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In one of her most famous literary works, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Angelou uses her own hardships to convey and publicize that everybody deserves the freedom to reach their potential. Maya Angelou’s works’ support the idea of the American dream by inspiring African Americans to overcome racial injustice, and accomplish their individual dreams.

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Dr. Kelly A. Spring (National Women's History Museum) writes about Maya Angelou’s life because she was an extraordinary activist that inspired people to chase after their dream. In fact, Angelou’s autobiography, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, which was a “tale of personal strength amid childhood trauma and racism resonated with readers and was nominated for the National Book Award.”(Dr. Spring) Angelou overcame her early abusive life as a victim of rape and racial discrimination. Ultimately, Angelou’s courage and persistence prevailed in that she was a significant voice for African Americans despite the tremendous obstacles she endured. The activist empowered the African American community with her works, encouraging them to aim as high as she did. Angelou’s well-known legacy and remarkable success demonstrated to America that the American Dream can truly be achieved by anybody.

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Prior to the start of World War II, Angelou moved back in with her mother, who at this time was living in Oakland, California. She attended George Washington High School and took dance and drama courses at the California Labor School.

When war broke out, Angelou applied to join the Women's Army Corps. However, her application was rejected because of her involvement in the California Labor School, which was said to have Communist ties. Determined to gain employment, despite being only 15 years old, she decided to apply for the position of a streetcar conductor. Many men had left their jobs to join the services, enabling women to fill them. However, Angelou was barred from applying at first because of her race. But she was undeterred. Every day for three weeks, she requested a job application, but was denied. Finally, the company relented and handed her an application. Because she was under the legal working age, she wrote that she was 19. She was accepted for the position and became the first African American woman to work as a streetcar conductor in San Francisco. Angelou was employed for a semester but then decided to return to school. She graduated from Mission High School in the summer of 1944 and soon after gave birth to her only child, Clyde Bailey (Guy) Johnson.

In 1969, Angelou published I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, an autobiography of her early life. Her tale of personal strength amid childhood trauma and racism resonated with readers and was nominated for the National Book Award. Many schools sought to ban the book for its frank depiction of sexual abuse, but it is credited with helping other abuse survivors tell their stories. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings has been translated into numerous languages and has sold over a million copies worldwide. Angelou eventually published six more autobiographies, culminating in 2013's Mom & Me & Mom.

Angelou carried out a wide variety of activities on stage and screen as a writer, actor, director, and producer. In 1972, she became the first African American woman to have her screen play turned into a film with the production of Kunta Kinte's grandmother in the television miniseries Georgia, Georgia. Angelou earned a Tony nomination in 1973 for her supporting role in Jerome Kitty's play Roots in 1977. Look Away, and portrayed

Angelou died on May 28, 2014. Several memorials were held in her honor, including ones at Wake Forest University and Glide Memorial Church in San Francisco. To honor her legacy, the US Postal Service issued a stamp with her likeness on it in 2015. (The US Postal Service mistakenly included a quote on the stamp that has long been associated with Angelou but was actually first written by Joan Walsh Anglund

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Poet, dancer, singer, activist, and scholar Maya Angelou is a celebrated author best known for her unique and pioneering autobiographical writing style.

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Source 2: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

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Source 2: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

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Gale explains the significance of Maya Angelou’s I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings and the impact her story of hardships and joys had. Maya Angelou’s story describes her own struggles to motivate African Americans to pursue the American dream. "Self empowerment, faith, struggle as quest, survival, intellectual curiosity, complexity of choice—these ideas are the underpinning of Maya Angelou's story." (Gale, critic Opal Moore) The biography reveals that Angelou believed in and fought for the better future she deserved. Therefore she uses her talent of writing to inspire others to do the same. Therefore she uses her talent of writing to inspire others to do the same.

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Maya Angelou's memoir I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings was her first published full-length literary work. The book takes its title from a poem by Paul Laurence Dunbar titled "Sympathy," in which he expresses his feelings of imprisonment due to racial prejudice.

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In the poem, And Still I Rise, Maya Angelou urges the African American community to overcome hardships and discrimination. Angelou’s passionate style of writing convinces the reader that her pride has made her persevere through challenges. For example, Angelou writes “You may shoot me with your words, You may cut me with your eyes, You may kill me with your hatefulness, But still, like air, I’ll rise.” (Maya Angelou) She wants to convey confidence and pass on the message that the American dream is entirely possible with tenacity.

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Still I Rise" is primarily about self-respect and confidence. In the poem, Angelou reveals how she will overcome anything through her self-esteem. She shows how nothing can get her down. She will rise to any occasion and nothing, not even her skin color, will hold her back.

Out of the huts of history's shame
I rise
Up from a past that's rooted in pain
I rise
I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.

Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise."
Maya Angelou - Poet, Author, Civil Rights Activist (1928-2014)

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Still I Rise" is primarily about self-respect and confidence. In the poem, Angelou reveals how she will overcome anything through her self-esteem. She shows how nothing can get her down. She will rise to any occasion and nothing, not even her skin color, will hold her back.

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There has been terrible difficulties throughout history that has caused African Americans to be discouraged, however, Maya Angelou writes in her poem, On The Pulse of Morning, “Lift up your eyes upon, This day breaking for you. Give birth again, To the dream.” She is telling the American people to avoid dwelling on past injustices, and instead learn from them, to pursue their dreams. In addition, Angelou is explaining that the American dream is far more possible to attain than ever. The poem expresses enthusiasm for the unity and the equal opportunity to have a American dream.

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But today, the Rock cries out to us, clearly, forcefully,
Come, you may stand upon my
Back and face your distant destiny,
But seek no haven in my shadow.
I will give you no hiding place down here.

You, created only a little lower than
The angels, have crouched too long in
The bruising darkness
Have lain too long
Face down in ignorance.
Your mouths spilling words

Armed for slaughter.
The Rock cries out to us today, you may stand upon me,
But do not hide your face.

Across the wall of the world,
A River sings a beautiful song. It says,
Come, rest here by my side.

They hear the first and last of every Tree
Speak to humankind today. Come to me, here beside the River.
Plant yourself beside the River.

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On the Pulse of Morning - A Rock, A River, A Tree

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https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QqGWKqMJm3b93eVaeUDHeCuSA4Bo_pd5sPFxKqi8OWY/edit

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Create a new document and edit with others at the same time -- from your computer, phone or tablet. Get stuff done with or without an internet connection. Use Docs to edit Word files. Free from Google.