Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Where in the World is... Maya Angelou

Where in the World is

Maya Angelou?

Maya Angelou, an eminent voice in African American literature, has composed numerous poems and autobiographical novels throughout her lifetime, the most famous being I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969). Unlike some writers, who disseminate their ideas through their text alone—certainly an admirable feat in itself—Angelou put her words into action, becoming a prominent figure in the Civil Rights movement.

While the last time most of the public saw Angelou was at the recitation of her poem “On the Pulse of Morning” at President Clinton’s 1993 inauguration, or when she directed the major motion picture Down in the Delta in 1998, Angelou has by no means disappeared from the world of art and literature, nor stopped spreading her message about racial equality. Recently, she gave a talk called “Saving the Race: The Human Race” at the Riverside Church in New York City on November 7, 2009, and also narrated a film called “The Black Candle: A Kwanzaa Celebration,” which not only discusses the holiday, but the importance of family, heritage, and tradition in the lives of African Americans. Additionally, as the Reynolds Professor of American Studies at Wake Forest University, she gave the keynote address at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Celebration on January 18, 2010.



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