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Born
Maya Angelou was born in St. Louis, Missouri to Bailey Johnson and Vivian Baxter Johnson.Her real name was Marguerite Johnson. Her brother gave her the nickname, Maya at a young age. -
Parents Divorce
Maya's Parents got a divorce when she was just three years old. Her and her brother were forced to move to Stamps, Arkansas. They moved to their grandmothers house. Their grandma's name was Annie Henderson. -
Moved back with Mother
Maya decided that it was time to return back to her mother's house. So, both Maya and her brother moved back to be with their mother once again. When they moved back with their mother they were living in St. Louis, Missouri. -
Moved back to Grandmother's house again
Maya was sexually abused by her mother's boyfriend, Mr. Freeman. Being abused shocked Maya so much that she went into a mute and didn't talk for five years. Both Maya and her brother were forced to move back to their granmother's house once again. -
Moved back to Moms house again.
Once again Maya and her Brother moved back with their mother again. This time they were living in San Francisco. Maya attended George Washington Highschool. She also took dance and drama classes at California Labor School. -
Maya's Teacher
One of Maya's Teacher's name was Bertha Flowers. She was the one who coaxed Maya into speaking again. A few months after Maya started speaking again she decided to drop out of school. She then worked as a cable car conductor -
Maya returns to Highschool
Maya returned to highschool. She also got pregnant. She gave birth to a healthy young boy name Clyde. While in highschool she worked as a waitress, a cook, and a madam so that she could provide for her son. -
Maya got Married
Maya finally decided to get married. She got married to a greek sailor. Her new husband's name was Tosh Angelos. -
Biography
On this date Maya published her well know biography. It was called "I know why the caged Bird Sings". It was all about her early life as a child. -
First Poem
In this year Maya wrote her first poem. The poem went by the title of "Just give me a cool drink of water 'fore i Diiie". It was featured in a famous play called "Cabaret for Freedom". It was also in a screenplay called "Georgia, Georgia" and a childrens book called "LIfe doesn't frighten me". -
Meets Oprah
Maya Angelou got to meet Oprah Winfrey on this date.The got along really well. Maya became one of Oprah's good friends and mentors. -
Read Poem
Maya read a Poem at Bill Clintons inauguration. The poem she read was called On the Pulse of the Morning. The only other poet to read a poem at any inauguration was Robert Frost. Robert also read a poem at Bill Clinton's inauguration. -
Even the Stars look Lonesome
"Even the Stars look Lonesome" was one of Maya's best sellers. It is a collection of short essays that have to do her life and family. Even though Maya had alot of hardships in her life she still kept a sense of humor throughout the book. -
Talk Show Host
Maya became a talk show host. It was on weekly. It was with the XM satellite Radio's Oprah and Friends channel. -
The Mother of Teresa Award
Maya went on to recieve numerous awards. One was the Mother of Teresa Award, another was the NAACP award. She still continues to write and touch others with her heart felt and soul-searching works.
