Remembering Maya Angelou

Literary legend and civil rights activist, Maya Angelou died today at the age of 86. During her prolific career she published seven autobiographies, three books of essays and several books of poetry.

Beyond her words though, she will be remembered for her spirit.

For many people, Angelou’s rags to riches story is the ultimate inspiration. She endured a challenging childhood, faced brutal racism, worked as a prostitute, and still emerged as one of the most recognizable writers of our time.

Angelou captivated generations with her words.

“You can put yourself in her experiences and you can still align it with experiences that you’ve gone through.”

Angelou used her writing to express the brutalities of her early life.

Her autobiography “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” chronicles the vicious racism she faced in the Deep South and a rape at age 8 by her mother’s boyfriend.

“To be able to come out of that and achieve all the goals that she’s achieved, but still telling people that all the things you’ve gone through, they make you who you are and that’s a good thing,” says Hamilton activist Queen Cee.

The arts became her saviour when she won a dance and drama scholarship. Over the course of her career she’s been nominated for the Pulitzer Prize, won three Grammy awards and earned more than 30 honorary degrees.

“Very, very prolific but trying so many things, expressing her beliefs and her art in so many different ways,” says musician Rita Chiarelli.

Her poetry has left a lasting legacy, but many will remember her as an activist before an artist.

Angelou was a passionate supporter of the civil rights movement and women’s empowerment, and her mantras will continue to resonate with those she inspired.

“You can do just about anything that you try. If you want it bad enough you can do it,” says Chiarelli.

Angelou shared motivation even as her health failed, posting a final message to her twitter followers on May 23: “Listen to yourself and in that quietude you might hear the voice of God.”