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Maya Angelou (4 April 1928)
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(born Marguerite Ann Johnson on April 4, 1928) an American author and poet who has been called "America's most visible black female autobiographer" by scholar Joanne M. Braxton. She is best known for her series of six autobiographical volumes, which focus on her childhood and early adult experiences. The first and most highly acclaimed, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969), tells of her first seventeen years. It brought her international recognition, and was nominated for a National Book Award. She has been awarded over 30 honorary degrees and was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for her 1971 volume of poetry, Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water 'Fore I Diiie.
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Popular Poems
- A Brave and Startling Truth
- A Conceit
- A Plagued Journey
- Alone
- Awaking in New York
- California Prodigal
- I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings
- Insomniac
- Kin
- Men
- Million Man March Poem
- Momma Welfare Roll
- On the Pulse of Morning
- Passing Time
Quotations
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''There is a kind of strength that is almost frightening in black women. It's as if a steel rod runs right through the head down to the feet.''
Maya Angelou (b. 1928), U.S. author. interview broadcast, Nov. 21, 1973. "A Conversation with Maya Angelou," Conversations with Maya Angelou (1989).
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The white American man makes the white American woman maybe not superfluous but just a little kind of decoration. Not really important to turning around the wheels of the state. Well the black America...
Maya Angelou (b. 1928), U.S. author, poet. interview, Nov. 21, 1973. "A Conversation with Maya Angelou," Conversations with Maya Angelou (1989).
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Strictly speaking, one cannot legislate love, but what one can do is legislate fairness and justice. If legislation does not prohibit our living side by side, sooner or later your child will fall on t...
Maya Angelou (b. 1928), African American author and performer. As quoted in I Dream a World, by Brian Lanker (1989).
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...there is a difference between being convinced and being stubborn. I'm not certain what the difference is, but I do know that if you butt your head against a stone wall long enough, at some point yo...
Maya Angelou (b. 1928), U.S. author and performer. As quoted in Reel Women, part 4, by Ally Acker (1991). Said in 1979, on giving up her attempt t...
ay mayas ma nigga forreal
When I see Maya Angelou's poetry (to dare call it such) I feel like clawing my eyes out.
amanda txt me 6785160536
Why must we compare? Maya is a poet...period. She is black...period. She is a woman...period. These are all incidental attibutes. What has it got to do with her poetry which, I am sure, was never written in a spirit of competition with other poets. She is good and that is it. Let's just accept that and forget the rating of #1.