Search results
Maya Angelou ( / ˈændʒəloʊ / ⓘ AN-jə-loh; [1] [2] born Marguerite Annie Johnson; April 4, 1928 – May 28, 2014) was an American memoirist, poet, and civil rights activist. She published seven autobiographies, three books of essays, several books of poetry, and is credited with a list of plays, movies, and television shows spanning over ...
May 24, 2024 · Maya Angelou (born April 4, 1928, St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.—died May 28, 2014, Winston-Salem, North Carolina) was an American poet, memoirist, and actress whose several volumes of autobiography explore the themes of economic, racial, and sexual oppression. Although born in St. Louis, Angelou spent much of her childhood in the care of her ...
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
- Maya Angelou was an American poet, memoirist, and actress whose several volumes of autobiography explore the themes of economic, racial, and sexual...
- Maya Angelou’s first autobiographical work, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969), gained critical acclaim and a National Book Award nomination. H...
- In addition to writing, Maya Angelou was a dancer who studied with Martha Graham and Pearl Primus. She acted onstage, in films, and on television i...
- Maya Angelou was awarded the National Medal of Arts (2000) and the Presidential Medal of Freedom (2010). She won three Grammy Awards for her spoken...
Learn about the life and achievements of Maya Angelou, a renowned American poet, writer, and activist. Explore her autobiographies, poems, and other works that reflect her experiences, struggles, and passions.
Explore the work of Maya Angelou, a poet and civil rights activist who wrote about freedom, equality, and self-esteem. Read some of her most famous poems, such as 'Still I Rise', 'Phenomenal Woman', and 'On the Pulse of Morning'.
- Literature
- Early life
- Fictional character biography
- Writing
- Military service
- Other activities
- Music
- Acting career
- Awards and honors
- Death and legacy
Poet, dancer, singer, activist, and scholar, Maya Angelou is a world-famous author. She is best known for her unique and pioneering autobiographical writing style.
On April 4, 1928, Marguerite Annie Johnson, known to the world as Maya Angelou, was born in St. Louis, Missouri. Due to her parents tumultuous marriage and subsequent divorce, Angelou went to live with her paternal grandmother in Stamps, Arkansas from an early age. Her older brother, Bailey, gave Angelou her nickname Maya.
Returning to her mothers care briefly at the age of seven, Angelou was raped by her mothers boyfriend. He was later jailed and then killed when released from jail. Believing that her confession of the trauma had a hand in the mans death, Angelou became mute for 6 years. During her mutism and into her teens, she again lived with her grandmother in A...
Angelous interest in the written word and the English language was evident from an early age. Throughout her childhood, she wrote essays, poetry, and kept a journal. When she returned to Arkansas, she took an interest in poetry and memorized works by Shakespeare and Poe.
When war broke out, Angelou applied to join the Womens Army Corps. However, her application was rejected because of her involvement in the California Labor School, which was said to have Communist ties. Determined to gain employment, despite only being 15 years old, she decided to apply for the position of street car conductor. Many men had left th...
After graduation, Angelou undertook many civil rights activities. She was northern coordinator of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. This organization, which was created in 1957 by Martin Luther King Jr. and originally known as the Southern Leadership Conference, advocates for the rights of African Americans in the United States.
Angelou is also noted for her many and varied singing and dancing styles, including her calypso music performances. She has written numerous poetry volumes, such as her first book of poetry, entitled Just Give me a Drink of Water fore I Diiie. She has also recorded spoken albums of her poetry, including On the Pulse of the Morning, which she won th...
Angelou also carried out a wide variety of activities on stage and screen as writer, director, and producer. In 1972, she became the first African American woman to have her screen play turned into a film with the production of Georgia, Georgia. The supporting parts that she played in the films, Look Away in 1973 and Roots in 1977, garnered her Ton...
She has been recognized by many universities both nationally and internationally for her contributions to literature. In 1981, Wake Forest University offered Angelou the position of the Reynolds Professorship of American Studies. She has also given many commencement speeches and she has been awarded numerous honorary degrees.
Angelou died on May 28, 2014. Several memorials were held in her honor including ones at Wake Forest University and Glide Memorial Church in San Francisco. To honor her legacy, the US Postal Service issued a stamp with her likeness on it in 2015. There was some controversy surrounding the stamp, because it erroneously credited her with the quote th...
Jan 16, 2024 · Learn about the life and achievements of Maya Angelou, a multitalented writer and performer who broke barriers as a Black woman in literature, arts, and civil rights. Explore her memoirs, poems, movies, and legacy.
People also ask
How many books did Maya Angelou write?
Is Maya Angelou dead or still alive?
What is Maya Angelou best known for?
Was Maya Angelou a poet?
Sep 7, 2013 · Learn about the life and legacy of Maya Angelou, a best-selling author, educator and civil rights activist who used her poetry to inspire and empower. Explore stories, clips, resources and more from PBS.
