-
Birth
Maya Angelou was born in St.Louis Missouri. -
Moving to Arkansas
She moved to Stamps, Arkansas at age three because of her parent's divorce. -
Silence
At age 8 she was raped. Mr. Freeman (her mother's boyfriend) was found guilty of raping her. After he was released from jail he was found dead. Maya, after thinking her voice killed him, took a vow of silence for 6 years. -
Child Birth
When she was 16, she had her son. He is named Guy Johnson. His dad was a short-lived high school relationship. -
First Marriage
She married Enistasious Tosh Angelos. -
Martin Luther King Junior
She accepted the position of Northern coordinator for the New York office of the Southern Christian leadership conference, where she met Martin Lurther King Jr. -
Africa
She went to Africa to speak out about civil rights. She found work at a small radical newspaper -
Malcolm X
She met and befriended Malcolm X in Ghana. -
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
This novel is about her life from the age 3-16. It is dedicated to her son. This was also her first novel. -
Poetry
Her first poetry book was titled "Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water 'fore I Diiie." -
Second Marriage
She married Paul Du Feu -
Presidential Inauguration
She became the second poet to read her own poem at a presidential inauguration. She read "On the Pulse of Morning" at Clinton's inauguration. -
Death
She died at 86