A Portrait of Maya Angelou

58 minutes
Source: Social Studies School Services

The importance of role models for the young is the theme of this portrait of Maya Angelou as she returns to her childhood neighborhood in Stamps, Arkansas. She remembers herself as an inarticulate 7-year-old to whom the eloquent Mrs. Flowers reads Dickens and helps to recover her voice. Angelou recites her own poetry to Stamps school children and reminds them that they too have the potential to influence the world. Moyers concludes that "for the inner life to flourish, everyone needs to be touched by someone; to be told, 'you matter,'" suggesting that the ability to act and contribute creatively is brought to life through self-esteem.