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Margarite Annie Johnson Angelou (Maya Angelou) Born
Maya was born in St. Louis. -
Move to Stamps
When Maya was three years old, her parents were divorced, and she was sent to live with her brother and grandmother in Stamps, Arkansas. -
Maya Raped
Maya is raped by her mother's boyfriend. When she reveals this, her uncles kick him to death. She is scared by the power of speech and does not talk for almost 5 years. -
Move to San Francisco
Maya moved to San Francisco with her brother and brother. She began taking dance lessons very seriously. -
Son
Maya, studying dance and theater, was delayed by a son when she was 16. -
Strip Club
At a low point in her life, Angelou was reduced to working in a strip club. Fortunately, this job got her career going: she was found by a theater group and started to rise again -
World Tour of Porgie and Bess
Auditioned for and won a role in the play "Porgie and Bess." Spent two years touring 22 countries. -
Moved to New York
Moved from San Diego to New York, became friends with many writers, and even got involved in the civil rights movement. -
Move to Egypt/Ghana
Moved to Egypt in 1961 with boyfriend, editor for Arab Observer. After she broke up with her boyfriend, she moved to Ghana, where her son was injured in a car accident. Took a job at the African Review, stayed for many years. -
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings published
Angelou's first autobiographical work, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, is published in 1969. -
Professor of American Studies
Appointed as a college professor at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem. Taught American Studies. -
Angelou Dies