Marguerite Annie Johnson (Maya Angelou)
- Born:
- April 4, 1928, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Died:
- May 28, 2014, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
- Nationality:
- American
- Profession(s):
- Author, Poet, Memoirist, Actress, Singer, Dancer, Civil Rights Activist
Early Life and Education
- Raised primarily in Stamps, Arkansas.
- Experienced a traumatic childhood, detailed in her autobiographies.
- Briefly lived in St. Louis and San Francisco.
- Received a scholarship to study dance and drama at the California Labor School.
Career and Major Achievements
- Worked as a streetcar conductor, dancer, and journalist in her early career.
- Active in the Civil Rights Movement, working with Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr.
- Appointed to two presidential committees by Presidents Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter.
- Received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2010.
- Recited her poem "On the Pulse of Morning" at President Bill Clinton's 1993 inauguration.
- Held the Reynolds Professorship of American Studies at Wake Forest University.
Notable Works
The 'angelou biography brief history maya' must invariably point to a writer and artist who left an enduring mark on American literature and culture. Her autobiographical works are especially significant.
Publications
- I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969)
- Gather Together in My Name (1974)
- Singin' and Swingin' and Gettin' Merry Like Christmas (1976)
- The Heart of a Woman (1981)
- All God's Children Need Traveling Shoes (1986)
- A Song Flung Up to Heaven (2002)
- Mom & Me & Mom (2013)
Film and Television
Title | Year | Role/Contribution |
---|---|---|
Georgia, Georgia | 1972 | Screenwriter |
Roots | 1977 | Actress |
Down in the Delta | 1998 | Director |
Poetry Collections
- Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water 'fore I Diiie (1971)
- Oh Pray My Wings Are Gonna Fit Me Well (1975)
- And Still I Rise (1978)
- Shaker, Why Don't You Sing? (1983)
Legacy and Impact
Maya Angelou's legacy rests on her contributions to literature, her activism for civil rights, and her powerful voice as a spokesperson for the African American experience. Her autobiographies, particularly I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, are considered seminal works that have shaped understanding of race, gender, and identity in America.