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Maya Angelou was born on April 4, 1928 in St. Louis, Missouri, as Marguerite Annie Johnson. The struggle against a heavily racist and sexist world rang through the liberating words of Angelou.  This was a time of deep poverty. Ms. Angelou published 36 books in her lifetime, including seven autobiographies, volumes of poetry, essay collections, cookbooks and children's books.

She rose to fame in 1969 after she published, "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings." She wrote about her childhood and teenage years in this book touching on her struggles with rape, racial identity and sexism. It sold millions of copies and influenced many lives.

1. Circumstances do not determine your destiny.

When she was 16 Maya found out she was pregnant.

“I was scared to pieces. Back then, if you had money, there were some girls who got abortions, but I couldn’t deal with that idea. Oh, no. No. I knew there was somebody inside me. So I decided to keep the baby.

Finally, three weeks before I was due, I left a note on my stepfather’s pillow telling him I was pregnant. He told my mother.

I’ll never forget what she said: “Now tell me this — do you love the boy?” I said no. “Does he love you?” I said no. “Then there’s no point in ruining three lives. We are going to have our baby!”

I’m telling you that the best decision I ever made was keeping that baby! Yes, absolutely. Guy was a delight from the start — so good, so bright, and I can’t imagine my life without him. I struggled, sure. We lived hand-to-mouth, but it was really heart-to-hand. Guy had love and laughter and a lot of good reading and poetry as a child. Having my son brought out the best in me and enlarged my life. Whatever he missed, he himself is a great father today. He was once asked what it was like growing up in Maya Angelou’s shadow, and he said, “I always thought I was in her light.” ( Family Circle Magazine; October 8, 2001)

2. Blessings come in disguise

After her encounter with sexual abuse, she spent five years in voluntary silence. That time and the experiences of her life may have fostered her unique sensitivity to sound and words. It may have created an appreciation for seeing not only the beauty in the world around her but also in recognizing the weight of her voice and words.

3. Beauty can come from the deepest pain.

Maya Angelou was born on April 4, 1928 in St. Louis, Missouri, as Marguerite Annie Johnson. The struggle against a heavily racist and sexist world rang through the liberating words of Angelou.  This was a time of deep poverty. Ms. Angelou published 36 books in her lifetime, including seven autobiographies, volumes of poetry, essay collections, cookbooks and children's books.

She rose to fame in 1969 after she published, "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings." She wrote about her childhood and teenage years in this book touching on her struggles with rape, racial identity and sexism. It sold millions of copies and influenced many lives.

4. Nothing can replace the beauty of a human voice.

Maya found hope when a  teacher introduced her to literature at a formative age, and she fell under the spell of Charles Dickens, William Shakespeare and Edgar Allan Poe.  Her literary influences included Poe, Shakespeare, Frederick Douglas, Thomas Paine and Matthew Arnold.

Nikky Finney, who won the 2011 National Book Award for poetry and currently teaches at the University of South Carolina, called Ms. Angelou "a mountain of a human being."

"I grew up a young poet in South Carolina looking for light in the sky, looking for poets, especially black women writers who were doing what I wanted to do with my life. And Dr. Angelou was one of the brightest lights that was out there for me,"said. Ms. Finney, age 56. "Hers was a story for us all. She was proudly African American but she was passionately human."

5. "You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them"- Maya Angelou

In her lifetime, and now after, Maya Angelou influenced many people. Who would have known that a girl who grew up in poverty would influence so many? She could have easily given in to her circumstances, but she did not. One of the most inspiring women of our time came from the most unusual circumstances. Don’t let your circumstances define you. Everyone has an unique story. The Words of Others can influence. Your Words Can influence. Read. Write. Speak!