Maya Angelou's journey toward poetry and prose was profoundly shaped by her early experiences, including childhood trauma and a love for literature fostered by her grandmother. Her early life was marked by racism and sexual abuse, leading to a period of silence that allowed her to develop a rich inner world filled with imagination and language. Her encounters with various cultural figures and the Harlem Renaissance also played a key role. Ultimately, these factors coalesced to inspire her voice, enabling her to articulate her struggles and triumphs, resonating with readers worldwide.