Dr. Maya Angelou is known around the world for her moving poetry, and special way with words. Born in 1928, Maya Angelou moved the hearts of millions during her life. Her legacy continued even after her death in 2014. She spoke many languages including French, Spanish, Italian and West African Fanti. Before poetry, she started her career in drama and dance. Throughout the duration of her career she published ten best-selling books and received Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award nominations. One of her biggest achievements was in 1993 when President Clinton requested her at his presidential inauguration where she wrote and delivered a poem for him. Dr. Angelou’s poems constantly remind the world that we are all in this together, and we must stand together to create harmony and peace. Her poem “Human Family” reminds us that we all aren’t so different from each other.
“Human Family”
I note the obvious differences
in the human family.
Some of us are serious,
some thrive on comedy.
Some declare their lives are lived
as true profundity,
and others claim they really live
the real reality.
The variety of our skin tones
can confuse, bemuse, delight,
brown and pink and beige and purple,
tan and blue and white.
I’ve sailed upon the seven seas
and stopped in every land,
I’ve seen the wonders of the world
not yet one common man.
I know ten thousand women
called Jane and Mary Jane,
but I’ve not seen any two
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