The renowned American poet, author, and civil rights activist, Maya Angelou, passed away in May 2014, but her legacy lives on. With the numerous awards and honors she received in her lifetime, her works are renowned globally. However, many are still curious about her net worth. Let’s take a look at Maya Angelou’s wealth.
Maya Angelou was born on April 4th 1928 in Missouri, and achieved great success as an author, poet, and civil rights activist. She earned numerous awards for her writing and became very well-known in her lifetime. It is speculated that her net worth when she was alive was between $2 million and $10 million. Although she was successful, Maya Angelou did not accumulate a large amount of wealth.
Despite her lower net worth compared to many other famous people, Maya Angelou was successful in achieving her goals throughout her lifetime. She wrote seven autobiographies and many poems, and won many awards for her writing. She was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize and was the recipient of a National Medal of Arts, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and over 30 honorary doctorate degrees.
Besides her writing, Maya Angelou was also a successful civil rights activist who worked alongside Martin Luther King Jr. She was a vital part of the Civil Rights Movement, and her activism helped to bring about changes in racial discrimination laws. Although she did not amass great wealth from her work, she was successful in bringing about social change in her lifetime.
In addition to her awards, Maya Angelou was very involved in the entertainment industry. She wrote for several TV shows and films, as well as being an actress in her own right. She even received a Tony Award nomination for a 1978 Broadway production of “Look Away”. Although her net worth did not reach the same heights as other celebrities, Maya Angelou was successful as an actress as well.
In conclusion, while it is certain that Maya Angelou did not amass a large net worth, her legacy lives on through her writing and civil right activism. Her success can be measured in awards rather than monetary wealth, and she is remembered for her exceptional achievements.
Awards
Throughout her life, Maya Angelou earned numerous awards and honors for her exemplary works. In 1993, then-President Bill Clinton awarded her the Lifetime Achievement Award. She also won three Grammy Awards, a Pulitzer Prize nomination, and a Tony Award nomination for her writing and acting. Her works have also been recognized with “American Book Award” and she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Obama in 2010.
In addition, she was honored with the prestigious National Medal of the Arts in 2000. These awards are a testament to Maya Angelou’s legacy, and her achievements as an artist and social activist. Maya Angelou’s work also earned her more than 30 honorary degrees from prestigious universities such as Smith College, Stanford University, and Wake Forest University.
In her time, Maya Angelou earned a reputation for her writing, activism, and awards. She was recognized as one of the most influential women in the 20th century America, and her works continue to inspire people today.
Influence
Maya Angelou’s works and activism had a significant impact on American society during her lifetime. She put forward important ideas that still resonate today, and is remembered as one of the most influential women of her time.
Her books are now studied in schools and institutions, and continue to inspire generations of Americans. As an example of her impact, in 2012 President Barack Obama set the words “Still I Rise” (from one of Angelou’s poems) as the theme for the second inauguration ceremony of his presidency.
Maya Angelou’s influence is not solely confined to the US. Her books have been published in numerous languages and some of them have been adapted into movies. Her books deal with themes such as racism, prejudice, love, and are still popular today.
Maya Angelou is a role model for many people around the world and her legacy continues to inspire generations of people even to this day.
Writing
Maya Angelou was a prolific writer, and wrote about her own life and culture in her seven autobiographies. Her books include “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” (1970), “Gather Together in My Name” (1974), “The Heart of a Woman” (1981), “Singin’ and Swingin’ and Gettin’ Merry Like Christmas” (1976), and “The Collected Autobiographies of Maya Angelou” (2008).
Her works have been translated into several languages and her writing style is widely celebrated. Her books focus on themes such as prejudice, racism, acceptance, and family. Throughout her writing, Maya Angelou poetically tackled difficult issues in American society, and she gathered recognition for it.
Maya Angelou was also a poet and her works were published in numerous anthologies. Her style has been described as prayerful and prophetical. Her most famous poem is “Still I Rise,” which is a message of strength and resilience to all those who feel oppressed.
In addition, Maya Angelou wrote several plays, movie scripts, and opera librettos. She wrote for television shows such as “Roots: The Next Generation” and she was a cowriter for the 1972 play “Look Away”. Angelou even owned her own production company, “Maya Angelou Enterprises”.
Acting
Maya Angelou was a talented performer, and was nominated for a Tony Award for her role in the 1978 musical “Look Away”. She also acted in numerous television shows and movies, such as “Madea’s Family Reunion” (2006) and “Patch Adams” (1998).
Angelou was featured in the documentary “Visions of Hope” (2005), and directed the movie “Down in the Delta” (1998). She also acted in “Pipe Dreams” (1996) as a blues singer, and won a 1999 Black Reel Award for her performance in the television film, “The Women of Brewster Place”.
In 1996, Angelou was cast as Kunta Kinte’s grandmother in the hit ABC mini-series “Roots: The Next Generation”, and in 2001 she voiced the character Etta in the children’s movie “Green Mile”. Maya Angelou also hosted her own TV series on BET called, “Maya Angelou’s Legends Ball”.
By combining her literary work with performance and computer skills, Maya Angelou became an influential media figure and an important reference to many people.
