Maya Angelou was born in St. Louis, Missouri, but she spent much of her adult life living in New York. Her innovative career took her from a high school dropout to novelist, civil rights activist, playwright, poet and professor. During her years in New York, she developed politically and socially, forged friendships with many notable figures, and created much of the work she is celebrated for today.
In New York, Angelou was mentored by civil rights leader Bayard Rustin. She also worked closely with James Baldwin, playing a prominent role in the Harlem Writers Guild. As a civil rights activist, she worked with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. She was among the handful of women who marched on the 1963 March on Washington. There, she sang “The Battle Hymme of the Republic” in front of the Lincoln Memorial for the hundreds of thousands of people in attendance.
Angelou wrote and published five of her seven autobiographies while she lived in New York. Her masterpiece, “I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings,” was published during this time. “Caged Bird” helped Angelou achieve international literary celebrity; it went on to be nominated for many awards and even featured in an Oprah Book Club Special.
Throughout her time living in New York, Angelou lived in several places including an apartment in Harlem, and four years in a housing project in Brooklyn. In 1998 she moved to an apartment in midtown Manhattan and lived there until her death in 2014. During this time, she taught at several universities, was a professor of American studies at Wake Forest University and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
In her lifetime, Angelou was a prolific writer, with books, plays, poems, essays, and movie scripts filling her résumé. She wrote for “Look Magazine,” “The Pulse,” “The New York Times Magazine” and “Essence Magazine.” Additionally, she wrote three cookbooks, seven autobiographies, three textbooks, two collections of plays, and several books of poetry, which includes her most famous poem, “Still I Rise.”
Angelou’s Involvement in The Arts
Angelou’s career in the arts began in New York.Her work spanned the gamut of the arts, including poetry, theater, film, and television. In 1972 Angelou wrote and directed her first film, “Georgia, Georgia,” which was the first feature length and full-length movie written and directed by a black woman. Fromthis time onwards, she was a fixture in the New York entertainment industry, appearing in numerousprojects and collaborations around town.In 1978 Angelou published her biggest poetry collection, “And Still I Rise,” which was highly praised and acclaimed amongst the public and by literary scholars.
Angelou also served as both a poet and leader in the civil rights movement for many years in New York. She had roles in several major civil rights campaigns and demonstrations, such as the 1963 March on Washington, and she wrote and directed plays and musicals that focused on race, gender and other aspects of equality and civil rights. In 1970 Angelou publicly endorsed Shirley Chisholm in her historic run for President of the United States.
Her activist work in the city also included volunteering for the women’s peace movement and serving as a co-chair of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Through her writing and speeches, she dedicated her life to fighting for justice and equality for all people.
In New York, Angelou was a prominent figure in the Black Arts Movement, a groundbreaking cultural and aesthetic movement called for by Amiri Baraka and other African-American writers, artists,and thinkers. Angelou was a part of the movement and was an early leader in advocating for Black literature, art, and culture.
Angelou’s Professional Career in New York
In New York, Angelou held many jobs and positions, beginning in the entertainment industry working as a dancer and singer. She toured Europe with a production of Porgy and Bess, made a series of record albums, wrote scripts, and appeared on Broadway in multiple productions.
She also worked in television and film in New York, directing episodes of “Roots: The Next Generation” and “Elementary”Netflix Series. Additionally, she wrote several screenplays, including the made-for-television movie “Lerner & Loewe’s The Little Prince and the Eight Headed Dragon” for CBS.
Angelou also taught at several universities in New York, including the City University of New York and The New School. She was a professor of American Studies at Wake Forest University, where she taught for over 20 years. While living in New York, Angelou was appointed to the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund.
Outside of her professional career, Angelou was a prominent member of the New York literary community. She was an active member of the Harlem Writers Guild and she wrote five of her seven autobiographies while living in New York. Additionally, she wrote and published many books of poetry, plays, and essays during this time.
Angelou’s Legacy
During her lifetime, Maya Angelou achieved incredible success and recognition. Her memoirs and other works were nominated for several awards, including the Pulitzer Prize and Emmy Awards. Also, she received honorary degrees from over 50 institutions worldwide, including Harvard and Oxford Universities. After her death in 2014, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the United States.
Angelou’s work profoundly impacted the lives of many African Americans and she is remembered for her powerful words, her indomitable spirit, and her commitment to activism and justice. Her legacy lives on in the hearts of many and in her celebrated body of work, which continues to inspire people around the world.
Angelou’s Final Years in New York
In her final years in New York, Angelou shifted away from entertainment and firmly began her work on her publishing career. During this time, Angelou wrote and released several autobiographies, poetry collections, and plays, including her masterpiece, “I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings.” As a writer, lecturer and teacher, Angelou was celebrated and honored around the world, and her work is still admired today.
Angelou also focused on her work in the civil rights movement, working with James Baldwin, Shirley Chisholm, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and other leaders of the movement. She was an outspoken advocate for justice and equality, speaking out in major demonstrations and marches, writing articles and giving speeches.
Angelou’s final years were spent in her home in Manhattan, where she taught at several universities and wrote many books, plays and essays. Though she was honored for her work, Angelou’s most lasting legacy was her impact on countless lives around the globe and her insistence on always standing for justice and the rights of the oppressed.
Angelou’s Impact on New York
The impact of Maya Angelou’s life and work on New York was immenseand long lasting.Her legacy can be seen in the many awards, honorary degrees and recognitions that she received while living in the city. Her writing, plays and films were also influential pieces of art in the city during her lifetime.
On a more personal level, Angelou was a beacon of hope and an example of strength and resilience to many in New York who had experienced racism, sexism, and bigotry. She was also a mentor and inspirational guide for many prominent figures in the arts, including James Baldwin and Bayard Rustin. Her life and her work will continue to inspire generations to come and her presence in New York will always be remembered.
