Last week, I learnt with sadness about the passing of Harper Lee. Her book To Kill a Mockingbird is a favorite of mine and is, in my opinion, one of the best American classics. Born Nelle Harper Lee on 28 April 1926 in Monroeville, Alabama, she was the youngest of 4 children. Her father was a lawyer, perhaps the inspiration for Atticus Finch. Her mother suffered from mental illness, and…
Tag: presidential medal of freedom
Maya Angelou
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RIP Maya Angelou
It was with sadness that I learnt the writer and poet Maya Angelou passed away a few days ago. Born Marguerite Ann Johnson, this incredible woman had an extraordinary life. It didn’t start well though… At the age of 7, she was raped by her mother’s boyfriend. When she told her family, the man was convicted of the crime, and promptly murdered, most likely by Maya’s uncles. The trauma of this tragedy caused her to be mute for…