Poet, dancer, singer, activist, and scholar Maya Angelou was a world-famous author. She was best known for her unique and pioneering autobiographical writing style.
On April 4, 1928, Marguerite Ann 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 at an early age. Her older brother, Bailey, gave Angelou her nickname “Maya.”
Returning to her mother’s care briefly at the age of seven, Angelou was raped by her mother’s boyfriend. He was later jailed and then killed when released from jail. Believing that her confession of the trauma had a hand in the man’s death, Angelou became mute for six years. During her mutism and into her teens, she again lived with her grandmother in Arkansas.
Angelou’s 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.
Prior to the start of World War II, Angelou moved back in with her mother, who at this time was living in Oakland, California. She attended George Washington High School and took dance and drama courses at the California Labor School.
When war broke out, Angelou applied to join the Women’s 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 being only 15 years old, she decided to apply for the position of a streetcar conductor. Many men had left their jobs to join the services, enabling women to fill them. However, Angelou was barred from applying at first because of her race. But she was undeterred. Every day for three weeks, she requested a job application, but was denied. Finally, the company relented and handed her an application. Because she was under the legal working age, she wrote that she was 19. She was accepted for the position and became the first African American woman to work as a streetcar conductor in San Francisco. Angelou was employed for a semester but then decided to return to school. She graduated from Mission High School in the summer of 1944 and soon after gave birth to her only child, Clyde Bailey (Guy) Johnson.
After graduation, Angelou undertook a series of odd jobs to support herself and her son. In 1949, she married Tosh Angelos, an electrician in the US Navy. She adopted a form of his surname and kept it throughout her life, though the marriage ended in divorce in 1952.
Angelou was also noted for her talents as a singer and dancer, particularly in the calypso and cabaret styles. In the 1950s, she performed professionally in the US, Europe, and northern Africa, and sold albums of her recordings.
In 1950, African American writers in New York City formed the Harlem Writers Guild to nurture and support the publication of Black authors. Angelou joined the Guild in 1959. She also became active in the Civil Rights Movement and served as the northern coordinator of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, a prominent African American advocacy organization
In 1969, Angelou published I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, an autobiography of her early life. Her tale of personal strength amid childhood trauma and racism resonated with readers and was nominated for the National Book Award. Many schools sought to ban the book for its frank depiction of sexual abuse, but it is credited with helping other abuse survivors tell their stories.I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings has been translated into numerous languages and has sold over a million copies worldwide. Angelou eventually published six more autobiographies, culminating in 2013’s Mom & Me & Mom.
She wrote numerous poetry volumes, such as the Pulitzer Prize-nominatedJust Give me a Drink of Water 'fore I Diiie (1971), as well as several essay collections. She also recorded spoken albums of her poetry, including “On the Pulse of the Morning,” for which she won a Grammy for Best Spoken Word Album. The poem was originally written for and delivered at President Bill Clinton’s inauguration in 1993. She also won a Grammy in 1995, and again in 2002, for her spoken albums of poetry.
Angelou carried out a wide variety of activities on stage and screen as a writer, actor, 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. Angelou earned a Tony nomination in 1973 for her supporting role in Jerome Kitty’s play Look Away, and portrayed Kunta Kinte’s grandmother in the television miniseries Roots in 1977.
She was recognized by many organizations both nationally and internationally for her contributions to literature. In 1981, Wake Forest University offered Angelou the Reynolds Professorship of American Studies. President Clinton awarded Angelou the National Medal of Arts in 2000. In 2012, she was a member of the inaugural class inducted into the Wake Forest University Writers Hall of Fame. The following year, she received the National Book Foundation’s Literarian Award for outstanding service to the American literary community. Angelou also gave many commencement speeches and was awarded more than 30 honorary degrees in her lifetime.
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. (The US Postal Service mistakenly included a quote on the stamp that has long been associated with Angeloubut was actually first written by Joan Walsh Anglund.)
In 2010, President Barack Obama awarded Angelou the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the country’s highest civilian honor. It was a fitting recognition for Angelou’s remarkable and inspiring career in the arts.
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
As an expert and enthusiast in the life and works of Maya Angelou, I am well-versed in her incredible journey as a poet, dancer, singer, activist, and scholar. My knowledge extends beyond a surface-level understanding, as I have extensively studied her autobiographical writings, delving into the depths of her unique and pioneering writing style.
Maya Angelou, born Marguerite Ann Johnson on April 4, 1928, in St. Louis, Missouri, captivated the world with her literary prowess. However, her path to success was not without hardships. At an early age, due to her parents' tumultuous marriage and subsequent divorce, Angelou found solace under the care of her paternal grandmother in Stamps, Arkansas. It was during this time that her older brother, Bailey, bestowed upon her the nickname "Maya," a name that would become synonymous with her identity.
Tragically, Angelou's childhood took a devastating turn when, at the tender age of seven, she was raped by her mother's boyfriend. This traumatic event led her to become mute for six years, believing that her confession played a role in the man's subsequent death. Throughout her silence and into her teenage years, she returned to live with her grandmother in Arkansas, where her passion for writing began to blossom. Even as a child, Angelou displayed a keen interest in the written word and the English language, penning essays, poetry, and keeping a journal.
Angelou's literary journey further unfolded when she moved to Oakland, California, to live with her mother during World War II. She attended George Washington High School, where she nurtured her love for dance and drama by taking courses at the California Labor School. Despite facing obstacles, such as her application to join the Women's Army Corps being rejected due to her association with the California Labor School, Angelou remained determined to forge her own path. At the age of 15, she applied for a position as a streetcar conductor, persisting despite being initially barred from applying due to her race. After three weeks of daily requests, the company relented, and she became the first African American woman to work as a streetcar conductor in San Francisco.
Angelou's thirst for knowledge led her to graduate from Mission High School in 1944, shortly before giving birth to her only child, Clyde Bailey (Guy) Johnson. As a single mother, she undertook various odd jobs to support herself and her son. In 1949, she married Tosh Angelos, an electrician in the US Navy, adopting a modified version of his surname, Angelou, which she kept throughout her life, even after their divorce in 1952.
Not only was Angelou an accomplished writer, but she also showcased her talents as a singer and dancer, specializing in calypso and cabaret styles. Throughout the 1950s, she performed professionally in the United States, Europe, and northern Africa, even releasing albums of her recordings.
In 1959, Angelou joined the Harlem Writers Guild, an organization formed in New York City to support and nurture the publication of Black authors. Her involvement in the Civil Rights Movement also flourished during this time, as she served as the northern coordinator of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, a prominent African American advocacy organization.
In 1969, Angelou published her groundbreaking autobiography, "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings," which detailed her early life and resilience in the face of childhood trauma and racism. The book resonated deeply with readers and received a nomination for the National Book Award. Despite facing attempts of censorship due to its frank depiction of sexual abuse, the book empowered other survivors to share their stories. "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" has been translated into numerous languages and has sold over a million copies worldwide. Angelou went on to publish six more autobiographies, with her final work being "Mom & Me & Mom" in 2013.
In addition to her autobiographical works, Angelou wrote numerous volumes of poetry, including "Just Give me a Drink of Water 'fore I Diiie" (1971), which was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. She also released several essay collections and recorded spoken albums of her poetry. Her spoken album, "On the Pulse of the Morning," earned her a Grammy for Best Spoken Word Album. Originally written and delivered at President Bill Clinton's inauguration in 1993, the poem showcased Angelou's profound ability to inspire and resonate with audiences. She went on to win two more Grammys for her spoken albums of poetry.
Angelou's talents extended beyond the realm of writing, as she actively engaged in various activities on stage and screen. In 1972, she became the first African American woman to have her screenplay, "Georgia, Georgia," turned into a film. Her performance in Jerome Kitty's play, "Look Away," earned her a Tony nomination in 1973, and she portrayed Kunta Kinte's grandmother in the television miniseries "Roots" in 1977.
Throughout her life, Angelou received numerous accolades and recognition for her contributions to literature and society. In 1981, Wake Forest University honored her with the Reynolds Professorship of American Studies. She was awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Clinton in 2000, and in 2012, she was inducted into the Wake Forest University Writers Hall of Fame. The following year, Angelou received the National Book Foundation's Literarian Award for her outstanding service to the American literary community. Her impact was further acknowledged through more than 30 honorary degrees and numerous commemorative events held in her honor.
Maya Angelou's legacy continues to inspire and touch lives even after her passing on May 28, 2014. Memorials were held at Wake Forest University and Glide Memorial Church in San Francisco to honor her profound impact. In 2015, the US Postal Service issued a stamp featuring her likeness, commemorating her contributions to literature and society. In 2010, President Barack Obama awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the United States, further cementing her place among the greats in the arts.
Maya Angelou's journey serves as a testament to the power of resilience, self-expression, and the ability of literature to transcend boundaries and ignite change. Her life and works continue to inspire and empower individuals across the globe, leaving an indelible mark on the world of literature and beyond.
