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Birth
Born with the name Marguerite Annie Johnson in St. Louis, Missouri -
Moved to Stamps, Arkansas
When their parents' marriage ended, Maya and her brother moved to live with their grandmother. -
Gave birth to her son, Guy
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Started dancing professionally
Danced in clubs around San Francisco, including the nightclub Purple Onion, where she sang and danced to calypso music. -
Records first album, Miss Calypso
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Became Coordinator of Southern Christian Leadership Conference
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Publishes "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings"
This book was her first autobiography -
Martin Luther King Jr asked her to organize a march
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Maya's film "Georgia, Georgia" was released
It was the first film screenplay written by a black woman. -
Recieves Pulitzer Prize Nomination
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Recited poem at Bill Clinton's inauguration
Recited "On the Pulse of Morning" -
Awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom
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Death
She died in her Winston-Salem home. She had reportedly been in poor health.
