Maya Angelou

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Surname 1 Student Name Professor Name Course Date Maya Angelou's Poetic Journey Against Racism and Resilience Maya Angelou's powerful voice in fighting for equal rights, influenced by her personal experiences, resonates throughout her works. Angelou fought for equal rights for every individual, irrespective of race, due to her maltreatment experiences as a young girl. By utilizing features of symbolism, thematic concerns, hyperbole, symbols, and images in a confessional style, Angelou criticized racism and aimed to face emotional trauma. Understanding Angelou's life is crucial to fully grasp the messages entrenched within her poems throughout her life. In exploratory works like "Harlem Hopscotch," "The Lesson," and "When Great Trees Fall," we see Angelou's themes of self-identity, overcoming past trauma, and finding hope and courage in the face of loss. Ultimately, Angelou's life experiences shaped her confessional writing style, leading to a transformation in America's attitudes towards racism and a call for urgent reform to address the daily plight endured by African Americans. Angelou's poems reveal the struggles that stemmed from her difficult childhood and the oppression of black people. Her parents had a turbulent relationship that eventually ended. They then sent Angelou and her brother Bailey to stay with Annie Henderson, her grandmother, in Stamps, Arkansas, at three years (Butler et al. 15). However, a traumatic event soon silenced Angelou's voice. Her stepfather sexually assaulted her at seven, and after her step father was convicted, he was killed by Angelou's uncles as revenge ("Maya Angelou"). Butler argues that

Surname 2 Angelou experienced anguish because she thought her decision to tell her family about the rape led to the rapist's death (Butler et al. 21). As a result of this psychological and emotional trauma, Angelou did not speak for six years and stayed with her grandmother in Stamps, Arkansas ("Maya Angelou Biography"). In the period when Angelou refrained from speaking, she rediscovered her voice and reignited her passion for poetry with mentorship from Mrs. Bertha Fields (Adhikary 2). Fields introduced her to the works of thinkers such as W.E.B. Dubois, Hughes Langston, as well as Paul Dunbar. This transformative experience played a significant role in Angelou's writing progression, particularly in light of her traumatic experience with sexual assault. It expedited her maturation process, propelling her from an innocent child to a more perceptive individual (Butler et al. 25). During high school, Maya Angelou continued to nurture her love for writing. Additionally, she fully engrossed herself in drama and dance while attending the California Labor School on a scholarship. However, her dance career was short-lived, and after its conclusion in 1944, she had an affair with an unidentified boyfriend, resulting in the birth of Guy Johnson, her son (Butler et al. 28). In her autobiography, she portrays the diverse array of jobs she took on to support herself. These jobs included working as a shake performer in nightclubs, a cook in burger joints, a cook in a Creole diner, a vehicle mechanic, and as a conductor. She took on various roles because her unknown high school boyfriend abruptly disappeared, leaving her without financial sustenance ("Maya Angelou"). In 1951, Angelou met and married her husband, Enistasious (Tosh) Angelou. Following her 1953 divorce from Tosh, she delved further into her acting, rapidly gaining momentum. She appeared in productions such as "Porgy and Bess" and in 1957, an off-Broadway show called "Calypso Heat Wave" ("Maya Angelou Biography").

Surname 3 Angelou’s writings thus echo the struggles for identities among oppressed minorities. For example, the poem "Harlem Hopscotch," written in 1969, highlights African American children's struggles in Harlem, New York. Angelou employs the Hopscotch metaphor to convey her subject that individuals must stay true to their views to assert their identity. The poem begins with Angelou incorporating the familiar directives of Hopscotch, using it to highlight the stark distinction between the persona's attitude to self-expression and the oppressive societal norms of mid-twentieth century America, particularly regarding equality for people of color (Widjayanti 144). Angelou writes, "One foot down, then hop! It is hot. Good things for the ones that are got. Another jump, now to the left. Everybody for himself" (1-4). Through these lines, she shows how society metaphorically obliges individuals to navigate from one place to another, persistent in a substandard value of life dictated by societal perceptions of what is "proper," solely based on variations in skin pigment between black and whites. The repressive directions symbolize mechanisms through which society suppresses any inclination towards rebellion, enforcing racial segregation and relegating African Americans to second-class citizenship. She proclaims, "In the air, now both feet down. Since you black, don't stick around. Food is gone; the rent is due, Curse and cry and then jump two" (5-8). This lines acknowledge that scarcity within their race leads to a struggle to comprehend their social circumstances, which deprive them of equal chances compared to their white colleagues. Nonetheless, the speaker's commitment to continued leaping stems from the longing to defy social constraints and pursue a meaningful life characterized by expression. Further, Angelou demonstrates the speaker's determination to challenge the societal norms imposed upon their race to bring about social adjustment (Awan 2). She restates, "All the people out of work, Hold for three, then twist and jerk. Cross the line; they count you out. That’s what hopping's all

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Surname 4 about. Both feet flat, the game is done. They think I lost. I think I won" (9-14). The persona refuses to conform to the prescribed guidelines that limit an African American's expectations in life as they strive to achieve their unique identity. The metaphor of "hopscotch" signifies the speaker's rebellion against the antiquated social criteria that divide blacks and whites, challenging the assumption that African Americans lack the intelligence and opportunities enjoyed by their white counterparts. Moreover, hopping symbolizes inclusiveness, as the speaker recognizes the significance of a future filled with boundless opportunities aligned with their true self and the ability to manifest their beliefs without hindrance. Additionally, Angelou’s fortitude represents minorities’ ability to overcome trauma. In her poem "The Lesson," Maya Angelou conveys her determination to pursue her life goals despite the enduring impact of her trauma. The poem begins with Angelou employing the hyperbole of death, expressing her figurative experience with dying repeatedly. She boldly states, "I keep on dying again" (1). This hyperbolic portrayal of death stems from her emotional trauma, leading her to question her ability to fulfill her aspirations. Angelou suggests that her encounters with death are rooted in the failures of previous activists who fought against the enduring systemic injustices faced by African Americans. Rather than succumbing to defeat in the face of hardship, Angelou justifies her unwavering commitment to persevere through the weight of pain until she achieves her goals, regardless of how many times she faces metaphorical death. In the final stanza, she reaffirms her resolve, declaring, "They dull my eyes, yet I keep on dying, Because I love to live" (12-14). Angelou acknowledges that her resilience stems from her deep love for life and unwavering commitment to embracing the present moment. This optimistic perspective empowers her to transcend anguish and suffering and confront future challenges with unwavering emotional strength. For Angelou, death and life coexist, as one must confront

Surname 5 moments of metaphorical death or adversity to truly appreciate the significance of achieving their goals. Maya Angelou's poem "When Great Trees Fall" depicts the profound impact of the death of a close friend and conveys a message of hope and courage in the healing process. In her poem "When Great Trees Fall," Maya Angelou utilizes the metaphor of a falling tree to explore the theme of finding hope and courage amidst the profound loss of a loved one. The poem begins with the metaphorical falling of a tree, symbolizing the effects of losing a confidant (Yustisiana 75). Angelou describes how the falling tree affects the surrounding environment, causing rocks to shudder, lions to seek safety, and elephants to move cautiously (1-6). By evoking this imagery, Angelou emphasizes the magnitude of grief and despair experienced by family, friends, and those who witness the loss. She aims to elicit empathy from her audience, allowing them to understand why individuals affected by death may exhibit signs of denial. She suggests that the impact of loss extends beyond those closest to the deceased, affecting people from various walks of life. Angelou implies that individuals, regardless of their proximity to the deceased, undergo periods of silence and struggle to comprehend their conflicting emotions. She describes the air becoming light, rare, and sterile, and memories becoming sharper as kind words remain unsaid and promised moments never experienced (12-24). Angelou captures the pain of unfulfilled connections and the regret of missed opportunities. She reveals her longing to express her love and spend more time with her lost friend, showcasing her understanding of loss and its profound effects. The fourth stanza delves deeper into the emotional impact of losing a close friend, emphasizing the soul-to-soul connection and the subsequent emotional withdrawal experienced by the bereaved (25-38). Angelou employs the second-person pronoun "we" to create a sense of collective identification with the unspeakable despair caused by the loss. She highlights death's

Surname 6 profound alteration, leaving individuals emotionally diminished and reduced to the darkness and isolation of their grief. In summary, Angelou's robust criticism of racial inequality in her poetry impacted the outcome of Civil Rights struggles, eradicating racism in the US. This monumental impact was significant in American history, recognizing African Americans as equal citizens to everyone else. Angelou's legacy reminds individuals to champion the causes they hold dear, driving meaningful social change. Although Maya Angelou passed on May 28th, 2014, her unwavering dedication to equality shall continue to inspire future generations of Americans.

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Surname 7 Works Cited Adhikary, Ramesh Prasad. "Gender and Racial Trauma in Angelou’s I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings." Afrrev Laligens: An International Journal of Language, Literature and Gender Studies 9.1 (2020): 1-12. Angelou, Maya. "Harlem Hopscotch." The Collected Poems of Maya Angelou, Random House, 1994, p. 151. Angelou, Maya. “The Lesson.” Poem Hunter. https://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-lesson-2/ Angelou, Maya. "When Great Trees Fall." I Shall Not Be Moved, edited by Jane Smith, XYZ Publishing, 1990, pp. 60-61. Awan, Hamza Rauf. "Art as Resistance: Black Aestheticism in Amiri Baraka’and Maya Angelou’s Selected Poetry." Language, Literature and Culture 4.1 (2021): 1-6. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Hamza-Awan- 3/publication/348499788_Hamza_Rauf_Awan_Art_as_Resistance_Black_Aestheticism_i n_Amiri_Baraka'_and_Maya_Angelou's_Selected_Poetry_Language/links/60016352928 51c13fe10d855/Hamza-Rauf-Awan-Art-as-Resistance-Black-Aestheticism-in-Amiri- Baraka-and-Maya-Angelous-Selected-Poetry-Language.pdf Butler, Rosa Johnson, et al. Maya Angelou: A Glorious Celebration. New York: Doubleday Broadway, 2008. “Maya Angelou.” Poetry Foundation, 2018, https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/maya-angelou

Surname 8 “Maya Angelou Biography.” A&E Television Networks, 27 February 2018, https://www.biography.com/people/maya-angelou-9185388 Widjayanti, Ellita Permata. "Building Humanity Values Through Maya Angelou's poems." Journal International Seminar on Languages, Literature, Arts, and Education (ISLLAE). Vol. 1. No. 1. 2019. https://journal.unj.ac.id/unj/index.php/isllae/article/view/10938 Yustisiana, Arielia. "THE CONCEPT OF HUMAN AND NATURE DESCRIBING GRIEVING STAGES IN MAYA ANGELOU’S “WHEN GREAT TREES FALL”." PARAFRASE: Jurnal Kajian Kebahasaan & Kesastraan 22.1 (2022): 75-87.

Maya Angelou

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