When I was a little girl my teacher assigned us a project in which I had to research a famous African American writer. I saw it as just another project but, little did I know, I was about to discover a woman who would influence me for the rest of my life. She would show me how to be strong, how to do everything with a fierceness and confidence that made inevitably make some people scared of me. She taught me how to be a woman, how to love myself, and how to always be the best person I could be.
Marguerite Annie Johnson or Dr. Maya Angelou as you may know her was an American author, civil rights activist, and poet. She was born in St. Louis, Missouri on April 4th, 1928 and has a career history that spans over 40 years. Dr. Angelou is most famous for her seven autobiographies, most notably I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. She also has worked as a prostitute, dancer, singer and coordinator for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.
All of Dr. Angelou’s accomplishments, along with her fierce nature and “jack-of-all-trades” style are what attracted me to her in the first place. She seemed like a very interesting woman, even before I had read any of her poetry. After I finally got to read her poems and other various writings, I was sold. This woman was the person that I wanted to be. I wanted to be strong-willed, fight for what I believed in, and write with the fierceness that Dr. Angelou exuded.
These ideals stuck with me as I grew and developed, and I started writing poetry in the style of my new hero. Every chance I got I was reading books that she wrote, listening to her speeches, and devouring everything that I could find that she was a part of. When she came to UGA, I was very upset because I could not make it to see her.
Sadly, the year after that, she passed away. I never got the chance to meet the incredible women who spoke to my soul as a child, but I can always respect and appreciate the legacy she left behind. She was a spokesperson for African Americans as well as women, and her courage to speak plainly against injustice will inspire me forever. I will never forget her influence and will always have Dr. Maya Angelou as my muse, no matter how much time passes.