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source: wikipedia.org
04 Apr, 1928
28 May, 2014
Unknown
American
Civil rights activist
86
Maya Angelou was a renowned American writer, poet, and activist who overcame several hardships and obstacles in her life to become an inspiration for women across the world. She was born Marguerite Johnson in St. Louis, Missouri in 1928. She grew up in Stamps, Arkansas with her grandmother along with her brother Bailey after her parents got divorced. It was Bailey who gave Marguerite the nickname “Maya,” which she later adopted as her professional name.
Her childhood was filled with racism, poverty, and sexual abuse which caused her to become mute for several years. Angelou was sexually abused by her mom’s boyfriend at the age of seven. After she confessed, he was jailed and then killed upon release from prison. Believing that it was her confession that killed him, she became mute for five years. Despite this, Maya overcame the adversities of her childhood. She gave birth to her son, Guy Johnson, at the age of 16 and worked several jobs to support them both.
Maya Angelou started her career as a performer and an actor. She toured with a production of Porgy and Bess and even released her own album titled Miss Calypso in 1957. During this time, she became more involved in the civil rights movement and worked closely with notable civil rights activists such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X.
Angelou was a prolific writer who was known for her autobiographical works which chronicle her personal and professional journey. Her first and most famous memoir, I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, recalls her childhood and adolescence while exploring themes of identity, trauma, resilience, and liberation. It was a critical success and was even nominated for a National Book Award, becoming the first nonfiction bestseller by an African American woman. She wrote six more volumes of autobiographies as well as numerous collections of poetry, essays, and children’s books.
Maya Angelou also published several collections of her poetry, with her 1971 collection Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water ‘fore I Diiie earning her a Pulitzer Prize nomination. Angelou’s contributions extend far beyond the realm of poetry and memoirs. She was also a successful playwright and screenwriter. She wrote the screenplay for the 1972 film Georgia, Georgia, making her the first African American woman to have a screenplay produced.
Angelou’s acting career continued to flourish in the 1970s and 1980s. She even earned a Tony Award nomination for her role in the play Look Away and an Emmy Award nomination for her work in the television miniseries Roots.
Angelou was a strong advocate for social justice and human rights. She worked with other civil rights activists such as Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, James Baldwin, etc., and she quickly became an inspiration for millions of people around the world.
Maya Angelou was married multiple times. Her son, Guy Johnson, also became a poet like his mother. She passed away in 2014 at the age of 86.
Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou
Female
Unknown
St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, U.S.
Protagonist: Maya Angelou was a natural born leader who was able to rise from poverty and become and influential figure for people of color around the world.
Maya Angelou went mute for five years due to an incident that took place during her childhood.
She was the second poet to recite at a presidential inauguration when she recited at Bill Clinton’s inauguration.
She was a writer of Hallmark greeting cards.
Maya was the first black streetcar conductor.
Her dear friend Martin Luther King Jr. died on her birthday.
She was awarded the Spingarn Medal in 1994.
She was awarded the BET Honors Award for Literary Arts in 2012.
Maya Angelou won the Grammy Award for Best Audio Book in 1994, 1996, and 2003.
She won the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2010.
She was awarded the Quill Award for Poetry in 2006.
Maya Angelou was awarded the Langston Hughes Medal in 1991.