Maya Angelou: The Fight for Empowerment and Equality

Marguerite Annie Johnson ("Maya") was born on April 4th, 1928, in St. Loui
s, Missouri. For the first few years of her life, she was raised in a home that was tormented by a crumbling marriage.

After the divorce, she was sent to live with her grandmother, until she was returned to her mother's 

care at the age of eight. While there, she was sexually abused by her mother's boyfriend. He was convicted and sentenced to prison for this crime, but upon his release was murdered (presumably by Angelou's relatives). These events were so traumatic for her that she became mute for about five years, harboring guilt and blaming herself for the man's death. She believed that her voice had the power to kill, and therefore she swore she would never speak again. During this time, she developed her love for language and literature, as well as an ability to observe and listen, which turned into a deep appreciation for the world around her. The event that she thought would take away her voice forever turned into her motivation to speak up for those who can't speak for themselves.

In her early teens, Angelou applied for several jobs, most of which she was denied because of her race. After strict perseverance, she eventually became San Francisco's first black female streetcar conductor, for which she later received recognition from the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials. Throughout the rest of her life, Angelou became a social activist for many different groups, such as African Americans and women. She worked with Martin Luther King Jr. to advocate for minority rights in the United States, and later helped form the Harlem Writers Guild, which supported African American writers. Her many works of literature, including autobiographies, poems, and songs, promote equality and unity for all people. 

All over the country, there are schools and healthcare centers dedicated in her honor. In 2012, she helped organize the International Women's Health Summit, a conference dedicated to exploring and advocating female health all over the world. Angelou believed that women and girls were not given equal opportunities in healthcare and sought to change that. Another one of her ambitions was equal education for all children, regardless of sex, race, or financial status. The Maya Angelou Public Charter School system promotes her values of equal education and a sense of belonging, particularly to young African Americans. 

Maya Angelou was a prominent figure in affecting not only how the world views women, but how we view ourselves. She strived to make a difference in the lives of people around the country and believed that everyone had value. Her poems provoke introspection and self-recognition that we are all worthy of a place in this world.

“I love to see a young girl go out and grab the world by the lapels. Life's a bitch. You've got to go out and kick ass." 

-Maya Angelou

Works Cited:

Henderix, Sherti. “Why We Are The Maya Schools.” Maya Angelou Public Charter Schools - See Forever Foundation, www.seeforever.org/why-we-are-the-maya-schools/. 

Spring, Kelly A. “Maya Angelou.” National Women's History Museum, 2017, www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/maya-angelou.