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Maya Angelou was an American writer, poet, producer, director, performer, and civil rights activist. Born in St. Louis, Missouri on April 4th, 1928, Angelou’s life was an inspiration to many, and she has been widely celebrated and honored throughout her life for her contributions to American culture, civil rights, and the literary arts. Angelou was a trailblazer for women of color, for feminists everywhere, and for anyone struggling to find joy and meaning in their lives. She left behind a legacy of courage, strength, and self-determination that has changed the way we think and live in the 21st century.
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Angelou’s career began early in life, when she became the first African-American woman to both write and publish a book, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings in 1969. She was an iconic figure in the civil rights movement, working alongside prominent civil rights leaders, such as Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, and other influential figures. Angelou was also a Emmy Award-winning actress, a highly sought-after lecturer, and a regular guest on a variety of talk shows.
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Angelou’s career continued to flourish, and in 1993 she became the second poet in history to read aloud at a presidential inauguration when President Bill Clinton asked her to recite a poem at his first inauguration. Angelou also won numerous literary awards, including the National Book Award for Poetry, the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the National Medal of Arts.
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Angelou’s later years were no less successful; she was a professor of American Studies at Wake Forest University for 32 years, and in 2011 she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, America’s highest civilian award, for her life’s work. Angelou continued to speak and write on inspirational and political topics, as well as to perform her poetry readings, as late as 2014.
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Although Angelou passed away on May 28th, 2014 at the age of 86, her legacy continues to influence and shape American culture. Angelou’s writings, her civil rights activism, and her unparalleled spirit of self-determination are a testament to the power of living life with passion and purpose.
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The impact and influence of Maya Angelou will not soon be forgotten; her courage and determination continue to be recognized and celebrated by generations of people for generations to come. Angelou’s poetry, writings, and lectures have permanently transformed our culture and had a profound impact on the lives of millions of individuals.
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Maya Angelou will be remembered by people of all ages and walks of life, as she embodied the qualities of resilience, strength, and courage that are so essential in our lives. This modern-day icon will remain a source of inspiration, hope and courage to anyone in need of such things, long after her passing.
Childhood
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Maya Angelou was born on the 4th of April, 1928 in St. Louis, Missouri to Vivian Baxter, a nurse, and Bailey Johnson, a naval dietician. Due to her parents’ separation, young Angelou and her older brother moved often as she became increasingly exposed to the hardships and restrictions of Southern racism. Still, her grandmother’s home provided her some stability where Angelou spent much of her childhood in Arkansas and was supported in pursuing her dreams.
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Though Angelou was 8 when the Supreme Court ruled in Brown V. Board of Education, her experience with segregation was close-to-home and impacted her path in life. Growing up in a segregated world, Angelou was not allowed to go to middle school with white classmates and was discouraged from attending college, though she was able to due so by enrolling in the Washington Alfred High School.
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Angelou never shied away from pursuing and achieving her goals, and at the early age of 15 joined a traveling “troupe” of actors, dancers and singers. It was during this part of her childhood that Angelou painted California, and the rest of the United States, with the various colors of her different performances. Angelou embraced the roles of visionary from an early age, staying true to her goals as her life richly unfolded.
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It was at the young age of 17 that Angelou got pregnant and gave birth to a son, Guy Johnson Angelou. While parenting did not get in the way of Angelou’s profound curiosity, she did take on a range of jobs, including working as a madam and journalist. She even took to teaching in African countries, enthralled by the beauty of a transnational experience.
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Through it all, Angelou’s childhood saw an individual who did not back away from hard work, finding joy in song, dance and literature along the way. Angelou’s story of resilience and strength, evidenced in her early years, could already be seen in the literary great that she would eventually become.
Adulthood
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Maya Angelou’s adulthood was characterized by a string of successes punctuated by her courage, her determination and her never-ending search for knowledge and understanding of the world. At 32, she wrote the highly acclaimed, autobiographical work I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, which is widely considered one of the most important pieces of literature of the twentieth century, receiving multiple awards and becoming a New York Times bestseller.
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Angelou also enjoyed being a part of Broadway and Hollywood. She attempted an acting career and wrote a screenplay, Georgia Georgia (1973) and produced the play, Cabaret for Freedom (1976). She went on to triumph in films like The Blacks (1963), Roots (1977), and How to Make an American Quilt (1995). Her gifted skills for writing and performing led Angelou to be a part of Barack Obama’s inauguration, where she recited “On the Pulse of Morning.”
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Throughout her adult life, Angelou used her renowned artistry and skill to cultivate impactful social change, fueling her reputation as an esteemed civil rights advocate. Angelou contributed to the Civil Rights Movement, worked with Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X and served on the advisory boards of the National Democratic Party, the ACLU, and other distinguished organizations.
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Much of Angelou’s fame and recognition came from her tireless advocacy for civil rights and her passion for the unshakable values of equality and equal opportunity. She was respected and admired by people of diverse backgrounds, culminating in her winning the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011, being the 2nd poet ever to win this award.
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Through it all, Angelou persevered through astounding feats, consistently going beyond her own expectations to exemplify American brilliance, beauty, and remorseless optimism. Her adulthood was portrayed by limitless passions, an unfaltering tenacity and a limitless desire to be part of creating a better future for generations after her.
Later Life
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Angelou continued to have a successful career in her later years, achieving more success as a professor of American Studies at Wake Forest University, which she held for 32 years. Between 1981 and 2014, Angelou published nine volumes of autobiography, poetry, and essays. She worked as an editor for several publications, an editor and cultural consultant for PBS, a lecturer, a television producer, and a professor of American Studies.
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In her later years, Angelou published three more books, I Shall Not Be Moved (1990), The Heart of a Woman (1991), and A Song Flung Up to Heaven (2002). In addition to her literary accomplishments, Angelou also won a Grammy Award and numerous literary awards, including the Robert Frost Medal and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
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Angelou wrote and published books, she wrote and spoke publicly, and she lived a full and vibrant life, becoming an icon of resilience and determination. She was never content to sit still and accept life as it is, but always challenging herself and those around her, pushing for progress and change.
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In 2013, Angelou received the highest civil medal given by the United States Government, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. She was recognised for inspiring generations of people; for her courage; and for leading by example. The award was presented to her by President Barack Obama, and just a year later, at 85 years old, she passed away in her home.
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Angelou’s legacy lives on – she united generations of Americans, she inspired others to live bold and determined lives, and she remains a much-loved and highly respected figure throughout American society. Her life’s work stands testament to the power of challenging injustice and of standing up for the rights of Black Americans.
