Acclaimed author, poet and activist celebrated as the voice of a generation
Gaining national attention for her memoir I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings published in 1969, Maya Angelou promoted civil rights in the coming-of-age story which resonated with such a large readership. The renowned author passed away on Wednesday, May 28, 2014 at her home in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Living her life as an American icon, Angelou has received multiple accolades including a Pulitzer Prize Nomination in 1972 for her volume of poetry titled Give Me a Cool Drink of Water ‘Fore I Diiie and more recently awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2010 by President Barack Obama. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest civilian honour in the United States – demonstrating just how influential and celebrated Angelou’s life was.
In 1993, Angelou became the first poet since Robert Frost in 1961 to read a poem at a presidential inauguration. At Bill Clinton’s first inauguration, Angelou made history by reciting her poem “On the Pulse of Morning.” Her performance of the poem was heralded as ultimately representative of the conflicts of contemporary American people. According to African American literature scholar Mary Jane Lupton, Angelou’s performance of the poem echoes the mannerisms and thematic principles of such speakers as Martin Luther King Jr. And Malcom X. Furthermore, Angelou’s memorable reading of the poem signalled a revival of the African-American oral tradition offering a revitalization of representation.
Angelou was a true renaissance woman. While she is most known for her poetry and inspirational quotes, Angelou was involved in multiple forms of artistic expression throughout her life. While making a name for herself on stage, on screen, and on printed page, Angelou’s legacy resonates throughout generations of youth and citizens who grew with her wisdom.
It is clear to those who are familiar with her work that Angelou had an intimate understanding of the human condition. Nothing better explains the compassion of Angelou’s voice than her most well-known quote, it reads:
“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.”
What makes Angelou’s legacy so profound was her ability to portray a genuine representation of human feelings. Her work and her achievements illustrate a life filled with overcoming adversity, cultural awareness, and the ability to convey the endurance of humanity.
The following is a poem written by Angelou, printed here to remember her wise use of words.
“Caged Bird” By Maya Angelou
A free bird leaps
on the back of the wind
and floats downstream
till the current ends
and dips his wing
in the orange sun rays
and dares to claim the sky.
But a bird that stalks
down his narrow cage
can seldom see through
his bars of rage
his wings are clipped and
his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing.
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.
The free bird thinks of another breeze
and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees
and the fat worms waiting on a dawn bright lawn
and he names the sky his own
But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams
his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream
his wings are clipped and his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing.
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.