Remembering the Heart of a Phenomenal Black Woman

Maya Angelou is one of the first names to come to mind, when I think of a phenomenal black woman. Her autobiography titled: "The Heart of a Woman" is an inspirational birds-eye-view into her life and relationships, primarily between her and her son.

Throughout the book, it is abundantly clear that during her many life travels; which includes the time she spent in Africa; motherhood was a central and important theme to her.

The weightiness of her role as a mother and black woman is evident throughout The Heart of a Woman, as well as all the rest of Angelou's autobiographies.

African American Women Poets

When it comes to writing about social injustice, Maya Angelou is among the many African American women who have written memorable words to live by.

Ms. Angelou is most certainly in good company, with the likes of another phenomenal African American woman and fellow poet, Georgia Douglas Johnson.

In fact, in case someone wants to know who she was, and what was the first poem written by Georgia Douglas Johnson, the answer would be The Heart of a Woman.

The Heart of a Woman

By Georgia Douglas Johnson - Poetry Foundation

The heart of a woman goes forth with the dawn,

As a lone bird, soft winging, so restlessly on,

Afar o'er life's turrets and vales does it roam

In the wake of those echoes the heart calls home.

The heart of a woman falls back with the night,

And enters some alien cage in its plight,

And tries to forget it has dreamed of the stars

While it breaks, breaks, breaks on the sheltering bars.

How fitting, that this poem is what helped provide inspiration for Maya Angelou's "The Heart of a Woman" autobiography.

Just like in Maya Angelou's own writings, Georgia Douglas Johnson did a splendid job in her poem, to show the strength and fortitude of a woman, particularly black women.

Johnson is mentioned as a noteworthy figure, in connection to the Harlem Renaissance.

There is abundant wisdom to be gained from Maya Angelou's poems and plays. Interestingly enough, while her words can easily be applied to the many injustices that black men and women face every day, they can also be applied to everyday situations in life that have nothing to do with race, but rather, with human nature.

What Quotes are Maya Angelou famous for?

There are two in particular that come to mind, and they are two my favorites.

"When people show you who they are, believe them."

"What you DO speaks so LOUD that I cannot hear what you say."

What is the most famous poem Maya Angelou is famous for?

"Still I Rise" is the most famous poem that Maya Angelou is famous for; at least that is what most people would agree, even Ms. Angelou herself.

Yep! She's been known to tell interviewers that she apparently gets the same enjoy as the rest of us get from the poem.

Phenomenal Black Women

While I would be the first to agree that Still I Rise is an excellent expression of determination and self awareness, I have to admit, I actually put Maya Angelou's Phenomenal Woman at the top of my list.

How can you not be a woman; any woman, and not absolutely love this poem? Black, white, red, yellow, purple with pink polka dots; if you identify with womanhood, then you should embrace how phenomenal you are, just as Maya Angelou did, in her poem and in her life. One of my favorite lines from the Phenomenal woman poem is:

"They try so much, but they can't touch my inner mystery."

Even with Maya Angelou's many travels to places like Ghana, Egypt and Sweden; she's been quoted as having said one of her most important journey's was what she described as "…a voyage into the self."

Phenomenal women seek self discovery and self awareness. They pursue peace and fight in whatever way they can, for social justice and social change. Maya Angelou, the famous poet, playwright, and phenomenal black woman provides an excellent model for women all over the world, and for those who claim to love us.

REFLECTIONS:

How much do you know about this talented African American poet and phenomenal black woman?

• Maya Angelou was the first African American streetcar conductor in San Francisco
• Maya Angelou taught drama and music in Ghana, Africa.
• Maya Angelou did work editing a newspaper in Egypt.
• Maya Angelou studied cinematography in Sweden.
• Maya Angelou read her poem: On the Pulse of Morning at Bill Clinton's inauguration.

******************************************************

FOLLOW ME FOR MORE NOTABLE PROFILES, STORIES AND ARTICLES - Enjoy a little bit of Justiss every day :-)