Inspiration Thursdays: Maya Angelou lives on
I stumbled on an interview of Maya Angelou on Times and I was blown away by her oratory prowess and the calmness she exudes. Another thing I found interesting about Maya Angelou is the fact that her death brought more recognition to her life and her works. At the time of her death her book I know why the caged bird sing became Amazon’s no 1 Bestselling book.
Maya Angelou birth name is Marguerite Johnson. She was born on April 4th, 1928, in St. Louis, Missouri and raised in St. Louis and Stamps, Arkansas. Maya Angelou became one of the most renowned and influential voices of our time. With over 50 honorary doctorate degrees, Dr. Maya Angelou became a celebrated poet, memoirist, educator, dramatist, producer, actress, historian, filmmaker, and civil rights activist despite her rough childhood.
At the age of eight, she was raped by her mother’s boyfriend who was found guilty but was released after one day in jail. He was later killed four days after he was released from jail. Maya became dumb for five years because she believed that her voice killed him – it was speculated that one of Maya’s uncle killed him. She felt that her voice was the reason for his death.
After this incident, Maya took solace in writing and returned to live with her grandma at the age of fourteen. Maya started speaking again with the help of her teacher – Mrs. Bertha Flowers who introduced authors that inspired her writing.
Aneglou is perhaps one of the most influential black authors to come out of the 20th century. While she is best known for her writing, including I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, she was also a political activist, actress, director, playwright, composer, singer and dancer-and outspoken Christian.
Born Marguerite Ann Johnson in St. Louis Missouri, Angelou was raised by her strong Christian grandmother. However, the author said she wasn’t satisfied with simply accepting the faith of her family, and explored a wide variety of beliefs before becoming a Christian.
“I have always tried to find myself a church. I have studied everything. I spent some time with Zen Buddhism and Judaism and I spent some time with Islam,” she wrote. “I am a religious person. It is my spirit, but I found that I really want to be a Christian. That is what my spirit seems to be built on.”
It wasn’t until her twenties that Angelou became a Christian. After a series of occupations, including working as a fry cook, prostitute and night club dancer, the poet says she found God through the encouragement of her mentor, Fred Wilkerson.
Wilkerson invited Angelou to the Unity Church, a Christian movement focusing on education as a means to spirituality. Because she was skeptical of the Church, Angelou decided to take a class to understand its theology.
She told Oprah that she picked up a book titled “Lessons in Truth” while taking the class. One of the lines in the book stuck out to the writer; it simply said, “God loves me.” Angelou read the words aloud several times before it brought her to her knees in tears.
“It still humbles me that the force which made leaves and fleas and stars and rivers loves me-me, Maya Angelou,” she told Oprah. “It’s amazing. I can do anything, and I can do it well. That’s why I am who I am. Because God loves me and I’m amazed at it and grateful for it.”
“This love…allows us to forgive…it’s something beyond explanation, and it can be used for any good thing you can’t explain,” she continued.
After serving as the coordinator for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and working as a journalist in Egypt during the days of decolonization, Angelou went on to write several critically acclaimed biographies and notable poems, including one titled “Christian” Several lines of the poem reveal her deep, unshakable faith in Christ: “When I say…”I am a Christian”/I don’t speak of this with pride/I’m confessing that I stumble/and need CHRIST to be my guide.”
While religion and spirituality permeate much of Angelou’s writings, she refused to be confined to any one particular denomination.
“When I am on the coast it is my church. It is a Methodist church. And I belong here [in North Carolina] to a Baptist Church. I simply refuse to be controlled,” she said.
Affectionately referred to as Dr. Angelou, the professor never went to college. She has more than 30 honorary degrees and taught American studies for years at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem.
“I created myself,” she has said. “I have taught myself so much.”
Angelou was also a staunch political activist, working with her close friend Martin Luther King Jr. during the civil rights movement. Later, she campaigned for and supported President Bill Clinton.
In November 2013, at the age of 85, Angelou got an award for “Outstanding Service to the American Literary Community.” She was introduced that night by her friend, author Toni Morrison, who said of Angelou, “Suffering energized and strengthened her, and her creative impulse struck like bolts of lightning.”
From her wheelchair, Angelou dazzled the crowd by singing a verse of a spiritual: “When it looked like it wouldn’t stop raining, God put a rainbow in the clouds.”
While Angelou’s illustrious career places her among the most influential black authors of her time, she acknowledged that her success a gift given to her by God.
“When I say… “I am a Christian”/I’m not trying to be strong./I’m professing that I’m weak/and need HIS strength to carry on.”
– See more at: The Gospel Herald Entertainment
Maya Angelou’s story is a very interesting one because it is a perfect example of how God uses imperfect people and turn their lives around. Maya was once a prostitute and nightclub dancer/performer, yet she went ahead to be one of the most recognized poet/writer winning several awards.
My charge for you today: Do not conclude your story before God is done!
Be Inspired!