Who Mentored Maya Angelou?
Maya Angelou is hailed as one of the great voices of contemporary literature and as a remarkable Renaissance woman. She is a poet, educator, historian, best-selling author, actress, playwright, civil-rights activist, producer and director. Dr. Angelou has authored twelve best-selling books including I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings and her current best-seller A Song Flung Up to Heaven. Mrs. Flowers took me to the library in the black school. The library was probably as large as a telephone booth. It may have had 110 books in it, maybe. She said, “I want you to read every book in this room.” And I found poetry. And I loved it, I just loved it. I had no idea what it would sound like since I had never heard any recited, but I loved it. And I was able to translate it at 8, at 9, at 10. I consider that a lifeline, because finally, when I was about 12 and a half, almost 13, Mrs. Flowers — who would allow me to come to her house and she would read to me — when I was almost 13 she said, you w
