Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou was an American author, poet, dancer, actress, singer, and civil rights activist. She published seven autobiographies, three books of essays, several books of poetry, plays,& songs.
Born: April 4, 1928, St. Louis, Missouri
Raised: Stamps,Arkansas
Died: May 28, 2014, Winston-Salem, NC
Children: Guy Johnson
Spouses: Enistasious Tosh Angelos (m. 1951–1954), Paul du Feu (m. 1973–1981),
Education: California Labor School, George Washington High School
Quick Facts
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Fluent in six languages: English, French, Spanish, Italian, Arabic and West African Fanti.
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First African-American female member of the Directors Guild of America.
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Studied dance with Pearl Primus in New York.
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Won three Grammy Award.Nominated for a Tony Award.
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Angelou was a leader of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). At Martin Luther King Jr.’s request.
- Though Maya Angelou has been actively involved in academic engagements, she does not have a college education.
Time Line
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1928 | Maya is born
Maya was born as Marguerite Ann Johnson. Her brother gave her the nickname “Maya”. |
| 1937 | Maya suffers abuse
At the age of nine Maya was abused by her mother’s boyfriend. It traumatized her and she wouldn’t speak anymore. |
| 1941 | They move to California
Maya, along with her brother and mother, moved to California. Maya went to high school and studied dance and drama. |
| 1942 | A teacher steps in to help
While going to school, one of Maya’s teachers worked lovingly with her. The teacher helped Maya learn to speak again. |
| 1943 | Maya leaves school
Maya graduated from school and then had a baby shortly after that. She worked as a waitress and cook to take care of her son. |
| 1952 | Maya takes on a new name
Maya began working as a nightclub singer. She took on the stage name Maya Angelou, and the name stuck. |
| 1958 | Maya moves to New York
Maya began writing poetry. Soon she had moved to New York where she joined the Writer’s Guild. |
| 1959 | The Civil Rights movement begins
Maya worked diligently with Civil Rights activists. She became the coordinator for the Southern Christian Leadership Council. |
| 1960 | A move to Africa
Maya met and followed a civil rights activist to Africa. She stayed there for a few years, working as an editor. |
| 1964 | Maya comes back to America
Maya moved back to America. She hoped to work with Malcolm X, who was trying to build an Organization of African American Unity, but Malcolm X was assassinated a few years later. |
| 1970 | Maya Angelou puts out a book
After working on it for a few years, Maya puts out her work I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. It was a huge success. |
| 1972 | The nomination for a Pulitzer Prize
Maya was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for her work Just Give Me A Cool Drink of Water ‘fore I Die. |
| 1984 | Maya meets Oprah
Maya met the famous talk show host, Oprah Winfrey. They got along well, and Maya became one of Oprah’s close friends and mentors. |
| 1993 | An inauguration poem is read
Maya is asked to read her poetry at the inauguration of President Bill Clinton. She read On The Pulse of Morning. |
| 2006 | The Mother Teresa Award
Maya went on to receive numerous awards for her service to the world. One of them was the Mother Teresa Award, and another was the NAACP award. She continues to write and touch others with her heartfelt and soul-searching works. |
A Look At Some of Her Most Famous Work
Maya very likely received her widest exposure on a chilly January day in 1993. When she delivered her inaugural poem, “On the Pulse of Morning,” at the swearing-in of Bill Clinton, the nation’s 42nd president. He, like Maya, had grown up in Arkansas.
Important African Americans In History 