Maya Angelou: The Power of Voice

By ShayLa Blake

The month of February isn’t just the month of love; it's also an important month for the African American community. During black history month, it’s important to recognize the pillars of African American history and what they’ve done for their culture and our society as a whole. We take this month to recognize the strides amazing African American people have taken to spread change, to help future generations of African Americans, and make their voices heard. And every time I think of an African American individual who made their voice heard I think of Maya Angelou.

Maya Angelou is not only an African American icon, she is a poetic icon as well. It is fitting to honor the most searched female poet during Black History Month and National Poetry Month. Angelou Is most commonly recognized by her autobiography, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. In the novel, you can find her life journey and learn about her struggles growing up in times of segregation and her personal hardships.

Besides her novel and her triumphs for the African American community Maya is also known for a specific period of her life where she was mute, due to traumatic experiences in her childhood. This is such an important time in Maya’s life because she began to talk again whenever she discovered her love of writing.

From the hardships of her broken home and chaotic upbringing we were given one of the most powerful and important voices of all time. With poems such as “Caged Bird” and “Still I Rise” she inspires through her words the importance of letting your voice be heard. In the words of Maya herself -

“A bird doesn’t sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song.”

You can find more information about Maya and her work on her website and you can also follow her on Instagram.