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Tuesday 8 April, 2025

We studied Maya Angelou's writing in school - here's what she taught us

The author passed away today at the age of 86.

May 28th 2014, 4:19 PM 2,889 Views 0 Comments

“PEOPLE WILL FORGET what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

from American writer Maya Angelou, who died today at the age of 86 after an unexpected ailment.

Irish people will remember learning Angelou’s poetry in secondary school, where it left a lasting impression on many.

The hashtag #mayataughtme is trending across the world on Twitter right now – here are just some of the lessons her work taught us.

To love ourselves

mayataughtme22 Source: Wikimedia Commons

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#mayataughtme that I have power and worth and can hold my head high no matter what the outside world may say..."Phenomenal Woman, That's Me"
— Serious Black (@NicT10) May 28, 2014

Source: AndreaT/Twitter

That all races are beautiful

mayaangelou3 Source: Flickr/Gary Stevens

#MayaTaughtMe to be proud in my skin.
— Ms Laura (@Cocofro212) May 28, 2014

Source: Ms Laura/Twitter

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That we can achieve anything we set our minds to

mayataughtme33 Source: Derek Bridges

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Nothing will work unless you do. #MayaAngelou #Mayataughtme
— 🌻NAOMI🌻 (@naomawaoma) May 28, 2014

Source: Naomi/Twitter

And the importance of speaking up

mayataughtme44 Source: Flickr

#MayaTaughtMe to tell the truth - no matter how ugly, unpleasant and uncomfortable it was.
— Courtney Bowden (@Courtney_Bowden) May 28, 2014

Source: courtney herring/Twitter

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Read: Writer Maya Angelou has died at 86>

About the author:

About the author

Valerie Loftus

@valerieloftus

valerie@dailyedge.ie

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We studied Maya Angelou's writing in school - here's what she taught us