Diversity quotes maya angelou full#
Diversity quotes maya angelou tv#

Her life during this time sang with courage, and as this quote emphasizes, courage is the foundation of every other virtue. It covers her life from 1957-1962 when she traveled extensively through California, New York, Egypt, and Ghana, all while raising her teenage son, becoming a published author, and working in the Civil Rights Movement. The Heart of a Woman was Maya Angelou’s fourth autobiography. “Courage is the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can’t practice any other virtue consistently.” She faced many other difficulties in her life, but as her quote says, she was not reduced by any of them. At age 8, she was abused by her mother’s boyfriend, and after he was killed, Angelou went mute for almost five years. But I refuse to be reduced by it.”Īnother quote from Letter to My Daughter, these words are especially moving considering Maya Angelou’s life. It’s considered one of Angelou’s “wisdom books.” In just a few words, the quote above encapsulates how everyone must take action if they want anything to happen in their lives. It takes its title from the African-American spiritual “On My Journey Now.” In the book, Angelou shares insights into topics such as faith, grieving, racism and self-care. This quote is from Wouldn’t Take Nothing For My Journey Now, Angelou’s first book of essays published in 1993.

Diversity quotes maya angelou full#

As Angelou knows from personal experience, life is full of defeats, but they should not define our entire lives and prevent us from continuing on. Quotes like this emphasize the importance of resilience and hope. While Angelou has no daughters of her own, she wrote this book in honor of the many women who saw her as a mother figure. Letter to My Daughter, Maya Angelou’s third book of essays, was released in 2009. “We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated.” It’s fitting this quote comes from the first of Angelou’s autobiographies, which share the story of a life well-lived. First published in 1969, the autobiography describes Angelou’s life starting from when she was a 3-year-old sent to live with her grandmother to when she became a 16-year-old mother. This quote is from one of Maya Angelou’s most important books: I Know Why The Caged Birds Sings. “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” In this article, we’ll explore 15 of her most inspiring quotes found in books and interviews over her lifetime. She passed away in 2014 at age 86, but her words remain. Her work has won countless awards, and in 2011, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

She was active during the Civil Rights Movement and remained an activist for racial equality, gender equality, and social justice.

Diversity quotes maya angelou tv#

She published seven autobiographies, three books of essays, several books of poetry, plays, films, TV shows and more. Born in 1928, she worked just about every job you could imagine but became best known as a writer. Together we share the adventure of life’s great journey, although we may be at different places along the same path.Maya Angelou is one of the United States’ most interesting and important people. While I observe these differences, I refuse to focus on things that divide us. I prefer to look at what we share in common. Each person is special and I value the diversity of age, race, faith, education, politics, socioeconomic status and even personality. In my personal life, I am blessed to have many friends. Angelou closes her poem with these beautiful words: In her poe m Human Family she says, “ In minor ways we differ, in major we’re the same.” One of my favorite quotes comes from Maya Angelou. (Wouldn’t it be nice if candidates for political office did the same during an election year?) Second, it must prompt us to focus on the ways we are alike so we can build upon those things that unite us. First, it must prompt us to value the humanity and unique talents that each individual brings into the world. When I concentrate only on my differences with others, I tend to become angry, bitter or even vengeful.ĭiversity works best when it balances two things. Obsessing on ways we are each different can goad me into being competitive or even combative. Diversity can quickly divide rather than unite. Yet, as much as I value diversity, I also recognize its downside. I value the perspective of those who challenge me to see the world from a different vantage point. My creativity flourishes when I’m surrounded by individuals who are different than I am. My education would have been shallow and boring if everyone had thought alike.Īt my work, diversity creates a stronger, more productive team.

In college, I engaged in vigorous debates with professors and fellow students.

The more colors available, the greater my options for creating a refrigerator-worthy objet d’art. In kindergarten, I liked going to art class with a big box of crayons. I love being surrounded by people who bring different, more colorful perspectives to life.