Commemorative Speech By Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou is a leading literary voice of the African-American community. She writes of the triumph of the human spirit over hardship and adversity. “Her style captures the ca-dences and aspirations of African American women whose strength she celebrates.” (Library of Chattanooga State, n. d.) Maya has paved the way for children who has had a damaged

Lastly, Maya Angelou is full of interesting facts that people don't know about her most likely. Maya Angelou was a 16 year old girl when she got pregnant with Guy Johnson, who has followed his mothers footsteps and is now a writer. In 1954 she became a night club career after her divorce to Tosh Angelou. When she was molested by her mothers boyfriend Mr. Freeman she wouldn't talk to anyone for five and a half years. She only spoke to her brother

Have you ever thought about becoming a singer, poet, dancer, screenwriter, journalist, civil rights activist, and a memoirist all in a lifetime? Well Maya Angelou did just that. She first began as a singer and dancer, next she became a journalist and civil right activist, and then she later became a memoirist, screenwriter, and a poet. She met many other role models and even fundraised for Martin Luther King Jr. She was also honored for different kinds of awards.

Maya Angelou has inspired me in more ways than one, and I had to write about her. When Maya speaks people listen. She has this wisdom that only few have, especially when life wasn’t always great. She turned tragedy into triumph, and helped others in doing so. So, Maya has proven too many women, especially black women that you succeed, even if you have had a child in your teen years. She’s proof that with determination nothing is unattainable.

Angelou’s writings are an important historical faction of American literature. Maya Angelou was a well-rounded, self-motivated woman who accomplished many things in her life. She not only accomplished things to benefit herself, but to better the life and people around her. Among some of the many things she did, being part of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960’s was one of the most

suffered as she went through life and how she became who she was. Some interesting things I found about Maya Angelou was that besides being a writer she was also an actress, screenwriter, dancer and poet. She was also good friends with both Martin Luther King Jr. and Oprah Winfrey (biography.com). This essay will explain the things Maya Angelou did and accomplished that have changed the world today.

Maya Angelou: An Influential Voice Not many can say they have been a writer, a civil rights activist, and a dominant part of American culture, but Maya Angelou could. By taking on these different identities with grace and dignity, she made a lasting impression on the world and in the lives of millions. Her diligent commitment to the greater good is evident in her many accomplishments and awards. Although most of her prominent efforts took place in the 20th century, Angelou’s lifelong mission to transform humanity for the better is still relevant today.

Maya Angelou faced many obstacles to become what she is known for today. Such as being raped at a young age,overcoming being mute, and feeling responsible for being raped. Maya Angelou was able to overcome these obstacles and came out

Maya Angelou is a phenomenal woman. She rises through all things that come her way and she refuses to back down. Angelou chose at a very young age to be a writer and a role model for many people. She believes that everyone should be treated equally and that the world should come together as a unity. Angelou had many careers but is known mostly for her poetic creations. She has come a long way from where she started and I think anyone can agree with me when I say, she has made us all proud with her accomplishments. Angelou writes poetry to inform and encourage others to carry on through the worst of times. She is a strong, confident, inspirational woman and I am more than honored to be doing my senior paper on her.

Her words always leave me in deep thought while stimulating my brain. Maya Angelo’s readings are full of advice and wisdom that comes from a woman who is three times my age. That’s priceless information, Right? I can remember when I was an even younger girl growing up in grade school and in church. Every time there was a talent show or some major event where one would have to stand in front of a crowd and prove themselves. I would always choose one of Maya Angelo’s sassy, tongue-twisting poems that was sure to get the audience excited and involved. One thing my sister and I were sure of was that choosing a selection by Ms. Angelo we couldn’t go wrong or embarrassed. In my opinion, Maya Angelo is a strong and witty African-American woman who blessed the world with her thoughts through different writing pieces. She is a role model to me, because she speaks the truth. Maya Angelo has been the winner of the Noble Peace Prize and is a renowned best-selling author. I say ask anyone about her and they will know of her, or at least her writings.

Maya Angelou, who was the first African-American to work in the San Francisco streetcars, accomplished many things in her life. This fact proves that Angelou was a woman who believed in doing what needs to be done in order to accomplish her goals. Angelou made an influence on the world with her books and poems that related to diverse people in different situations, but most importantly, she fought for African-American right in the early and middle 1900s.

“Today, [my wife] Michelle and I join millions around the world in remembering one of the brightest lights of our time – a brilliant writer, a fierce friend, and a truly phenomenal woman.” (Statement). This memorial statement, by former president Barack Obama in 2014, encompasses the feelings that he and many others had towards Maya Angelou, one of the most influential writers and voices of her generation. Over the course of her lifetime, over 50 honorary degrees, including the highest American civilian honor, were awarded to Angelou. She is most recognized for her autobiographical and poetic writings. Angelou’s poetic works, specifically, “Phenomenal Woman,” reflect her self-admiration. Her confidence is credited to the overcoming of

She became the person that she was because of that nurturing and Maya Angelou became a strong, determined woman that created her future. When Maya Angelou was young, her mother would tell her, “Can’t do is like don’t care.” (Shrimpton, D., Giangrasso, A., 2012, pg. 80) Which meant there is nothing a person cannot do and there should be nothing a person did not care about.

The life experiences of the late Maya Angelou —author, poet, actress, singer, dancer, playwright, director, producer — became the key element of her most prominent work, a lyrical poet telling the stories of what it means to be an African American; having a wide range, multi-series autobiographies that lays the foundation of her identity as a American black woman. The acclaimed Maya Angelou’s legacy not only impacted American culture that will resonate with people through history, but create insight to a whole new world.

Unlike Langston Hughes, Maya Angelou devoted her life to inspiring African Americans to do whatever they wanted to do no matter what other people said. She also wanted to inspire people. Her poems Phenomenal Woman and Still I Rise inspired not only the African American people, which is was intended to, but the whole world including men. Like Hughes, Maya Angelou did not think that one day she would be reading one of her poems at President Clinton 's inauguration. But she did think that she would inspire young African American writers that they too could become wonderful writers in a white society. Angelou is hailed as one of the great voices of contemporary black literature and as a remarkable Renaissance woman.