My 25 Cents

By Jade Henry

Have you ever heard of Maya Angelou? A poet, a dancer, a singer, political activist, and scholar, Maya Angelou was a well-known novelist around the world. Her autobiographical writing style was unique and pioneering, and she was best known for it.

Still I Rise, Maya Angelou's most well-known poem is one my grandmother made me memorize when I was 9 years young. This poem celebrates the resilient spirit of African Americans in hopes of defeating the ugliness of racism and bigotry. I can attest that on days I need to be uplifted, I can recite this poem and feel better after I do. Still I Rise is Maya Angelou's most well-known poem, as well as her favorite, and mine too!

Phenomenal Woman, another one of her noteworthy poems has inspired many women across the globe. I think we can all attest that after reading this poem, we feel valued, we feel overjoyed, we feel pretty, and we feel like we are enough. Maya Angelou defined this poem and I aspire to be this woman too!

Although Maya Angelou joined the ancestors in 2014, we still celebrate her today as a memorable woman in history. Because March is women’s history month, I thought it was only fitting to write about her. Most recently, Ms. Angelou’s face was imprinted on the United States Quarter. Some would argue that we short-changed her, by doing so. I am excited that she is the first black woman to be featured on a coin! Perhaps when I retrieve a coin with her imprint, I will save it forever. It’s too bad, she wasn’t alive to see this happen. We have come a long way and still have far to go, but I am embracing all the “change” (in dollars and cents) that is to come! Forthcoming is the $20 bill with Harriet Tubman’s face!

That’s my 25 cents!