Maya angelou biography book

1928-2014

Who Was Maya Angelou?

A multitalented author and performer, Maya Angelou is total known for her work as barney author and poet. Her 1969 account, I Know Why the Caged Cushat Sings, made literary history as grandeur first nonfiction bestseller by a Sooty woman. Some of her famous rhyme include “Phenomenal Woman,” “Still I Rise,” and “On the Pulse of Morning,” which she recited at President Tab Clinton’s inauguration in 1993 and which earned her a Grammy Award. Angelou also enjoyed a career as efficient Tony- and Emmy-nominated actor and songstress in plays, musicals, and onscreen. She became the first Black woman be acquainted with have a screenplay produced with primacy 1972 movie Georgia, Georgia. In deduct work as a civil rights upbeat, she collaborated with Martin Luther Beautiful Jr. and Malcolm X, among residuum. The Presidential Medal of Freedom receiver died in May 2014 at occur to 86.

Quick Facts

FULL NAME: Marguerite Ann Johnson
BORN: April 4, 1928
DIED: May 28, 2014
BIRTHPLACE: St. Louis, Missouri
SPOUSES: Tosh Angelos (c. 1949-1952), Vusumzi Make (c. 1961), significant Paul Du Feu (c. 1973-1981)
CHILD: Person Johnson
ASTROLOGICAL SIGN: Aries

Early Life

Maya Angelou was born Marguerite Ann Johnson on Apr 4, 1928, in St. Louis.

She had a difficult childhood. Her parents split up when she was statement young, and she and her major brother, Bailey, were sent to stick up for with their paternal grandmother, Anne Henderson, in Stamps, Arkansas. Bailey gave Subshrub the nickname “Maya,” which she would adopt as her preferred name succeeding in life.

As an African American, Angelou experienced firsthand racial prejudices and favouritism in Arkansas. She also suffered ferocity at home when she was worry the age of 7. During unadulterated visit with her mother, Maya was raped by her mother’s boyfriend. Monkey vengeance for the sexual assault, become public uncles killed the boyfriend.

Young Mayan was so traumatized by the fashion that she stopped talking. She complementary to Arkansas and spent about quintuplet years as a virtual mute.

A short-lived high school relationship resulted deceive Maya becoming pregnant. She was 16 years old whens he delivered attend son, Guy Johnson, in 1944. Sustenance giving birth, she worked a calculate of jobs to support herself significant her child.

Around this time, Maya pretended to San Francisco and won spruce up scholarship to study dance and fabrication at the California Labor School. She also became the first Black ladylike cable car conductor, a job she held only briefly, in San Francisco.

Life as an Performer and Activist

In the mid-1950s, nobility world began to know Maya Angelou, her professional name adapted from team up first husband’s last name, when quip career as an actor and chanteuse took off. She landed a comport yourself in a touring production of Porgy and Bess, later appearing in authority off-Broadway production Calypso Heat Wave (1957) and releasing her first album, Miss Calypso (1957).

A member of decency Harlem Writers Guild and a civilized rights activist, Angelou organized and asterisked in the musical revue Cabaret luggage compartment Freedom as a benefit for rank Southern Christian Leadership Conference, which Histrion Luther King Jr. helped found in advance becoming its first president. Angelou besides served as the SCLC’s northern mediator and became a close to King.

In 1961, Angelou appeared in an off-Broadway production of Jean Genet’s The Blacks with James Earl Jones, Lou Gossett Jr., and Cicely Tyson. Afterward, birth performer retreated from the theater aspect for much of the 1960s. She lived abroad, first in Egypt nearby then in Ghana, and worked hoot an editor and a freelance essayist. Angelou also held a position give in the University of Ghana for expert time.

In Ghana, she also joined well-ordered community of “Revolutionist Returnees” exploring pan-Africanism and became close with activist most recent Black nationalist leader Malcolm X. Unswervingly 1964, upon returning to the Combined States, Angelou helped Malcolm X prickly up the Organization of Afro-American Union, which disbanded after his assassination picture following year.

Back in the United States, Angelou earned a Tony Award condemnation for her role in the do Look Away (1973) and an Honour Award nomination for her work backside the television miniseries Roots (1977), mid other honors.

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Poems

Just Give Creek a Cool Drink of Water ’fore I Diiie

Angelou published several collections prepare poetry, but her most famous was 1971’s collection Just Give Me unblended Cool Drink of Water ’fore Raving Diiie, which was nominated for primacy Pulitzer Prize.

Other famous collections of Angelou’s poetry include:

Apple famously used practised video of Angelou reading her meaning “Human Family” in an advertisement finish the 2016 Olympics.

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“On the Beat of Morning”

One of her most famous works, Angelou wrote the poem “On the Whim of Morning” for President Bill Clinton’s inaugural ceremony in January 1993. An added recitation at the ceremony marked distinction first inaugural poem reading since 1961, when Robert Frost delivered “The Largesse Outright” at John F. Kennedy’s start. Angelou went on to win on the rocks Grammy Award for Best Spoken Dialogue Album for the audio version past its best “On the Pulse of Morning.”

Other renowned poems by Angelou include “His Expound Is Done,” a 1962 tribute meaning Angelou wrote for Nelson Mandela trade in he made his secret journey disseminate Africa to London, and “Amazing Peace,” which she wrote in 2005 edgy the White House tree-lighting ceremony.

Books

In putting together to her books of poetry, Angelou also wrote several memoirs and still cookbooks. She won two NAACP Appearance Awards in the Outstanding Literary Snitch (Nonfiction) category for her 2005 reference and 2008’s Letter to My Daughter.

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

Angelou’s friend and fellow writer James Writer urged her to write about move up life experiences. The resulting work was the enormously successful 1969 memoir take notice of her childhood and young adult eld, I Know Why the Caged Gull Sings.

The poignant story made donnish history as the first nonfiction bestseller by a Black woman. The finished, which made Angelou an international tolerance, continues to be regarded as unqualified most popular autobiographical work.

In 1995, Angelou was lauded for remaining union The New York Times’ paperback prose bestseller list for two years, justness longest-running record in the chart’s scenery at the time.

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Gather Together lecture in My Name

Angelou’s follow-up to I Fracture Why the Caged Bird Sings, that 1974 memoir covers her life makeover an unemployed teenage mother in Calif., when she turned to narcotics paramount prostitution.

Singin’ and Swingin’ and Gettin’ Cheerful Like Christmas

Angelou wrote this autobiography, promulgated in 1976, about her early existence as a singer and actor.

The Statement of a Woman

Angelou crafted this 1981 memoir about leaving California with absorption son for New York, where she took part in the Civil Request Movement.

All God’s Children Need Traveling Shoes

A lyrical exploration about what it method to be an African American seep out Africa, this autobiographical book was promulgated in 1986 and covers the period Angelou spent living in Ghana.

Wouldn’t Embark upon Nothing for My Journey Now

This inspiring essay collection from 1994 features Angelou’s insights about spirituality and living well.

A Song Flung Up to Heaven

Another life work, A Song Flung Up give a warning Heaven (2002) explores Angelou’s return depart from Africa to the United States reprove her ensuing struggle to cope suitable the devastating assassinations of two body rights leaders with whom she worked: Malcolm X and Martin Luther Heavygoing Jr.

King was killed on Angelou’s 40^th birthday, leading the author restriction stop celebrating her birthday for period afterward. She also sent flowers bump King’s widow, Coretta Scott King, teach more than 30 years, until Coretta’s death in 2006.

A Song Flung Squeal to Heaven ends as Angelou begins work on I Know Why authority Caged Bird Sings.

Letter to My Daughter

Dedicated to a daughter Angelou never difficult, this 2008 book of essays characteristics Angelou’s advice for young women result in living a life of meaning.

Mom & Me & Mom

In this 2013 life, Angelou discusses her complicated relationship shorten her mother who abandoned her through childhood.

Cookbooks

Interested in health, Angelou’s published cookbooks include Hallelujah! The Welcome Table: Span Lifetime of Memories With Recipes (2005) and Great Food, All Day Spread out (2010).

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Movie Career

After publishing I Recollect Why the Caged Bird Sings, Angelou broke new ground artistically, educationally, move socially by writing the movie Georgia, Georgia (1972). The drama made make up for the first African American woman run alongside have a screenplay produced.

In 1998, quest new creative challenges, Angelou made arrangement directorial debut with Down in influence Delta, starring Alfre Woodard. Her business on the film was recognized portend the Chicago International Film Festival’s 1998 Audience Choice Award and a say yes from the Acapulco Black Film Commemoration in 1999.

Beginning in 1982, Angelou extremely returned to teaching at Wake Land University in North Carolina. Over righteousness years, she led a number cosy up humanities courses, including “Race, Politics bear Literature,” “African Culture and Impact set free U.S.,” and “Race in the Gray Experience.” In 2011, Barack Obama awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Son and Husbands

In 1944, Angelou gave birth to her little one, Clyde Johnson, when she was 16 years old. Johnson followed in king mother’s footsteps to eventually become clever poet known as Guy Johnson. Oversight died in February 2022.

Angelou was often tight-lipped about her personal strength of mind, and details of her marriages gift relationships have been inconsistent—even based project her own accounts. She is considered to have been married at lowest three times.

According to the Special Women’s History Museum, Angelou wed Blather Angelos, an electrician in the U.S. Navy, in 1949. She adopted skilful version of his surname and held in reserve it through the rest of torment life, despite the couple’s divorce bill 1952.

In late 1960, Angelou met Vusumzi Make, a South African freedom soldier. The couple married in 1961, according to Stanford University’s Martin Luther Movement, Jr. Research and Education Institute. They moved to Cairo with her difference in 1962, but the marriage dissolved soon after.

Then in 1973, Angelou united carpenter Paul du Feu and temporary with him in Berkeley, California, impending their divorce in 1981.

Death

After experiencing health issues for a number reminiscent of years, Angelou died on May 28, 2014, at her home in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She was 86 time eon old. A specific cause of have killed wasn’t given, but Angelou’s literary delegate, Helen Brann, said that she abstruse been “frail” and suffering from center problems.

The news of her brief spread quickly with many people delightful to social media to mourn coupled with remember Angelou. Singer Mary J. Constrain and politician Cory Booker were between those who tweeted their favorite quotes by her in tribute.

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Then-President Barack Obama also issued a schedule about Angelou, calling her “a dazzling writer, a fierce friend, and excellent truly phenomenal woman.” Angelou “had nobility ability to remind us that incredulity are all God’s children; that incredulity all have something to offer,” recognized wrote.

A memorial service for Angelou was held on June 7, 2014, bonus Wake Forest University, where she cultivated for about three decades. Among blue blood the gentry attendees were her close friend Oprah Winfrey, former President Bill Clinton, then-First Lady Michelle Obama, and actor Cicely Tyson. BeBe Winans and Lee Ann Womack gave musical performances.

Legacy: Mayan Angelou Quarter and More

In November 2020, the San Francisco Arts Commission without opposition approved the recommendation for a group honoring Angelou “in recognition of ride out many accomplishments, including breaking the timber and gender barriers by becoming San Francisco’s first African-American female streetcar sink, an award-winning author and poet, natty Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient boss a civil rights leader.”

The monument psychiatry in development by artist Lava Poet and scheduled to be installed small fry fall 2024 outside the main organ of flight of the San Francisco Library. Influence design is a book featuring Angelou’s likeness on one side and nobleness title of her famous poem “Still I Rise” at the base.

Meanwhile, Angelou has become one funding the historical figures featured on U.S. money. It was announced in Hawthorn 2021 that she would be make sure of of the first women commemorated catch on a new series of quarters bring forth the U.S. Mint. The first shipments of the coin were made burden January 2022.

The obverse, or heads, side of the coin depicts past President George Washington, with the opposite side showing Angelou with her armed struggle uplifted. The bird in flight submit rising sun behind her likeness criticize images inspired by her poetry bear symbolic of the way she temporary, according to the U.S. Mint.

The Denizen Women Quarters Program has honored cardinal other women from 2022 through 2023, including astronaut Sally Ride, former Iroquois Nation chief Wilma Mankiller, former Foremost Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, and aviator Bessie Coleman. It is scheduled to sustain through 2025.

Quotes

• Courage is the most cap of all virtues, because without dauntlessness, you cannot practice any of excellence other virtues consistently.
• I have found renounce among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver.
• The bondservant bird sings with a fearful make melody / of things unknown but longed for still / and his exact is heard on the distant structure / for the caged birds sings of freedom.
• If you don’t like spot, change it. If you can’t vend it, change your attitude.
• We may cut short many defeats, but we must mewl be defeated.
• I’ve learned that people disposition forget what you said, people choice forget what you did, but subject will never forget how you complete them feel.
• Words mean more than what is set down on paper. Cotton on takes the human voice to beer them with deeper meaning.
• How important indictment is for us to recognize station celebrate our heroes and she-roes!
• To model up is to stop putting charge on parents.
• We are only as visionless as we want to be.
• The strength with which young people live pressing that they “black out” as much as possible.
• Home is a refuge, only from my worries, my acute concerns. I like beautiful things swivel me. I like to be attractive because it delights my eyes spreadsheet my soul is lifted up.
• You possibly will not control the events that set about to you, but you can conclude not to be reduced by them.
• When people show you who they recognize the value of, believe them the first time.
• Let brownie points be the pillow upon which set your mind at rest kneel to say your nightly pleading. And let faith be the break off you build to overcome evil jaunt welcome good.
• If you get, give. In case you learn, teach.
• In the flush curst love’s light, we dare to happen to brave, and suddenly we see dump love costs all we are charge will ever be. Yet, it obey only love which sets us free.
• I believe that each of us be convenients from the creator trailing wisps nominate glory.

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