Maya Angelou's Influences Essay Example
Maya Angelou’s Influence
Maya Angelou is terrific performer, singer, filmmaker, and civil-rights activist. She is a phenomenal woman, one thing that she does best is writing. She is still living today, I believe her legend will never die. If one would talk to her, he or she would think she has lead a normal, happy life. Her life is blissful now, it was not always perfect. Maya beard enough emotional stress in a time frame that most people do not experience in a lifetime. Her experiences and the lessons learned encouraged her to help others become strong. Maya Angelou is one of the best examples of someone overcoming rape, being mute for several years, and having a child at a young age to achieve success of becoming an accomplished writer. Maya Angelou faced many obstacles when trying to reach success, that just made her stronger. Angelou quoted, “ You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.” (Thinkexist.com, 1996-2006). Maya she was born April 4, 1928 as Marguerite Johnson in St. Louis. At the age of seven, Maya Angelou was raped by her mother’s boyfriend, Freeman. Freeman tells her he will kill her or Bailey, (Maya Angelou’s brother), if she tells anyone about what happened, between him and her. “A few days after she was forced to testify at his trial, her rapist was found beaten to death in an alley, apparently murdered by some of Angelou’s uncles.”(SPEC, 2008). Maya felt guilty and believed that her voice had caused the death of the rapist, so she became mute and remained so for four years. The only person Maya spoke to was Bailey; she began speaking again at the age of 13. At the age of 16, Maya gave birth to her son, Guy, three weeks before she graduated from high school. Maya decided to leave home, so she could support her son and herself. “Maya worked as a cocktail waitress, dancer, cook, and
Maya Angelou is terrific performer, singer, filmmaker, and civil-rights activist. She is a phenomenal woman, one thing that she does best is writing. She is still living today, I believe her legend will never die. If one would talk to her, he or she would think she has lead a normal, happy life. Her life is blissful now, it was not always perfect. Maya beard enough emotional stress in a time frame that most people do not experience in a lifetime. Her experiences and the lessons learned encouraged her to help others become strong. Maya Angelou is one of the best examples of someone overcoming rape, being mute for several years, and having a child at a young age to achieve success of becoming an accomplished writer. Maya Angelou faced many obstacles when trying to reach success, that just made her stronger. Angelou quoted, “ You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.” (Thinkexist.com, 1996-2006). Maya she was born April 4, 1928 as Marguerite Johnson in St. Louis. At the age of seven, Maya Angelou was raped by her mother’s boyfriend, Freeman. Freeman tells her he will kill her or Bailey, (Maya Angelou’s brother), if she tells anyone about what happened, between him and her. “A few days after she was forced to testify at his trial, her rapist was found beaten to death in an alley, apparently murdered by some of Angelou’s uncles.”(SPEC, 2008). Maya felt guilty and believed that her voice had caused the death of the rapist, so she became mute and remained so for four years. The only person Maya spoke to was Bailey; she began speaking again at the age of 13. At the age of 16, Maya gave birth to her son, Guy, three weeks before she graduated from high school. Maya decided to leave home, so she could support her son and herself. “Maya worked as a cocktail waitress, dancer, cook, and