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Life of Maya Angelou
Marguerite (Maya) Angelou was born in St. Louis, Missouri. Her parents names were Bailey and Vivian Johnson. She was named Maya by her brother Bailey Jr. -
Moved to live with her grandmother
Angelou and her brother were sent to Arkansas to live with their grandmother, Annie Henderson. She owned a general store that sold needed basic commodities and was able to provide for the children. -
Return to St Louis
When she was 8 she returned to live with her mother. Angelou was sexually abused and raped by her mother's boyfriend. He was found guilty but was jailed for only one day and died shortly after possibly due to repercussions from Mary's uncles. -
Child's birth and occupation
When was Angelou 17, she gave birth to a son named Guy. Around this time she worked as the first African American female street car conductor in the San Francisco area. -
Harlem Writers Guild
She joined the Harlem Writers Guild in the 1950s. During this time, Angelou heard Dr. Martin Luther King speak and decided to fight for civil rights. -
Other Careers
Angelou danced at clubs in the San Francisco area. -
Move to Africa
Angelou moved to Ghana in West Africa to work as a freelance writer and editor for the African Review. She returned to the US in the1960s. -
Three Way Choice
She was the author and executive producer of a five-part television miniseries "Three Way Choice." -
Georgia Georgia
She wrote the original screenplay and musical score for the film Georgia, Georgia, -
Look Away
Tony award for acting Broadway debut in Look Away -
Roots
She performed in the Broadway show Roots. -
National Medal of Arts
Angelou was awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Bill Clinton. -
Presidential Medal of Freedom
She was given the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Barack Obama. -
Death
Angelou died in Winston-Salem, North Carolina