Introduction
We all have a journey in life: every man and woman. For, women, in particular, the journey is a bit different; Maya Angelou’s journey is a part of the reason she wrote and became the woman she was. Men, Still I Rise, and Phenomenal Woman particularly focus on the phases that women have gone and go through in life.
Maya Angelou Background Information
Maya Angelou was born April 4, 1928, in St. Louis Missouri. In 1936, after being molested by her mother’s boyfriend, Maya Angelou stopped speaking. While mute, Angelou found solace in works by authors such as Harlem Renaissance poet Langston Hughes; W.E.B. Dubois of the Progressive Era; Shakespeare; Edgar Allen Poe; and Charles Dickens over the years. At the age of twelve Angelou regained her speech. In 1940, Angelou graduated at the top of her class, with honors, from Lafayette Country Training School. At the age of seventeen after graduating from high school she gave birth to her son Guy. In the 1960s, Angelou traveled overseas to Ghana as well as Cairo. Angelou had moved to Ghana to become an editor for The Arab Observer. While in Ghana, Angelou wrote for the Ghanaian Times. In 1969 her first autobiographical work, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, was published. Leaving her footstep, over the years Angelou was many things a mother, a civil rights activist, a poet, and autobiographer. (Agins) (Bloom) Targeted Audience Although May Angelou’s works are read, studied, and analyzed by people of all walks of life today; at the time, they were written her targeted audience was Black women in particular. Maya Angelou is quoted saying: “I write because I am a Black woman, listening attentively to her talking people” (Shades). If you were to say: Angelou’s works have influenced women and paved the way for some helping them finding that extra confidence or that sense of self-acclimation you would be right. Knowing that other women go through this life journey and that it takes time to achieve the title of “phenomenal woman,” is empowering in itself. Men: A Woman’s Virtue One of the key stepping stones in being a woman is trying to remain virtuous and staying true to who you are and your beliefs. Angelou’s Men is centralized around the topic of sex. More importantly the importance of a woman’s virtue, and how it frails in comparison to that of how a man views it. As young women, we’ve all had “the talk,” telling us that ‘patience is a virtue’ and “once it’s [your virtue] gone you’ll never get it back.” This last set of quotations is not only an import piece of advice my mother has given but also lyrics from one of my favorite songs by Lyfe Jennings featuring LaLa Brown “S.E.X.” In this song, Lyfe goes on to stress the importance of a woman’s virtue. This song shows that Angelou’s work is interpreted by different people in different styles: Be strong Honey don’t give in Blessings come with patience Until we meet again, I’m praying, for you. These lyrics show that what was talked about then is just as much of an important subject matter today as it was yesterday (Jennings). While I’ve never heard the male’s version of …show more content…
When I see the word phenomenal, I also think confident and knowledgeable. I must say Angelou had the right idea when she took note of her flaws, as well as, what she believed made her phenomenal. It truly take a remarkable person to admit their dislikes and wear them with elegance. The way she carries herself and her expressionisms are all contributing factors.
Every day women both young and matured struggle with accepting who they are and being able to feel exceptional about themselves. Whether it is fighting the stigmatisms or trying to live up to expectations that someone else has set. Young women both today and yesterday have been limited to the things their allowed to do because they are a girl. Through this poem, Angelou is saying be who you are, see your beauty and your worth. If you see something you want to go after it and be phenomenal at it. Phenomenal Woman is Angelou knowing who she is and being comfortable with that
We all have a journey in life: every man and woman. For, women, in particular, the journey is a bit different; Maya Angelou’s journey is a part of the reason she wrote and became the woman she was. Men, Still I Rise, and Phenomenal Woman particularly focus on the phases that women have gone and go through in life.
Maya Angelou Background Information
Maya Angelou was born April 4, 1928, in St. Louis Missouri. In 1936, after being molested by her mother’s boyfriend, Maya Angelou stopped speaking. While mute, Angelou found solace in works by authors such as Harlem Renaissance poet Langston Hughes; W.E.B. Dubois of the Progressive Era; Shakespeare; Edgar Allen Poe; and Charles Dickens over the years. At the age of twelve Angelou regained her speech. In 1940, Angelou graduated at the top of her class, with honors, from Lafayette Country Training School. At the age of seventeen after graduating from high school she gave birth to her son Guy. In the 1960s, Angelou traveled overseas to Ghana as well as Cairo. Angelou had moved to Ghana to become an editor for The Arab Observer. While in Ghana, Angelou wrote for the Ghanaian Times. In 1969 her first autobiographical work, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, was published. Leaving her footstep, over the years Angelou was many things a mother, a civil rights activist, a poet, and autobiographer. (Agins) (Bloom) Targeted Audience Although May Angelou’s works are read, studied, and analyzed by people of all walks of life today; at the time, they were written her targeted audience was Black women in particular. Maya Angelou is quoted saying: “I write because I am a Black woman, listening attentively to her talking people” (Shades). If you were to say: Angelou’s works have influenced women and paved the way for some helping them finding that extra confidence or that sense of self-acclimation you would be right. Knowing that other women go through this life journey and that it takes time to achieve the title of “phenomenal woman,” is empowering in itself. Men: A Woman’s Virtue One of the key stepping stones in being a woman is trying to remain virtuous and staying true to who you are and your beliefs. Angelou’s Men is centralized around the topic of sex. More importantly the importance of a woman’s virtue, and how it frails in comparison to that of how a man views it. As young women, we’ve all had “the talk,” telling us that ‘patience is a virtue’ and “once it’s [your virtue] gone you’ll never get it back.” This last set of quotations is not only an import piece of advice my mother has given but also lyrics from one of my favorite songs by Lyfe Jennings featuring LaLa Brown “S.E.X.” In this song, Lyfe goes on to stress the importance of a woman’s virtue. This song shows that Angelou’s work is interpreted by different people in different styles: Be strong Honey don’t give in Blessings come with patience Until we meet again, I’m praying, for you. These lyrics show that what was talked about then is just as much of an important subject matter today as it was yesterday (Jennings). While I’ve never heard the male’s version of …show more content…
When I see the word phenomenal, I also think confident and knowledgeable. I must say Angelou had the right idea when she took note of her flaws, as well as, what she believed made her phenomenal. It truly take a remarkable person to admit their dislikes and wear them with elegance. The way she carries herself and her expressionisms are all contributing factors.
Every day women both young and matured struggle with accepting who they are and being able to feel exceptional about themselves. Whether it is fighting the stigmatisms or trying to live up to expectations that someone else has set. Young women both today and yesterday have been limited to the things their allowed to do because they are a girl. Through this poem, Angelou is saying be who you are, see your beauty and your worth. If you see something you want to go after it and be phenomenal at it. Phenomenal Woman is Angelou knowing who she is and being comfortable with that