Maya Angelou was a renowned American author and a civil rights activist. She was born to Bailey and Vivian Johnson Angelou on April 4th, 1928 in St. Louis, Missouri. Her family moved to Stamps, Arkansas where she was raised by her grandmother, Annie Henderson, where she also attended elementary school. At the age of 17, she moved to San Francisco, California with her mother and brother. She held various jobs, such as being a chef, a conductor on a San Francisco streetcar and a table dancer, until becoming an actress.
In 1954 she married an above-ground bus musician called Tosh Angelos, who is famously known as the leader of the Be-Bop Kings. This union lasted four years. Angelou began writing poetry during her teenage years and won the Watts Notebook poetry contest. After her success in the poetry world, she was asked to do the opening performance at the 1968 Democratic National Convention.
In 1969, her first autobiography, I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, was published by Random House. It was the first best seller by an African-American author. A year later, her second book, Gather Together in My Name, was published and Maya was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for her 1971 collection, Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water ‘fore I Diiie. Angelou published an impressive total of eleven books in all, earning numerous awards, including over thirty honorary degrees.
Maya Angelou’s passion for activism and equality of civil rights extended to writing and public speaking. She gave lecturs around the world and supported movements such as the anti-apartheid and anti-war in Iraq. In 2011, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her many works and her mission for spreading love and promoting freedom.
Maya Angelou passed away on the 28th of May 2014, aged 86. She was buried in the city where she was born, St. Louis, Missouri. In 2017, a memorial statue was erected in her honour, becoming the city’s first one commemorating an African-American woman.
Early career of Maya Angelou
After Angelou left Arkansas, she moved to San Francisco with her mother and brother. Here, she found a range of jobs, such as table dancer, streetcar conductor, and chef. It was here that Maya secured the role of assistant to the composer, composer LeRoi Jones, for the Broadway production of The Beer; this event sparked her dream of pursuing a career in writing, theatre and performance.
Ultimately, she found success in poetry, earning her the acclaim she deserved for her words. This same year, Angelou began her recording career with the album Miss Calypso, which gained mild success. After recording Miss Calypso, Angelou travelled to Europe, where she began honing her acting skills and furthered her writing career.
Maya Angelou soon after acted in Porgy and Bess, a musical by the German lyricist, Kurt Weill. After a brief period in Europe, she then moved to Cairo, Egypt in the mid 1960s, and then to Ghana, where she set up the first African-American theatre company. Here she also offered workshops on African-American literature and culture. During this period Angelou made connections with individuals such as Malcolm X, James Baldwin and Nina Simone.
It was in this same period that Angelou first gained international success with her first memoir, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, which was revolutionary and widely acclaimed. The success of the book earned her a Pulitzer Prize nomination, and subsequently she maintained her extraordinary publication and performance career, spreading her inspiring words and activism for civil rights.
Maya Angelou’s Activism
Angelou was a strong advocate for civil rights, as she believed that everyone deserved equal opportunities and respect. She stood against racism and understood fully the importance of education. Later in her career she became a prominent voice for the cause, travelling across the United States and abroad to spread her powerful words.
Angelou held an impressive list of awards, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011, which was awarded to her by then President Barack Obama. She was described by Obama “as a testament to the power of words”. As an advocate of Black consciousness and modern black leadership, she became an icon of the civil rights movement.
In addition to civil rights, Angelou also prominently voiced her opinion on many social and political issues, including the Vietnam War and Workers Rights issues. She also made her voice heard on issues such as education, poverty and peace. Angelou was an advocate of the many social issues that impacted the African-American community, and she was a source of inspiration for the many individuals who followed her.
In the years following her incredible legacy and legacy of civil rights activism, Maya Angelou has been honored by countless institutions, politicians, and activists. Her contributions to the civil rights movement and the literary sphere are irreplaceable, and she will truly be missed.
Educational Achievements of Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou achieved an impressive list of academic accolades throughout her life. She was awarded over thirty honorary degrees from various universities around the world. She was also given numerous awards for her poetry, including the Pulitzer Prize nomination for her book Just Give Me A Cool Drink of Water ‘Fore I Diiie. In addition to having her work anthologized and published in various books, she also taught at several universities and colleges.
In 1981, Angelou became a professor of American studies at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. There she established the first African-American Studies program in The United States, and remained in the position until she retired in 2002. Following her retirement, she was appointed as the Reynolds Professor of American Studies.
Maya Angelou had a vast influence on the world of spoken word poetry; her impact was felt throughout her lifetime and remains felt today by countless readers and listeners alike. Angelou has inspired countless numbers of people, both with her words and her activism; she has been recognized by the international community for her work, and her legacy will live on for many years to come.
Impact of Maya Angelou in the Media
Maya Angelou was a giant figure in African-American culture and was an inspiration to many. Her works broke boundaries, and she is commonly recognized by her writing and public speaking. During her lifetime, she recieved numerous awards and recognitions for her work and is known as one of the most influential African-American writers in history.
The media was greatly impacted by the works of Maya Angelou, as she was featured in books, newspapers, and television. She was a prominent figure in the civil rights movement and was featured in magazines and newspapers around the world. Her works and words were embraced by many, and her influence was felt across the nation.
Her success in the media was further furthered when she was appointed to the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities in 2010, as well as when she recieved the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011. She was praised for her work and granted several opportunities to speak and appear in the media, which she used to further her causes and spread her message globally.
Maya Angelou was a powerful figure, who not only spread her message through her words, but also through her activism. Her impact was felt in multiple spheres and is still relevant today, in both the African-American community and the international community.
Influence of Maya Angelou in Literature
Maya Angelou’s works of literature have had a profound impact on the world of literature, as well as on society as a whole. Through her words, she was able to capture the spirit of what it means to be African-American. Her works, such as I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings and A Song Flung Up to Heaven, are deeply personal and touch on themes of racism, identity, and oppression.
Her influence has been felt around the world and has become a major influence on the literary scene. Her works have been embraced by countless writers and readers alike, and she is seen as an icon and a voice for the African-American community. Angelou has also been praised for her activism and her use of language to advocate for civil rights.
I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings brought Angelou’s story of growing up in the segregated south to the mainstream. Her words had the power to move people and her work was a reflection of her life experiences and her understanding of the world. Her literature has inspired countless young writers and has given hope to many.
Angelou has been an important figure in the literary world, and her works continue to inspire and touch the lives of many. She has been an advocate for African-American culture and has used her writing to bring attention to social issues and injustices. Her works will continue to be remembered for years to come and her words will continue to be a source of inspiration and hope.
