Maya Angelou- the Woman who made a difference without the cage.

Maya Angelou is a woman of immense strength and dignity. She has survived sexual assault, poverty, discrimination, and so much more. Yet, her story is not simply a sob story that we tell in schools during a chapter in history that a teacher speeds through. No. Maya Angelou has evolved past the book shelves she has dominated, and she is such a prominent figure, both historically and in today’s world. Through her illustration of what it was like to grow up during a time of immense segregation and discrimination, not only in her community, but within her friends and family as well, Maya Angelou effectively collects the attention and sympathy of her readers, meanwhile calling for young women and girls to take a stance. While she never explicitly says this in her book, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Angelou demands a call to action. She is a noteworthy woman, one still extremely relevant today. While Angelou is no longer alive and breathing today, her literature lives on, inspiring activism amongst women in the modern generation. Her inspiration is why her voice still matters today, hence, her overall importance, and how she will continue to inspire generations for years to come. . 

Angelou grew up, as stated before, during a time of serious racial segregation and discrimination. She was born in St. Louis, however Angelou soon moved to Arkansas where she was raised by her grandmother on her father’s side. Her parents separated in divorce when she was extremely small, and it left her family divided more than was usual for this time period. When she was still a child, not even eight years old, her mother’s boyfriend took advantage of her and raped her. In the midst of this tragedy, she was in a location that was so deep in the south, “with its dust and hate and narrowness [it] was as South as it was possible to get” (Britannica). After her uncles learned of how the man previously known as her mother’s boyfriend had taken advantage of Maya, they murdered the man, in revenge. The tragedy of everything she had been through in her early years left her without the ability to speak for years. She became mute, almost completely, in light of how hard her life had been up to this point. As the years went by, and she grew up, she learned to speak again, and began processing her traumas through writing. Her first book, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, was not only an autobiography, but it advocated against Jim Crow laws. It gave a realistic depiction of how hard these laws made life for people of color who were living in the south during these times. She was also in close relationship to many civil rights leaders, including James Baldwin. This, combined with her tragic past created an outlet for her advocacy. She spoke out about discrimination, yes, however, she continued to have talks about race and equality as time went on and conditions improved. She kept the understanding of the horrors of discrimination and slavery on the forefront of people’s minds. Her influence on social justice all across the country is not just remarkable, it is unheard of in many aspects. 

Angelou’s resilience is something more prominent than ever, today. If you are reading this blog, you must know something about, or want to get involved in some way with activism. Angelou paved the way for African American female activists to speak up for not only what they believe in, but what has ha[[pened to them in the past that has significantly altered not only their sense of self, but their perception of reality as well. Angelou, through it all, kept her self-worth high in her head. Even though she had moments of feeling worthless, overall, her sense of self and self-worth is inspiring. Her quotes about life’s tragedies and how beautiful life is at the same time circle Twitter like the earth revolving around the sun. Her advocacy was for equal rights, yes, but it was for human kindness, despite the cultural differences, above all else. Her appearance in middle and high school education in the United States is remarkable. She is taught about in an elevating way, as her actions speak so highly for the causes she believed in so deeply, and fought for even when it felt hopeless. Her speeches about activism, education, and self-worth turn hearts, even now after her passing. Her identity and empowerment advocacy for young women goes far beyond anything that young women of color, or young women in general, had experienced prior. The hardship Angelou had to endure speaks to her testimony that it will get better, and ultimately nothing is impossible if you set your mind to it and work hard to get where you want to be. Yes, that is easier said than done, but it is not impossible. Put in the effort, and the results will flow, it just might take time and a whole lot of perseverance in the face of opposition. 

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is how I personally fell in love with Maya Angelou. I was only fifteen years old when I read it, but the words dug deep into my brain as I pondered what it could have been like to be in her situation. Nothing can compare. There is no amount of words that can take back all the pain she experienced in life, and yet she persevered more than I think I ever could. Yet this is the thing that we are to realize as young women. Angelou showed us that nothing is impossible if we believe in it enough. There is no lack of money or lack of generational connections that prohibit us from taking a stance. From a woman who, at one point, felt as if she had nothing in the world, not even her name, there is more to life than what you can hold in your hands. Words have meaning. Her words are used in modern writings, in poems, and by artists to depict her sentences through imagery. Her books are taught, time and time again, bringing courage to those who are afraid to stand up for who and what they believe in. 

Maya Angelou is a noteworthy woman who not only spoke out about her past overall discrimination,  and more specifically the Jim Crow laws, she has become an inspiration for generations to come. Her words might not be able to come directly from her mouth any more, but her literary creations will live on for centuries past her life span. Angelou is an inspiration to every advocate in the world, and young female activists should not only look up to her, but learn from her lifetime and journey.