Maya Angelou. Just by writing her name, I feel so much warmth and joy. I kept seeing her name in those unimaginative Instagram quotes, but never really bothered to look up who she is. Until one day, a feature documentary appears in front of me on Netflix, on her life, entitled: And Still, I Rise.
I’m like: Oooh, her name rings the bell. Isn’t she the one who has all those quotes on social media published? Let’s check this out.
Turns out, she was really someone special:
American Maya Angelou was a cook, a sex worker, a nightclub performer and singer, actress, writer, director, and producer of plays, movies, and public television programs, a poet, memoirist, and civil rights activist. She was active in the Civil Rights Movement and worked closely together with Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. She was widely respected as a spokesperson for black people and women. Her most celebrated book, titled I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is an iconic memoir of her early years in life. She recited her poem “On the Pulse of Morning” (1993) at the first inauguration of Bill Clinton and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Barack Obama. She received dozens of awards and more than 50 honorary degrees.
The documentary on her life was taken off Netflix, and I couldn’t find it online for months. And now, as I’m writing this, I found it on Vimeo and thought this deserves to be shared:
I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I did. It’s one of those films that make a lasting impact on you.
There’s so much wisdom, hope and compassion in this moving documentary. When you have a chance to watch, I’d love to know:
What is the single biggest insight that resonates with you? Share in the comments below and let me know.
Thank you so much for reading, for watching and for sharing.
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Gabriella Ferenczi 
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