Maya Angelou before a Calypso performance at the Village Vanguard in New York City. | Photo by G. Marshall Wilson, via Art.com.
Civil rights activist, award-winning author, poet, singer and actress, we remember Marguerite Annie Johnson Angelou, known to her fans and followers as Maya Angelou. A poet and Nobel laureate won multitude of awards and honors. Maya was raised in rural Stamps, Arkansas by her grandmother and uncle during the depression. I Know Why the Cages Bird Sings is an 1969 memoir written by Maya Angelou which became the first nonfiction bestseller by an African American woman. Maya took all her tragedies and turned it into one of the most widely read memoirs of the past few decades.
It’s quite extraordinary that Maya could overcome being abused as a young child and still manage to graduate school two years ahead of schedule at the highest academic level. Since then Maya was the first colored streetcar operator in San Francisco and later on the poet laureate that people recognize to this day.
Maya was never afraid to speak her mind. Angelou defended the rights of women, young people and the ignored. “She has much to teach this generation and generations unborn about what it means to be an authentic person, and the power of the genuine.” said the Rev Jesse Jackson.
Opran Winfrey, has called Angelou a mentor, says that “Maya Angelou is not what she has done or written or spoken, it’s how she did it all. She moved through the world with unshakeable calm, confidence, and a fiery, fierce grace and abounding love.”
“I’ve learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow. I’ve learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights. I’ve learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you’ll miss them when they’re gone from your life. I’ve learned that making a ‘living’ is not the same thing as making a ‘life.’ I’ve learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance. I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back. I’ve learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision. I’ve learned that even when I have pains, I don’t have to be one. I’ve learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back. I’ve learned that I still have a lot to learn. 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.”
Known for his signature lace-up leather brief, the former Balmain embellishment expert launched his label in 2017 and has captured industry attention for his exploration of sex and sexuality through clothing.