Dr. Maya Angelou is best known as a poet, educator, historian, best-selling author, actress, playwright, civil-rights activist, producer and director. I personally will always remember her as an intellectual and a strong black woman. Even when I didn't know that much about this remarkable woman, something about just hearing her name gave me good spirits. Now just being able to get to know her a little more has touched my heart. When Maya speaks, everyone listens and not because it is mandatory, but because it is a valuable opportunity to listen to the exceptional words that are spoken as if a well prepared speech were written. I will look at her as a great role model and always value her as the mentor I never had.
Wouldn't Take Nothing for My Journey Now is not just another novel written by Dr. Angelou, but inspiring words to live by and believe in. Some of the things that are said in this book are so preeminent that I listed some of them as my favorite quotes for facebook. For me that's pretty major because I don't just list anything and I feel that I want others to see how amazing Maya Angelou really is. I believe in the phrase “You can't know where you're headed until you know where you've been”, and obviously Dr. Angelou believes in this phrase as well. She's been through everything from her parents abandoning her, to rape, to traveling to Ghana. I've noticed that with all these experiences that she's been through whether good or bad, she's manifested her wisdom that she acquired through writing, teaching, and giving.
Many of the chapters from Wouldn't Take Nothing for My Journey Now really touched me in some way and caused me to think deeply about what was being said. This isn't a fiction book which was how I knew that she meant and put great thought into everything she said. What I liked the most about the book was the style. The way that she introduced topics then talked about personal experiences but was still able to talk eloquently without becoming too graphic so the reader can look at things positively.
In the chapter, “In all ways a woman” she talks about how being a woman is hard work. That a woman has to be tender and tough if they want to survive and understand the fact that she, her values, and her choices are important. I agree with that completely because since the history that dates back to around 1619 when slaves were just arriving to America, women have always been considered less important. We have always had to prove ourselves more than a man otherwise we become completely powerless. “She must resist considering herself a lesser version of her male counterpart.” So in order for women to act as independent and tough individuals we must think in that way first. She also says that it's important for women to maintain a good sense of humor because it lengthens the life span. I know that having a good sense of humor is a way for people to cope with negative events that happen. By staying positive and using sense of humor it will take away a lot of stress that comes with being depressed.
“It is wise to take the time to develop one's own way of being, increasing those things one does well and eliminating the elements in one's character which can hinder and diminish the good personality.” This quote which is taken from the chapter “Style” is also one of the quotes I put on my facebook page. She talks about how style is important because it's how a person carries themselves, whether it's by what they say or what they wear, we should always pay attention. Style is something that cannot just be copied because that is a part of what makes you who you are. Angelou says that “Style is as unique and non transferable and perfectly personal as a fingerprint”. My style is very personalized because I wear what I feel like wearing and if people don't like it, that's fine and if people do then I am flattered. Either way I'm not going to “bite” someone else's style because that's unnecessary. At the end of the day I'm going to be the one walking around in my shoes so why should I have others affect what I'm going to wear? She also talks about how good manners and tolerance are the highest recognition of style. I pride myself on being someone that has very good manners and knows how to respect elders. I feel that some people posses that quality more than others simply because of how they were brought up. My parents always stressed that being respectful and saying courteous things like “please” and thank you” were important. I'm also very patient which is why I don't get angry or violent quickly, I think this quality is also why I work with children so well.
