Maya Angelou

By mj.johns

  • 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