M AYA A N G E L O U
Her biography M aya Angelou was an American poet, memoirist, and civil rights, activist. Maya Angelou had achieved so m u c h w h i l e h a v i n g a d i s a b i l i t y, s e l e c t i v e m u t i s m , t h a t s t e m m e d f r o m a n a n x i e t y d i s o r d e r. M a y a A n g e l o u t o o k many of her experiences of trauma and put them into h e r w r i t i n g a s a w a y t o u s e h e r “ v o i c e ”. A n g e l o u h a d a broad career outside of writing including acting, dancing playwriting. She was a multifaceted woman and was very driven in all her areas of work. As a civil rights a c t i v i s t , s h e w o r k e d w i t h D r. M a r t i n Lu t h e r K i n g Jr t o achieve equality and civil rights for African Americans during the timeframe of the 1950s-60s.
“It i s i mp o s s i b l e t o s t r u g g l e for civil rights, equal rights for blacks, without including whites. B e c a u s e e q u a l r i g h t s , f a i r p l a y, justice, are all like air : we all have i t , o r n o n e o f u s h a s i t ”.
H e r
w o r k h a s l i t t h e “f l a m e” i n s i d e m a ny individuals in the fight for change. Nonetheless, she was the definition of a perseverant individual.
M a y a A n g e l o u w r o t e p i e c e s o f p o e t r y, essays, and books which opened the door for conversation. At least eleven books, f ive poetr y books, and wrote five collections of essays. Her work allowed for conversation to emerge around things happening in society and the need for change. Maya Angelou may be seen as a radical w r i t e r, b u t I s e e h e r a s a n e d u c at o r o f m i n d s .
Her work
M a y a A n g e l o u ’s a u t o b i o g r p a h y, “ I K n o w W h y t h e C a g e d i s v e r y r e l a t a b l e s t o r y f o r m a n y w o m e n b e c a u s e i t d e p i c t s t h e s t r u g g l e s o f e q u a l i t y, r i g h t s , a n d loss of control over our bodies, as a result of a male-dominate d s o c i e t y. It i s s t i l l v e r y v a l i d t o t h i n g s g o i n g o n c u r r e n t l y. The first thing I can think of that correlates to her work and w h a t s h e s t a n d s f o r i s t h e f i g h t o v e r t h e a b o r t i o n l a w i n Te x a s . M a y a A n g e l o u ’s w o r k i s i m p a c t f u l a n d i s t h e s t a r t o f t h e conversation for change in current and past times. Her work is still relevant.
O n e
of her pieces I connected most with was her “I K n o w W h y t h e C a g e d B i r d S i n g s ”. T h i s p i e c e d i s c u s s e s s o c i etal issues that revolve around the subjects of racism, rape, a n d l i t e r a c y. T h e p o i n t o f v i e w s h e w r i t e s f r o m i s s o u n i q u e a s b e i n g a w o m a n w h o l i v e s i n a m a l e - d o m i n a t e d s o c i e t y. One of my favorite quotes from the novel is, “She compreh e n d s t h e p e r v e r s i t y o f l i f e , t h a t i n t h e s t r u g g l e s l i e j o y ”. Her writing speaks to me and moves me in ways the writer never has before. It has brought me to tears and allowed me to find deeper gratitude for life even when my days are the best. She vividly depicts the struggle and the importance of overcoming it to understand who you are and gain a better sense of self. Her writings almost seem spiritual because it c o n n e c t s w i t h m y s o u l i n s u c h a u n i q u e w a y, i t ’s h a r d t o d e scribe
Her importance and impact on society
S h e
deeply connects to women and the internal struggles they face due to societal pressures. She creates such a safe space for women to speak their truths and allows for the basic norms of society to be questioned or challenged. I value her and all she stands f o r. I t ’s t r u l y i n s p i r i n g t o s e e s u c h a s t r o n g woman make such a strong impact on me and o t h e r w o m e n i n s o c i e t y.
M a y a
Angelou is significant because she had personally made an impact on my life as well as many others. Maya Angelou made a big effect on American culture that extended outside the lines o f h e r w r i t i n g . S h e w a s t h e n a t i o n ’ s “ w i s e w o m a n ”. She had an unapologetic conscience that touched all groups of people: celebrities, political leaders, minorities, sexual assault survivors, the mental health c o m m u n i t y, a n d l a s t l y j u s t e v e r y d a y p e o p l e . S h e i s a healer of society and a fighter for justice. Maya Angelou aimed for a better future. Her work has taught people, throughout society the power of strength in words. She is a hero. She deser ves our utmost respect and for that, I think she deserves a monument all to herself.
The monument proposal T h e
monument would be a stack of some of her most popular books with butterflies on the edge. On the top of the stack of the book would be a j a r l a b e l e d “ s o c i e t y ’ s b i g g e s t p r o b l e m s a r e …”. B e low the stack books would be a little covered shed l a b e l e d “s u p p l i e s” w i t h p ap e r a n d p e n c i l s w h e re students could write an answer to what they feel “ s o c i e t y ’ s b i g g e s t p r o b l e m s a r e ”. T h i s m o n u m e n t w o u l d b e i n t e r a c t i v e a n d i n c l u s i v e o f a l l p e o p l e ’s opinions and thoughts. The purpose behind this m o n u m e n t a n d m a n y o f A n g e l o u ’s w o r k s i s t o b r i n g awareness to issues and creating a conversation. In hopes that that conversation will evolve into a passion that will light the flame for change. The monument will also have a little sign out front describing its purpose and intent. The sign would say: This is a monument dedicated to the notable Maya Angelou who has stood to always bring a w a r e n e s s a n d s t a r t a c o n v e r s a t i o n a b o u t s o c i e t y ’s i s s u e s . S o n o w i t ’s y o u r t u r n t o s t a r t t h e c o n v e r s a t i o n a n d c a r r y M a y a A n g e l o u ’ s l e g a c y
LOCATION: ON CAMPUS
N a t u r a l l y, s i n c e M a y a A n g e l o u w a s a p o e t I would want to put her near the art building, b u t s i n c e t h e a r t b u i l d i n g i s a b i t t u c k e d a w a y. I decided to choose a more popular spot that would gain more foot traffic since this is an interactive monument. I choose to put it on the strip between Horizon Hall and Southside Dining Hall there I feel it will be seen best.
The monument proposal off campus F or the second location, I decided to pick a place in downtown DC that would be very fitting. The place I specifically was drawn to was Black Lives Matter Plaza. The Black Lives Matter Plaza is very relevant to societal issues and drawing awareness, so, I felt this paired nicely w i t h t h e i d e o l o g i e s o f M a y a A n g e l o u ’s w o r k .
LOCATION: BLACK LIVES MATTER PLAZA NORTHWEST, D.C.
I c h o o s e t h i s l o c a t i o n b e c a u s e B l a c k L i v e s
Matter Plaza stands for social injustice and systematic racism happening here in the US. I feel that a lot of these issues correlate to the work Maya Angelou did in the Civil Rights Movement. Black Lives Matter Plaza stands to question soc i e t y, q u e s t i o n m o t i v e s t h a t l e a d t o t h o u g h t p r o voking conversation about change. This is all so s i m i l a r t o M a y a A n g e l o u ’s w o r k .