Inspiring. Brave. Extraordinary. These are a few of the adjectives that come to mind when many think Maya Angelou and her work. All of these characteristics and more were shown in Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise, the first ever documentary about her life. It aired on Tuesday February 21, 2017 on PBS at 8pm. The quality of the film exemplified the weight of Maya Angelou’s name very well.
She was a poet, dancer, actress, and singer. Her work as a writer was extensive, she wrote seven autobiographies, three books of essays, and lots of poetry. Angelou was most famously known for her works: Still I Rise and Phenomenal Women. They are often recited by all kinds of people no matter the age, race, or ethnicity. It’s safe to say she was loved by many.
Angelou lived the furthest thing from boring life. This film gives you context to what was going on in the world and in her personal life that may have shaped some of her greatest works. Many significant persons like Oprah Winfrey, Common, Bill and Hillary Clinton speak to her legacy in the film. Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise premiered to critical acclaim at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival.
If you are interested in watching the documentary it can be found at http://www.pbs.org/video/2365958273/