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Maya was born
She was born to her mother, Vivian Baxter Johnson, and her father, Bailey Johnson -
Rape
When Maya was 8 she was raped by her mothers boyfriend after her parents had divorced. We know him by Freeman. -
Dropped out
Shortly after Maya was raped she moved in with her grandparents and then later dropped out of school -
Dance
Maya started to study dance at San Francisco's Labor School -
Dance
At this time Maya was studying modern dance in San Francisco, and spent a year studying African dance with Pearl Primus in New York -
First Album
Maya first album was called Calypso Lady -
Album
Maya has recorded her first album "Miss Calypso" -
Ghana
Maya moved to Ghana where she taught at the Ghana School of Music and Drama -
"Georgia, Georgia"
Maya wrote the screenplay of Georgia, Georgia. Hers was the first to be written by an African American and to be published -
Award
Maya won the Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album -
Presidential Medal of Freedom
Maya received this medal from President Barack Obama -
Maya passes away
Sadly Maya Angelou passes away at 86