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Birth Date
Maya Angelou was born on April 4, 1928, in St. Louis Missouri. -
Divorce
Maya's parents split up and she and her brother go and live with her father's mother. -
Age Eight
Maya Angelou was raped by her mother's boyfriend at age eight, then soon after went mute for six years. After the shock of this, Maya and her brother were sent back to live with her grandmother. -
Schooling
Maya and her brother returned back to live with their mother, while Maya studied dance and drama on a scholarship at the California Labor School at George Washington High School. -
Talking Again
Maya's teacher, Bertha Flowers, encouraged her to talk again while getting her interested in literature. -
Drop Out
In 1942 Maya dropped out of school in her teens to become San Francisco's first African American female cable car conductor. -
Guy
At age sixteen, Maya gave birth to her son named Guy. -
Teen Years
Maya spent her teen and early twenties as a dancer. -
Marriage
Maya married a Greek sailor named Tosh Angelos but it didn't last for long at all. -
New Career
in 1952, Maya began a career as a nightclub singer and during this time took the name Maya Angelou. -
Civil Rights
In 1959, Angelou bcame involved with Civil Rights Activists. -
Acting Career
Maya was the first black female director in Hollywood. She has written, produced, directed, and starred in productions for stage, film, and television. -
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
The free bird leaps
on the back of the win
and floats downstream
till the current ends
and dips his wings
in the orange sun rays
and dares to claim the sky. But a bird that stalks
down his narrow cage
can seldom see through
his bars of rage
his wings are clipped and
his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing. The caged bird sings
with fearful trill
of the things unknown
but longed for still
and is tune is heard
on the distant hillfor the caged bird
sings of freedom The free bird thinks -
A Brave and Startling Truth
We, unaccustomed to courage exiles from delight
live coiled in shells of loneliness
until love leaves its high holy temple
and comes into our sight
to liberate us into life. If we are bold, love strikes away the chains of fear from our souls. Love costs all we are and will ever be.
Yet it is only love which sets us free.
A Brave and Startling Truth. It is possible and imperative that we discover
A brave and startling truth. When we come to it
We, this people, on this wayward, floating body
C -
A Brave and Startling Truth
We, unaccustomed to courage exiles from delight
live coiled in shells of loneliness
until love leaves its high holy temple
and comes into our sight
to liberate us into life. If we are bold, love strikes away the chains of fear from our souls. Love costs all we are and will ever be.
Yet it is only love which sets us free.
A Brave and Startling Truth. It is possible and imperative that we discover
A brave and startling truth. When we come to it
We, this people, on this wayward, floating body
C -
Grammy
In 1993, Maya won a grammy for "Best Spoken Word Album," "On The Pulse of Morning,". -
Award
In 1996, Maya recieved the Martin Luther King, Jr. Legacy Association National Award. -
Award
In 2006, Maya recieved that Mother Teresa award. -
Oprah
In 2006, Maya Angelou became a radio talk show host for the first time hosting a weekly show for XM Satellite Radio's Oprah & Friends channel. -
Hope For Peace
In 2008, Maya became the first recipient of Hope for Peace and Justice Voice of Peace award.
