One of the most renowned poets of the twentieth century, Maya Angelou emerged from humble beginnings to become a highly influential literary figure. Born on April 4, 1928 in St. Louis, Missouri, she was originally named Marguerite Johnson. The eldest of her family, she recalled her upbringing as one of extreme poverty and deep-seated racism. After several tumultuous years in St. Louis, Johnson’s family relocated to California, where, with the help of their relatives, they managed to find more consistent work.
Despite her loss of early position, Johnson gained much in the new location; she was exposed to the world of literature and the burgeoning cultural landscape that included the Harlem Renaissance and the burgeoning civil rights movement. With her speech and intelligence, Johnson quickly gained attention. Her mentors supported her to attend prestigious schools across the U.S. and, shortly after high school, she married and moved to New York, where she was a prominent member of various literary circles.
It was in New York that Johnson changed her name to Maya Angelou and graduated from San Francisco’s School for Social Workers. During this period, Angelou began experimenting with a range of genres: she wrote short stories and plays, worked as an editorial assistant for a magazine, and even composed music for a daytime television series. Through each of these works, Angelou’s distinguishing storytelling ability began to shine through, attracting the attention of readers, directors, and producers.
In the summer of 1962, Angelou’s interest in the spoken and written word brought her to Ghana, where she commenced her writing career. During her two-year stay, she received invitations to join a range of African organizations. Her success earned her a place in A-list circles, including a prominent position as Nelson Mandela’s publicist.
In Ghana and beyond, Angelou’s writing prowess steadily began to emerge. Although she had been crafting poetry since her teenage years, she began tailoring her words to the page with increasing artistry. In the spirit of poetry’s oral history, she was determined to capture a type of vernacular language that celebrated and highlighted the vibrancy and nuance of Black expression.
And in 1969, her first book of poetry, “Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water ‘fore I Die,” was an astonishing success. It proved just how infectious and alluring Angelou’s language was; it celebrated Blackness in both speech and in life, exploring the relationships between the two with elegance and raw energy. And this energy was prelude to what would become her most iconic work: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.
Her Education and Trainings
Maya Angelou’s mother enrolled her in public schools where she had to face a number of disagreements with her teachers as a result of her widely acclaimed intelligence. Though these disagreements might have been detrimental for some students, it only helped Angelou become better at understanding the material and she eventually graduated with honors from high school. Later, Angelou received a scholarship to study dancing and acting at San Francisco’s Labor School. Her schooling would continue through college, as upon high school she obtained yet another scholarship to attend University of California – Los Angeles. After that she studied drama and dance at California Labor School and music at Bernardanza Elementary School in San Francisco.
In addition to attending regular educational institutions, Angelou also trained with some of the best instructors. At the University of California, Berkeley, she studied under renowned African-American artist and scholar Dr. John Killens. Afterwards, she backpacked across Europe, eventually settling in Athens for a period where she received additional training in music and dance. By the time she left Athens she had also become an accomplished singer, dancer, and actor.
Her Career
Angelou’s career began to blossom after her stint in Athens with her first major role in Porgy and Bess in San Francisco. Her distinctive performance earned the attention of critics, and she soon began to be invited to give lectures and record music. In 1962, Angelou published her first autobiographical work, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, which is considered one of the greatest autobiographies of all time. Despite her success, Angelou remained modest and did not take too much attention. This was highlighted when she became the first African-American woman to conduct a symphony in 1973.
In 1976 Angelou followed up I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings with the powerfully moving autobiographical work titled Gather Together in My Name. The book chronicles the three years Maya spent living alone after the death of her father, and the struggles she faced as a single mother. Beating the odds, this period proved to be a pivotal moment in Angelou’s life as she matured and developed as an individual. Years later, Angelou was awarded over thirty honorary degrees from different universities, attesting to her commitment to education and her inspiring life story.
Her Legacy
After spending time giving guest lectures and concerts, Angelou moved to Georgia in 1978 and began teaching and writing full time. During this time she wrote seven more autobiographies, three books of essays, and many poems, some of which won major awards. Maya Angelou eventually retired from teaching and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011, being recognized by President Obama as one of the most prolific African-American authors and poets of the 20th century.
Maya Angelou transcended boundaries, crossing the boundaries of genre, class and race. Today, she is remembered as one of our most beloved poets and authors. She opened the door for other poets and authors to take up their pens and express their ideas freely and fearlessly.
Angelou inspired the world with her inspirational works, something she attributed to the power of a dream and her own resilience. Her books and stories encouraged generations of readers to follow their dreams, no matter how insurmountable the odds seemed. Her works spoke of a humanity held together by a common bond, no matter race, religion, or other circumstances.
Her Works
Angelou provided a voice for many different types of people. Her works focused on resilience, self-discovery, pride, and hope. From her debut poetry book, “Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water ‘Fore I Die,” to her memoirs, such as I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Angelou’s work had a powerful impact on readers.
Other notable works by Angelou include her poems “Still I Rise” and “Woman Work”, her autobiography All God’s Children Need Traveling Shoes, her collection of personal essays Wouldn’t Take Nothing for My Journey Now, her works of fiction Singin’ and Swingin’ and Gettin’ Merry Like Christmas and The Heart of a Woman.
Angelou also wrote several plays and multiple screenplays during her long and distinguished career. She received two Emmy nominations for her collaboration on the television series “Touched By an Angel”, and also composed the score for the 1973 film Georgia, Georgia.
Her Awards and Recognitions
Maya Angelou has won numerous awards and recognitions, including an Emmy Award nomination, a Tony Award nomination, three Grammy Awards, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Additionally, she has been the recipient of honorary degrees from dozens of universities including Harvard and Yale.
Angelou was also honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2013 and was included in a list of the 100 most influential people of the 20th century. In her lifetime, she wrote five volumes of her autobiography, thirty books of poetry and essays, and produced countless works of fiction and displays of progressive activism.
Media Appearances
In addition to her work as a poet, novelist, dramatist, and educator, Angelou made numerous media appearances throughout her career. She graced TV screens by roles in sitcoms, talk shows, and documentaries. Additionally, she composed music for the television movie The Mask and the anthology series Small Wonders. She also wrote and composed songs such as the title song for the film Poetic Justice and wrote an original song for the Broadway show Richard II.
Angelou was a frequent guest on the television series Bill Moyers’ World of Ideas and was interviewed on Inside the Actor’s Studio. She also appeared in films such as Poetic Justice and Madea’s Family Reunion, as well as starring in the 1993 adaptation of her best-selling book I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings alongside Oprah Winfrey.
Herdeath
Maya Angelou died in 2014 at the age of 86 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Her memorial service was attended by over 6,000 people and was a testament to the enormity of her influence. Her work lives on as an inspiration to millions of people throughout the world.
