important a survivor. Perhaps Maya Angelou, award winning author of many books is one of the most

influential African Americans in American history. I believe that she rates at the top of the list of

American authors, with Hemingway, Hawthorne, and Voight. I believe through my research and reading of

Maya Angelou that she should be among the members of The American Authors Hall of Fame.

Maya was born on, April 4th, 1928 as Marguerite Johnson, in St. Louis Missouri. She was raised

in Stamps Arkansas, by her Grandmother Annie Henderson and Her Uncle Willie. Stamps was a rural

segregated community. However, it was tight knit between the African Americans.

Maya grew up during a very difficult time period in American history. They were just recovering from the

Great Depression, and learning how to deal with different races of people. Maya knew this and made it

"It was awful to be Negro and have no control over my life. It was brutal to be

young and already trained to sit quietly and listen to charges brought against my color

with no chance of defense. We should be dead. I

Christian Leadership conference. President Gerald Ford also influenced Maya by appointing her to the

Maya moved to West Africa, and took up the job as a professor at The University of Ghana.

Maya Angelou has touched the live of thousands of people through her books, speeches, and just her

in Ghana, Africa. Here she felt that it didn't matter if she was black, because everybody else was.

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Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)