Maya Angelou’s Early Life
Maya Angelou, originally named Marguerite Johnson, was born into a struggling family in the segregated south of St. Louis, Missouri. She was the daughter of Bailey Johnson, a doorman and navy dietitian and Vivian Baxter, a nurse and card dealer. Maya’s parents divorced when she was three years old and she and her older brother, Bailey Jr., were sent to live with their paternal grandmother, Annie Henderson. Henderson provided a strong, Christian home for the children. She was a traditional southern woman who owned and operated a general store. After Henderson’s death, Maya and her brother move back to their mother’s home in St. Louis and to San Francisco, California to live with their mother’s family.
At age seven, Maya Angelou was raped by her mother’s boyfriend. When Maya’s peer told their families, the man was arrested and put on trial. He was later released on bail, and he then violently killed by Angelou’s uncles. This early trauma deeply affected her, and she became mute for almost five years. It was not until she began to write poetry, recite gospel music and encourage herself that found her voice once again.
At age 14 Maya Angelou was the first African-American female cable car conductor in San Francisco. After joining the US Air Force after high school, she moved around to several bases, writing and performing in plays across the country. It was here that she became involved in civil rights activism and the anti-war movement. Her participation in activism led to arrested at a protest rally in 1963.
In the late 1950s, Maya Angelou re-united with her son and moved to New York to pursue her career as an actress, dancer and singer. She made her acting debut as Kunta Kinte’s grandmother in the Roots miniseries in 1977. She has since featured in many productions and projects, including the made-for-TV film Georgia, Georgia and several stage musicals. Her roles have earned her numerous awards and praise.
In 1968, Maya Angelou wrote her first autobiographical work, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, which detailed the struggles of growing up African-American in the segregated South. The success of this memoir initiated a series of autobiographies and other works like the collections of essays (Gather Together in My Name; Even the Stars Look Lonesome; All God’s Children Need Traveling Shoes). These works earned her five prestigious nominations for the Pulitzer Prize and over 50 honorary degrees.
Maya Angelou has held many positions throughout her life, ranging from professor of American studies, visiting professor of the writing faculty at Wake Forest University and Reynolds Professor of American Studies at the University of Virginia.
Education
Maya Angelou studied music, dance and drama while in high school. In 1954, she moved to New York and enrolled in the School of Drama and Arts at the New York Athletic Club. She took classes in dance, opera, drama, voice and speech. She performed in multiple theaters around the city, notably in a production of Porgy and Bess with Alvin Ailey and “Mother Courage and Her Children” at the New Federal Theatre in 1972.
Angelou studied acting, writing and dance at the California Labor School and then attended San Francisco City College. She received her BA in drama and anthropology from San Francisco State University in 1964. She then earned her MA in education from the University of California, Berkeley in 1966. She pursued her education further at the University of Ghana with the University of Cameroon and the University of Mexico. Later she was awarded many honorary degrees in recognition of her achievements.
Career
Maya Angelou went to work as a streetcar conductors at 14, believed to be the first female streetcar conductors in San Francisco. In the “50s she sang in a vocal quartet, toured Europe with a production of Porgy and Bess by performing in many cities in Europe, Australia and the former Soviet Union. She was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame in 1993 for her theatrical achievements.
In 1962, Angelou wrote her first autobiography, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, which focused on her early life in Stamps, Arkansas. Her memoirs inspired many people, leading to several successful works of autobiographical prose, essays and poems. Over the years, she has written several books and screenplays, produced television programs and successful stage plays, including Caged Bird, on Broadway in 1983 and her sequel, The Heart of a Woman, in 1984.
Maya Angelou served in many capacities as an activist and public figure, including roles as an editor, educator, writer and activist, beginning as the Northern Coordinator for Martin Luther King Jr.’s Southern Christian Leadership Conference in 1968. Her activism also included being appointed as an editor of a weekly magazine, Black sun and a professor of American studies at Wake Forest University.
Angelou was also deeply involved in the civil rights movement in the Sixties, especially in the march from Selma to Montgomery with Dr. King in 1965. She was a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011 for her several successes and for her exemplary work in paving the way for other women in the field of literature.
Philanthropic Work
Maya Angelou has used her platform to shine light on various social justice causes and focus on youth empowerment. In 1993 she became the first black woman to write and recite the poem, “On the Pulse of Morning,” performed at the official inauguration of US President Bill Clinton. In recognition of her work, she was awarded the President’s Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama in 2011.
Angelou served as the Executive Director of the National Black Arts Festival from 1989 to 1992 and was a leader of the African American Women for the Arts. She was also a spokesperson for the National campaign against teen pregnancy and the Harlem Writers Guild and was appointed to the New York Public Library’s Board of Trustees in 1991. In addition, Angelou was the president of Wake Forest University from 1982 to 1988.
Legacy
Maya Angelou’s works of literature and empowering personal countenance has made a lasting impression on the world. Her profound messages on racism, injustice, self-acceptance, faith, and resilience have been spread throughout the world. She has spoken in public forums and written numerous works, reaching and inspiring a vast audience.
Angelou’s influence extends far beyond her works of literature. She has been a vocal supporter of the civil rights movement, a mentor and source of inspiration for numerous feminists throughout the country, and a tireless advocate for social justice. Angelou continues to be an icon for many, and her work and life has had an impact on generations of young readers and writers.
Famous Quotes
In her lifetime, Maya Angelou has been an indomitable advocate for civil rights and an inspiration to countless people. Her words and wisdom have the power to uplift and strengthen the spirit. Here are some famous quotes from Angelou’s works over the years:
“When you learn, teach. When you get, give.”
“Nothing can dim the light which shines from within.”
“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.”
“My great hope is to laugh as much as I cry; to get my work done and try to love somebody and have the courage to accept the love in return.”
“You can only become truly accomplished at something you love. Don’t make money your goal. Instead, pursue the things you love doing, and then do them so well that people can’t take their eyes off of you.”
