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Birth
Maya Angelou was born April 4th in St. Louis Missouri with her given name being Marguerite Annie Johnson -
Mr. Freeman
Maya was sexually assaulted by her mother's boyfriend and became mute after his death for an extended period of time -
Cable Car Conductor
Maya dropped out of school to become the first female African American cable car conductor -
Guy Angelou
Maya returned to high school but became pregnant and had her son, Guy, shortly after graduating. -
Southern Christian Leadership Conference
Martin Luther King appointed Maya to lead the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. -
Move to Africa
Vusumzi Make, a South African civil rights activist, and Maya make their move to Cairo and there meet Malcolm X. -
Organization of African American Unity
As Maya returned to the US with Malcolm X she aided in leading his Organization of African American Unity -
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
Malcolm X is assassinated and two years later Maya publishes her autobiography. -
Chubb Fellowship Award
Maya receives the Chubb Fellowship Award by Yale University -
Pulitzer
For her poem "Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water 'fore I Die" Maya receives a Pulitzer Prize nomination -
Poem Recitation
Maya recited her poem "On the Pulse of the Morning" at the inauguration of Bill Clinton -
Hope for Peace and Justice Voice of Peace award
Maya receives the Hope for Peace and Justice Voice of Peace award