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A feminist writer and poet, Maya Angelou has inspired a number of us with her words. Here are some of my favourite lines by her and why she inspired me.
“Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can’t touch
My inner mystery.
I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.”
And that is what she was, without a doubt. Maya Angelou was a phenomenal woman of strength, courage, and grit. Add to it her wit and unapologetic repartee! She was a crackling poet, a literary genius, an advocate of feminism and a civil rights activist for African American women.
“It’s in the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.”
That’s how power-packed her writing was!
She wrote 300 books, 7 autobiographies, and many awards winning poems and essays. Maya Angelou received a number of honours and awards for her impeccable achievements in literature. She was a survivor, an artist, a hip hop queen, a writer, and and influencer. Her quotes are awe inspiring and remarkable!!
“If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.”
“I know why the caged bird sings.”
This was also the name was her first book that grabbed eyeballs for this influential writing. It instantly became a rage and brought Maya under the limelight.
Maya Angelou was born in St Louis, Missouri, USA on April 4, 1928. She had a disturbed childhood with divorced parents. When she was seven, her mother’s boyfriend raped her. And even though, her uncles killed the accused, it turned the girl mute and her world colourless.
Her childhood was spent shuffling between separated parents. And in order to heal, and live, she turned to dancing where she rose from a night club dancer to the queen of American hip-hop. She was a mother at the age of 17 and continued her quest to have her voice heard, and to survive in any condition.
The road to recognition was long and tedious but in the process, she also mentored Oprah Winfrey. She was also supported Martin Luther King and his fight for the civil rights for African Americans, she fought beside him for equality and respect.
Maya Angelou donned a number of hats and excelled at everything she tried. She reached heights of success with her eloquent words and writings like ‘Phenomenal Woman’ and ‘Still I Rise.’
In her own words, “My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humour, and some style.”
That’s the formidable combination Maya Angelou was. The woman with the badass words, kickass attitude and a dash of sass. In a career spanning 50 years, she managed to do it all. From writing to acting, to being spokesperson for black people, to an honorary literature icon to music diva! She was also the first black female streetcar conductor in San Francisco. Maya Angelou rose like a phoenix from being a sex worker to a revered poet reciting inaugurations for Bill Clinton.
Another one of her striking quotes, which is my favourite is,
“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”
She’s a role model in American history who proved that the world is her ramp and her writing is her voice to boldness, fame and recognition!
Her autobiography ‘I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings’ is evocative and deals with issues like rape and racism. Maya didn’t fear speaking her heart and mind, or even quote her miseries as a deprived black girl.
“The caged bird sings
With a fearful trill
Of things unknown
But longed for still
And his tune is heard
On the distant hill
For the caged bird
Sings of freedom.”
She also said, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
Maya Angelou made the world feel her presence even after her death. Even today, her writing lingers on, and inspires each of us to voice our opinions without inhibitions or fear.
She died on May 28, 2014 in North Carolina.
Picture credits: The Patriot Zimbabwe
My name is Daisy and I’m a blog writer! I write whenever ideas crunch me and I like writing about anything under the sun! Visit my blog at freshdaisiesdotme.wordpress.com read more...
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Neena was the sole caregiver of Amma and though one would think that Amma was dependent on her, Neena felt otherwise.
Neena inhaled the aroma that emanated from the pan and took a deep breath. The aroma of cumin interspersed with butter transported her back to the modest kitchen in her native village. She could picture her father standing in the kitchen wearing his white crisp kurta as he made delectable concoctions for his only daughter.
Neena grew up in a home where both her parents worked together in tandem to keep the house up and running. She had a blissful childhood in her modest two-room house. The house was small but every nook and cranny gave her memories of a lifetime. Neena’s young heart imagined that her life would follow the same cheerful course. But how wrong she was!
When she was sixteen, the catastrophic clutches of destiny snatched away her parents. They passed away in a road accident and Neena was devastated. Relatives thronged her now gloomy house and soon it was decided that she should be married off.
Menopause is a reality in women's lives, so Indian workplaces need to gear up and address women's menopausal needs.
Picture this: A seasoned executive at the peak of her career suddenly grapples with hot flashes and sleep disturbances during important meetings. She also battles mood swings and cognitive changes, affecting her productivity and confidence. Eventually, she resigns from her job.
Fiction? Not really. The scenario above is a reality many women face as they navigate menopause while meeting their work responsibilities.
Menopause is the time when a woman stops menstruating. This natural condition marks the end of a woman’s reproductive years. The transition brings unique physical, emotional, and psychological changes for women.
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