Did Maya Angelou Write a Poem Titled, 'I Am a Christian'?

Claim:

Maya Angelou wrote an inspirational religious poem entitled, “I Am a Christian.”

Rating:

Misattributed

About this rating

Maya Angelou, who died in May 2014, became one of those figures (à la Mark Twain or Abraham Lincoln) who ended up with more of other people’s words attributed to her than words of her own.

As we note in another article dealing with an apocryphal poem erroneously attributed to her, many internet-circulated bits of verse lacking authorship identification eventually become credited to Angelou, especially light-hearted inspirational pieces and/or poems written from an African-American person's point of view.

Here's a poem titled "I Am a Christian" that has been falsely attributed to Angelou and a Snopes reader emailed us in 2006:

When I say I am a Christian — by Maya Angelou 

When I say … “I am a Christian”
I’m not shouting “I’m clean livin’.”
I’m whispering “I was lost,
Now I’m found and forgiven.” 

When I say … “I am a Christian”
I don’t speak of this with pride.
I’m confessing that I stumble
and need Christ to be my guide. 

When I say … “I am a Christian”
I’m not trying to be strong.
I’m professing that I’m weak
And need His strength to carry on. 

When I say … “I am a Christian”
I’m not bragging of success.
I’m admitting I have failed
And need God to clean my mess. 

When I say … “I am a Christian”
I’m not claiming to be perfect,
My flaws are far too visible
But, God believes I am worth it. 

When I say … “I am a Christian”
I still feel the sting of pain.
I have my share of heartaches
So I call upon His name. 

When I say … “I am a Christian”
I’m not holier than thou,
I’m just a simple sinner
Who received God’s good grace, somehow

In this case, we not only know that Angelou did not write the poem (she disclaimed it on her website), we know exactly who did write it. “When I Say, ‘I Am a Christian'” (the correct, full title) was penned in 1988 by Carol Wimmer, was first published in the Assemblies of God periodical "Hi-Call" Gospel Magazine, and has subsequently been anthologized in several books (including "Chicken Soup for the Christian Family Soul.")

Unfortunately, over the years, the work has been reprinted on the internet with either missing or incorrect attributions (most often being ascribed to “author unknown” or the aforementioned Angelou), and with verses that have been rearranged or altered by others.

The original version of the poem reads as follows:

When I say, “I am a Christian,” I’m not shouting, “I’ve been saved!”
I’m whispering, “I get lost! That’s why I chose this way”

When I say, “I am a Christian,” I don’t speak with human pride
I’m confessing that I stumble — needing God to be my guide

When I say, “I am a Christian,” I’m not trying to be strong
I’m professing that I’m weak and pray for strength to carry on

When I say, “I am a Christian,” I’m not bragging of success
I’m admitting that I’ve failed and cannot ever pay the debt

When I say, “I am a Christian,” I don’t think I know it all
I submit to my confusion asking humbly to be taught

When I say, “I am a Christian,” I’m not claiming to be perfect
My flaws are far too visible but God believes I’m worth it

When I say, “I am a Christian,” I still feel the sting of pain
I have my share of heartache which is why I seek His name

When I say, “I am a Christian,” I do not wish to judge
I have no authority — I only know I’m loved