As the fourth of seven books in her autobiographical series, Maya Angelou's The Heart of a Woman follows her life from 1957-1962. This is a period characterized by her motherhood and a shift toward writing. After moving to California, she is encouraged by her friend, Billy Holiday, to pursue her writing. Angelou and her teenage son, Guy, move to NYC where they encounter a difficult transition. She becomes actively involved in the Civil Rights Movement as well as writing seriously under the oversight of her mentor, James Baldwin, all in an attempt to accomplish her goals while setting an example for Guy on how to do the same and consequently avoid a gang life.
In 1961 she marries Vusumzi Make, a South African freedom fighter in exile, and the family moves to settle in Cairo. The marriage does not last because both Angelou and Make are unwilling to compromise their beliefs in order to accommodate the other. Angelou and Guy move to Liberia, where he attends college at the University of Ghana.
Angelou presents her life during this season as a desperate attempt to reconcile her personal ambition with her responsibility to Guy. She is an activist, unwilling to sit by and allow life to happen to her. She willing participates in the challenges as they arise because she does not accept excuses from herself. In this way, Angelou demonstrates excellence in front of Guy through the manner by which she pursues her own dreams, teaching him that he is in charge of getting what he wants for himself. Paired with this model of accomplishment is strong emphasis on the value of charity and compassion. Angelou devotes herself to improving the lives of people less fortunate than her, unwilling to allow them to fall into despair when she has so successfully fought that battle already.
As an African-American woman, Angelou is a role model for women and girls of all ages, backgrounds, and even generations. Her literature endures because it is sincere. Angelou makes no attempt to hide the parts of herself which distract her from her goals, but she also does not condemn herself for having these thoughts or feelings. She is determined to succeed, making her goal with every decision to be honorable (for her son's sake) and sincere (for her own sake).
