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Maya Angelou is Born
Born in St. Louis Missouri. Raised in Saint Louis and Stamps, Arkansas. -
Graduation
Graduated from Mission High School in the summer of 1944. Soon after she gave birth to her only child, Clyde Bailey. -
Marriage
Married Tosh Angelos. He was an electrician in the US Navy. Adopted a form of his surname. -
Dancing Career
Angelou was noted for her talents as a dancer and singer in the Calypso and Cabaret styles. Performed professionally in the U.S., Europe, and Northern Africa. She also sold Albums of her recordings. -
Divorce
The marriage ended in a divorce. -
Porgy and Bess
Angelou Sang in West Coast and Hawaiian nightclubs -
Harlem Writes Guild Formed
An African-American writing group in New York formed in 1950. Angelous joined in 1959 and became active in the Civil Rights movement and served as the northern coordinator of the southern Christian leadership conference. -
I Know Why The Cage Bird Sings
Autobiography over early life. It is her tale of personally straight amid childhood trauma and racism. She was nominated for the National Book Award. -
Actress
She became the first African-American woman to have her first screenplay turned into a film. -
Tony Nomintion
She earned the award for her supporting role in Jerome Kitty's play "Look Away" and portrayed Kunta Kinte's grandmother in the television mini-series "Roots" in 1977 -
Reynolds Professorship of American Studies Award
Wake Forest University offered her the award for her contributions to literature. -
National Medal of Arts
She was awarded this by President Clinton for her contributions to literature. -
Presidential Medal of Freedom
President Barack Obama awarded Angelou the presidential medal of Freedom, the country's highest civilian honor. It was a fitting recognition of Angelou's remarkable career in the arts. -
Writers Hall of Fame
She was inducted into the Wake Forest University Writers Hall of Fame. The following year she received the National Book Foundations Literarian award for outstanding service to the American literary community. -
Death
She died at the age of 86 from poor health.