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Maya Angelou (/ ˈ æ n dʒ ə l oʊ / ⓘ AN-jə-loh; 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 50 ...
- 1
- Memoir, poetry
- 1951–2014
- Marguerite Annie Johnson, April 4, 1928, St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
- Who Was Maya Angelou?
- Quick Facts
- Early Life
- Life as An Performer and Activist
- Just Give Me A Cool Drink of Water ’Fore I Diiie
- “On The Pulse of Morning”
- Books
- I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings
- Gather Together in My Name
- The Heart of A Woman
A multitalented writer and performer, Maya Angelou is best known for her work as an author and poet. Her 1969 memoir, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, made literary history as the first nonfiction bestseller by a Black woman. Some of her famous poems include “Phenomenal Woman,” “Still I Rise,” and “On the Pulse of Morning,” which she recited at Pre...
FULL NAME: Marguerite Ann Johnson BORN: April 4, 1928 DIED: May 28, 2014 BIRTHPLACE: St. Louis, Missouri SPOUSES: Tosh Angelos (c. 1949-1952), Vusumzi Make (c. 1961), and Paul Du Feu (c. 1973-1981) CHILD: Guy Johnson ASTROLOGICAL SIGN: Aries
Maya Angelou was born Marguerite Ann Johnson on April 4, 1928, in St. Louis. She had a difficult childhood. Her parents split up when she was very young, and she and her older brother, Bailey, were sent to live with their paternal grandmother, Anne Henderson, in Stamps, Arkansas. Bailey gave Marguerite the nickname“Maya,” which she would adopt as h...
In the mid-1950s, the world began to know Maya Angelou, her professional name adapted from her first husband’s last name, when her career as an actor and singer took off. She landed a role in a touring production of Porgy and Bess, later appearing in the off-Broadway production Calypso Heat Wave (1957) and releasing her first album, Miss Calypso(19...
Angelou published several collections of poetry, but her most famous was 1971’s collection Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water ’fore I Diiie, which was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize. Other famous collections of Angelou’s poetry include: 1. Oh Pray My Wings Are Gonna Fit Me Well (1975), which includes Angelou’s poem “Alone,” 2. And Still I Rise(19...
One of her most famous works, Angelou wrote the poem “On the Pulse of Morning” for President Bill Clinton’s inaugural ceremony in January 1993. Her recitation at the ceremony marked the first inaugural poem reading since 1961, when Robert Frost delivered “The Gift Outright” at John F. Kennedy’s inauguration. Angelou went on to win a Grammy Award fo...
In addition to her books of poetry, Angelou also wrote several memoirs and even cookbooks. She won two NAACP Image Awards in the Outstanding Literary Work (Nonfiction) category for her 2005 cookbook and 2008’s Letter to My Daughter.
Angelou’s friend and fellow writer James Baldwin urged her to write about her life experiences. The resulting work was the enormously successful 1969 memoir about her childhood and young adult years, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. The poignant story made literary history as the first nonfiction bestseller by a Black woman. The book, which made An...
Angelou’s follow-up to I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, this 1974 memoir covers her life as an unemployed teenage mother in California, when she turned to narcotics and prostitution.
Angelou crafted this 1981 memoir about leaving California with her son for New York, where she took part in the Civil Rights Movement.
Mar 31, 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.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
- Why is Maya Angelou important?Maya Angelou was an American poet, memoirist, and actress whose several volumes of autobiography explore the themes of economic, racial, and sexual...
- What is Maya Angelou best known for?Maya Angelou’s first autobiographical work, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969), gained critical acclaim and a National Book Award nomination. H...
- What were Maya Angelou’s jobs?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...
- What awards did Maya Angelou win?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, activist, and autobiographer. Explore her works, including her famous memoir I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, and her poetry collection Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water.
Learn about the life and achievements of Maya Angelou, a poet, dancer, singer, activist, and scholar. She was the first African American woman to have her screen play turned into a film and the first to win a Grammy for spoken word poetry.
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Sep 7, 2013 · Learn about the life, legacy and poetry of Maya Angelou, a best-selling author, educator and civil rights activist. Explore stories, videos and resources from PBS to celebrate her achievements and impact.
Learn about the life and work of Maya Angelou, a renowned poet, author, activist, and performer. Explore her autobiographical books, her nominated and awarded poetry collections, and her legacy in American culture.
