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Places Lived
Maya lived in St. Louis, Arkansas, San Fransico and North Carolina. Although, she finished her study of dance in New York City. -
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Roles Maya Held
Maya had a broad career and played a multitude of roles besides an author. Her roles varied from actress, dancer, singer, and composer. Maya stood as Hollywood's first female black director. Although she had many different roles, she became most famous for her roles as a writer, editor, poet and civil rights activist. -
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Languages Spoken
Maya spoke six different languages: English, French, Spanish, Hebrew, Italian, and Fante. -
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Interesting Facts
- Maya did not speak for five years of her youth after being sexually assaulted and thinking it was her fault and that she killed her violator by telling others his name.
- First black women to conduct a cable car in San Francisco
- Wrote and directed several movies
- Maya had her own line of Hallmark greeting cards
- She was also a brilliant chef who wrote two cookbooks
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Maya Angelou's Birth
Maya Angelou was born as Marguerite Johnson in Saint Louis, Missouri. -
Maya's son: Guy Johnson
When she was only 16 years old, Maya Angelou became pregant with her son and later gave birth to Clyde- who later became a poet and changed his name to "Guy Johnson." -
Abroad
Maya Angelou spent the majority of the 1960's abroad living in Egypt and then in Ghana, Africa. She worked there as an editor and freelance writer.
*Held a position at the University of Ghana
*Joined community of "Revolutionist Returnees"
*Returned to US in 1964 -
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Famous Works
"I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" (1969) --> Angelou's memoir and first nonfiction best-seller by an African-American woman.
"All God's Children Need Traveling Shoes" (1986) --> Autobiographical book about time spent in Ghana.
"Wouldn't Take Nothing for My Journey Now" (1994) --> Essay collection, insights on spirituality.
"A Song Flung Up to Heaven" (2002) --> Maya's return from Africa to the US.
"Letter to My Daughter" (2008) --> Dedicated to young women about "living lives of meaning." -
Profession
Dr. Maya Angelou discovered her passion for teaching at Wake Forest University.
She was named the University's first Reynolds Professor of American Studies. -
Honor in 1993
Maya Angelou was awarded with the honor of presenting a poem at President Bill Clinton's first inaguration in Wait Chapel. -
National Medal of Arts
In 2000, Maya Angelou was awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Bill Clinton. -
Maya Angelou Center for Health Equity
Wake Forest University awarded Maya Angelou with an honorary degree in 1977 and added the Maya Angelou Center for Health Equity to study raciail and ethnic disparities in health care and health outcomes. -
Presidential Medal of Freedom
In 2010, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by the US President, Barack Obama. (Highest Civilian Honor in the US) -
Maya Angelou's Death
Maya underwent many health issues before she died at her home in Winston-Salem, Noth Carolina.
