Maya Angelou
- Born:
- Marguerite Annie Johnson, April 4, 1928, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Died:
- May 28, 2014, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
- Nationality:
- American
- Profession(s):
- Poet, Memoirist, Novelist, Educator, Civil Rights Activist
Early Life and Education
- Experienced a traumatic childhood, including early childhood abuse.
- Raised primarily in Stamps, Arkansas, by her grandmother.
- Briefly lived with her mother in St. Louis before returning to Arkansas.
- Graduated from Mission High School in San Francisco.
- Studied dance and drama at the California Labor School.
Career and Major Achievements
- Worked as a streetcar conductor in San Francisco, potentially the first Black female conductor in the city.
- Toured Europe with a production of Porgy and Bess.
- Lived in Egypt and Ghana, working as a journalist and editor.
- Became involved in the Civil Rights Movement, working with Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr.
- Nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for her poetry collection, Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water 'fore I Diiie.
- Received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2010.
Notable Works
- Autobiographical Series:
- Autobiography I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969)
- Gather Together in My Name (1974)
- Singin' and Swingin' and Gettin' Merry Like Christmas (1976)
- The Heart of a Woman (1981)
- All God's Children Need Traveling Shoes (1986)
- A Song Flung Up to Heaven (2002)
- Mom & Me & Mom (2013)
- Poetry Collections:
- Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water 'fore I Diiie (1971)
- And Still I Rise (1978)
- Shaker, Why Don't You Sing? (1983)
- I Shall Not Be Moved (1990)
- Phenomenal Woman: Four Poems Celebrating Women (1994)
- Plays:
- Cabaret for Freedom (1960)
- Screenplays:
- Georgia, Georgia (1972)
Film and Television Appearances
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Roots | Nyo Boto |
| 1993 | Poetic Justice | Aunt June |
| 1996 | How to Make an American Quilt | Anna |
Legacy and Impact
Maya Angelou was a pivotal figure in American literature and culture. Her works explored themes of racism, identity, and resilience, offering a powerful voice to marginalized communities. Autobiography I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, and her subsequent autobiographies, are considered seminal works of American literature, providing insight into the Black experience in the 20th century. Her poetry, essays, and activism continue to inspire generations.