout each stanza. As seen in lines such as 'Still like Air, I 'll rise ' and 'But still, like dust, I 'll rise ' Angelou uses similes to compare herself to air and dust. The use of similes allows the reader to link an idea they are familiar thus allowing them to relate to the poem. Juxtaposition is used in 'I Know why the Caged Bird Sings '. Angelou juxtaposes the caged bird against the free bird throughout the poem. Juxtaposition allows the reader to understand the differences between the two birds thus allowing them to distinguish the differences the people who are free from oppression and the people who are