Dr. Maya Angelou _ Biblical Wisdom_8 Signs a Woman Is Protected by God from Evil People
Dr. Maya Angelou _ Biblical Wisdom_8 Signs a Woman Is Protected by God from Evil People Maya Angelou, born Marguerite Annie Johnson on April 4, 1928, in St. Louis, Missouri, emerged as one of the most celebrated literary voices, cultural icons, and activists of the twentieth century. Throughout her extraordinary life, Angelou wore many hats—poet, memoirist, dancer, singer, actress, director, educator, and activist. More than any title, however, she became a symbol of resilience, freedom, and dignity. Her legacy is preserved not only in the art she created but in the lives she touched. This biography, approaching 4000 words, seeks to illuminate the many dimensions of her journey—from a childhood marked by hardship to her rise as a global beacon of hope and inspiration. Maya Angelou was born Marguerite Annie Johnson to Bailey Johnson and Vivian Baxter. When she was very young, her parents’ marriage dissolved, and she and her brother, Bailey Jr., were sent alone by train to live with their grandmother in Stamps, Arkansas. Life in Stamps was difficult: it exposed Angelou to both the nurturing stability of her grandmother and the harsh realities of racial prejudice in the segregated South. At the age of seven, a traumatic experience changed the course of her life. Angelou was sexually abused by her mother’s boyfriend. When she confided in her family, the man was arrested but quickly released. Soon after, he was killed—likely by members of Angelou’s family. Convinced that her words had caused his death, Angelou fell into selective mutism, refusing to speak to anyone except her brother for nearly five years. During this time of silence, she immersed herself in reading literature, poetry, and memorizing works from Shakespeare, Black poets such as Paul Laurence Dunbar, and African folklore. This period cultivated her love for language and deepened her inner world. Angelou’s teenage years were equally turbulent. At sixteen, she became the first African American female streetcar conductor in San Francisco, breaking racial and gender barriers. At 17, she gave birth to her only son, Guy Johnson, as a single mother. Despite these challenges, she pursued work wherever she could find it, from waitressing to dancing. In the late 1940s and 1950s, Angelou discovered her talents as a performer. She studied dance and drama, and her career took her across the globe. She toured internationally as a dancer and singer, adopting the stage name “Maya” (a childhood nickname given by her brother) and “Angelou” (derived from her married surname, Angelos). Performing calypso and modern dance, she became known not only for her artistry but for her commanding presence. Angelou’s career blossomed in the arts. She recorded calypso albums, performed in theater productions, and toured internationally with the opera Porgy and Bess. Her artistry introduced her to a cosmopolitan lifestyle, living and performing in Europe and Africa. These experiences enriched her worldview and later infused her writing with multicultural perspectives. Angelou broke barriers in Hollywood. She appeared in films and television shows, including Calypso Heatwave (1957) and the miniseries Roots (1977). She was among the first African American women to direct and write for film at a time when the industry was overwhelmingly male and white-dominated. Her directorial work, such as the 1998 film Down in the Delta, demonstrated her vision and capacity to tell stories of identity and resilience. Angelou is best known for her seven-volume autobiographical series, beginning with I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969). The book candidly recounts her childhood, trauma, and early experiences with racism and sexism. Its success was groundbreaking: a Black woman writing openly about such subjects was revolutionary. The book received critical acclaim, was nominated for the National Book Award, and remains a staple in schools and universities. Her subsequent autobiographies—Gather Together in My Name (1974), Singin’ and Swingin’ and Gettin’ Merry Like Christmas (1976), The Heart of a Woman (1981), All God’s Children Need Traveling Shoes (1986), A Song Flung Up to Heaven (2002), and Mom & Me & Mom (2013)—collectively form a remarkable tapestry of her life. They chronicle not only her personal journey but also the evolving cultural and political landscape of the twentieth century. Angelou’s poetry, meanwhile, solidified her status as a literary giant. Collections like Phenomenal Woman and And Still I Rise celebrate resilience, pride, and the beauty of Black womanhood. Her ability to combine musicality, simplicity, and depth gave her poetry universal appeal.
