Maya Angelou was an African American writer and actor known for her Civil Rights themed works. She grew up in Arkansas with her grandparents due to her parents splitting apart when she was young. She grew up with a large mix of traumas that included being raped by her mother’s boyfriend at 7, only for her uncle to then kill her mother’s boyfriend. She lived as mute for several years after the instance.
During WWII she moved to California where she made advancements in the Civil Rights world including being the first African American cable car conductor. She would become an actress and have parts in many movies and Broadway shows. She was awarded a Tony in 1973 along with an Emmy in 1977 for her works. In regards to the Civil Rights movement, Angelou also was close friends with both Martin Luther King Jr. as well as Malcom X. She assisted them in starting up movements and spurring on the movement to its victory. She was also close allies with Barrack Obama during his presidency.
She died in May of 2014 and many famous people around the world offered tribute to her in forms of reciting her poems or choice words. She died due to health issues that had been occurring, but her death was still traumatic to those who adored her.
“Maya Angelou.” Biography.com, A&E Networks Television, 31 Jan. 2020, http://www.biography.com/writer/maya-angelou.
Poetry Journal Gabriela 