Question

What was Maya Angelou's contribution to the Anti-Racist movement?

Answer 1

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Yesterday, a true hero of the African diaspora passed away. In contemporary times, when sports stars and celebrities are the most common recipients of heroic and legendary descriptions, we must take a moment to appreciate the life and work of Dr. Maya Angelou.

Born in Missouri in 1928, Dr. Angelou overcame not only the almost insurmountable barriers facing Black women in pre-civil rights America, but personal adversities and abuses that are unthinkable to most. Through her great personal and collective struggles Angelou went on to become one of the most successful and inspirational people in America. The inextricable links between personal and collective struggles is best exemplified by Angelou when she says:

‘Each time a woman stands up for herself, without knowing it possibly, without claiming it, she stands up for all women.’A champion of gender and race equality, it is perhaps the wide-ranging reach of Angelou’s work that is most impressive. As a writer, playwright, political commentator, poet, educator and director, Angelou spoke to, and inspired, diverse audiences through multiple platforms. The ability to transcend audiences ranging from established scholars and activists, to the children of all ages who would read her books, perhaps stands as her most impressive achievement. As Neubaeur states in Southern Women Writers: The New Generation, Angelou became a ‘spokesperson for Blacks and women, but also for all people who are committed to raising the moral standards of living in the United States.’ Even this understates the influence of Angelou as her work had influence across the world. Doreen Lawrence, recently named the number one ‘game changer’ by Woman’s Hour,  has long stated her admiration for Angelou.