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Birth
Full Name: Marguerite Annie Johnson
Born in St. Louis, Missouri -
Graduation and First Child
At 17, she graduated from the California Labor School
Gave birth to Clyde -
Marriage
Married Tosh Angelos
Moved to New York City -
Divorced
Began to sing in nightclubs
Moved back to San Fransico
Changed her name to Maya Angelou -
Toured Europe
She performed opera
Late 1950s -
Began Writing Career
Met Johns Oliver Killens
Moved to New York City -
Traveled the World
Went to Egypt and wrote on a newspaper
Moved to Ghana for her son to attend College -
Returned to US
Met Malcom X and moved back to US -
Asked to organize March
A March for MLK but then he was assassinated before it could come to be -
Published First Autobiography
I Know Why the Caged Birds Sing
Became global best seller and one of Americas most talented writers -
Nominated for Pulitzer Prize
For poetry book "Give Me a Cold Drink of Water 'fore I Diie" -
Appointed to Presidential Commission
Appointed by President Jimmy Carter to Presidential Commission during the International Womens Year -
Professor of American Studies
Accepted this role at Wake Forest, becoming one of the few black professors at the college -
Performed Poem "On the Pulse of Morning"
Performed at President Bill Clinton's inauguration and won a grammy for the performance -
Died
In her life published 8 autobiographies
Last major award before death was the Presidential Meal of Freedom in 2010