Maya Angelou: a Catalyst for Change in the Pursuit of Civil Rights

Introduction

” Ask for what you want and be prepared to get it!.” African Americans had to fight for basic rights in society, and still, to this day, they are still fighting because they are not being treated right. Maya Angelou is a catalyst for change because the voice of her life tells us that in the midst of our fixed. In society, true change happens slowly, against the greatest odds, and with an extra helping of pain and suffering. One of the many great civil rights activists in America has a kind of transcendentalism/romanticism idea on the whole civil rights movement, Maya Angelou.

Maya Angelou is a strong choice for this project because she is one of those voices: a voice of change, a voice of courage, and most importantly, a voice of perseverance.

Angelou’s Role in the Civil Rights Movement

The social issue is that african Americans always had to fight for equality. For example, The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. Yet, states still found ways to circumvent the Constitution and prevent blacks from voting. Poll taxes, literacy tests, fraud, and intimidation all turned African Americans away from the polls. Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks argue for it because they discriminate against us from everybody else. They also acknowledge that we need to stand up and fight for it because it’s the basic right everyone should have. Ms.Angelou quotes, “It is impossible to struggle for civil rights, equal rights for blacks, without including whites. Because equal rights, fair play, and justice are all like the air: we all have it, or none of us has it. That is the truth of it.” With this quote, she is saying if one does not have one, then we all don’t because we still don’t give each other equality. It demonstrates that it has been hard to change the political views of people.

Maya Angelou’s life plays a big part in what she believes in and stands up for. She was raised in St. Louis and Stamps, Arkansas, and during those times, it was very segregated. Angelou’s family background was strained because her parents split up when she was very young, and she had to live with her grandmother. Her death was tragic to everyone, but they showed it some because she had heart problems and also started to look frail. Before she died, President Barack Obama named her a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the country’s highest civilian honor. Her upbringing had a lot to do with her passion and what she stood up for in life.
With all the great accomplishments that Ms.Angelou got, they impact her and everyone around her. One of her accomplishments was she was the first black woman to write a screenplay for a major film. With that accomplishment, it shows that we still have that barrier between us as it states that “first black women.” So that means nobody is for her. That was a black woman who got that. It just shows that we have some deep ethnophaulisms going on right now.

A Lot of people claim that there is equality and no racism; also, it’s no longer an issue, but sadly, it is the reality of today. Most people don’t understand or not be aware that it’s happening, and if they don’t understand, it includes (protecting individual freedom from infringement by governments and social organizations. Also, They ensure one’s ability to participate in the civil and political life of the society and state without discrimination ). Maya Angelou kind of started this fight because she had to fight for her own right, but we need to continue her legacy by continuing to fight for equality.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Maya Angelou is a strong choice for this project because she is one of those voices: a voice of change, a voice of courage, and most importantly, a voice of perseverance. We have made great progress over the years, but society’s true change happens slowly, against the greatest odds, and with an extra helping of pain and suffering. With all the great help from our fellow civil rights activists, we owe them a big thank you for all the fight and hardships they went through for us so we can have basic rights and equality.

References

1. “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” by Maya Angelou

2. “The Heart of a Woman” by Maya Angelou

3. “And Still I Rise” by Maya Angelou

4. “Gather Together in My Name” by Maya Angelou

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