Phenomenal Women by: Maya Angelou

1. Phenomenal Women by: Maya Angelou Naquesha Y. Gibbs English 9(1B)

2. Introduction • This poem is better than the others I have read because Maya Angelou uses different types of figurative languages. She also explains how she is or someone else a phenomenal women. • Social, Religious, or Moral Factors affect my judgment because Maya Angelou is giving everyone courage about how to be proud of who you are • The main difference between liking it and thinking it’s good is liking something you think it has potential but if its good it has potential and it has meaning • This poem is similar to a song I like because it rhymes and has a meaning, most songs I listen to have meaning.

3. Author’s Biography • Born: April 4,1928(Age 85) St. Louis, MO • She attend George Washington High School • She was raped by her mothers boyfriend at age 7 • Her brother Bailey gave her the name “Maya” • Once Maya's uncles found out she was raped by the mother’s boyfriend they beat him to death. Maya felt as if it was her fault that he was beaten to death because she spoke of his name she refused to speak • The first poem she wrote was “Caged Birds Sings” explaining her childhood • Maya Angelou had many different careers including begin the first female black director and working for as a civil activist for Malcolm X and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

4. More Facts • Born Marguerite Johnson but changed her name after marrying Tosh Angelou(sailor) to make her singing name more appealing • Has a son named Guy • While living in Africa she learned Fanti(West African language), French, Italian, Spanish, and Arabic • She had been invited by 3 past presidents to be served as a board member

5. History • Angelou had many different career as singer, dancer, actress, composer, & Hollywood's first female black director but she’s most famous for writing, editor, essayist, playwright, and poetry • Age 7 she was raped by her mother’s boyfriend, so her uncle’s killed him, she took a vow of silence and fell in love with poetry then her teacher got her to talk again

6. Culture • Angelou is also prolific and widely read poet, through her poetry has often been lauded more for it’s context praising black beauty, strength of women, and the human sprit criticizing the Vietnam war, demanding social justice for all than for it’s poetic virtue

7. Social • “I Know why Caged Birds Sings” is the first of Angelou’s 6 autobiographies . It’s widely taught in school’s which faced controversy over its portrayal of race, sexual abuse, and violence

8. Conclusion • Therefore that’s why the moral of Maya’s Angelou’s Phenomenal Women poem is that beauty is not everything. • When she said “It’s the fire in my eyes”, “Men themselves have wondered what they see in me”, and “The grace of my style” she is describing her body features. In our eyes as people mainly we see beauty on the outside but it only counts for what’s in the inside. So we shouldn’t judge because everyone is beautiful in their own way.

9. Work Cited • http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/178942 • http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryid=1085#