Maya Angelou was born Marguerite Annie Johnson in St. Louis, Missouri, on April 4th, 1928. She was raised in the town of Stamps, Arkansas, until she was 8 years old, when her grandmother sent her to St. Louis to live with her mother and her mother’s boyfriend. Later, her mother moved the family to San Francisco, California. Angelou was an actor, singer, poet, and civil rights activist. She wrote seven autobiographies, three books of essays, several books of poetry, and is credited with a long list of plays, movies, and television shows. Her works have earned her numerous awards and over 50 honorary degrees.
Early Life and Education
Maya Angelou was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on April 4th 1928. As a youngster, Angelou was sent to Stamps, Arkansas, to live with her grandmother. By age 14, she had dropped out of school and worked as a sex worker. She then decided to take a job as a San Francisco street car conductor and use her income to support herself and support her writing career. Angelou became a big part of the 1920s classical Hollywood film industry. She also took up poetry and began writing for magazines and newspapers. Angelou also appeared in some small plays as a young woman.
Angelou eventually decided to pursue her education, and she became the first black female streetcar conductor in San Francisco. She later enrolled in the California Labor School and later went on to finish high school at George Washington High School. Angelou went on to attend the San Francisco Junior College before transferring to the University of California at Berkeley and San Francisco State College, where she earned degrees in drama and dance.
Career
After college, Angelou began working in a variety of odd jobs and eventually found her way onto the stage. Her career in writing began after she was invited to collaborate with author James Baldwin on a series of plays. Her first venture into published writing was with her autobiographical novel, I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings. The novel brought her huge success, and Angelou gained well-deserved recognition as a premier poet, writer, and performer of the late 20th century.
As a performer, Maya Angelou has appeared in various films, including Forget Paris, How to Make an American Quilt, and The Lovely Bones. Her television credits include Sister, Sister, Touched by an Angel, and a long list of other shows. She also wrote and starred in a television series called The Heart of a Woman.
Angelou’s writing career also gained great success. Her autobiographical writings won her numerous awards, including Pulitzer Prizes and a National Book Award. She has written seven autobiographies, three books of essays, and a long list of books of poetry.
Civil Rights Activism
Maya Angelou was a prominent civil rights activist who often spoke out against injustice. She worked for both Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X and was also instrumental in the 1963 March on Washington. Angelou was also a strong supporter of the United Nations effort for human rights.
Additionally, Angelou was an honorary member of the Organization of Women Writers of Africa, which is designed to choose and produce works from writers around the African continent who are committed to defeating poverty and injustice. She also served on the board of trustees of Bennett College, a historically black college in Greensboro, North Carolina.
Death
Maya Angelou passed away at her home in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, on May 28th, 2014. She was 86 years old and had been living in Winston-Salem for several years, where she held a faculty position at Wake Forest University. She was a mentor and teacher to many, and her passion for writing, performing, and activism will live on in her works.
Legacy
Maya Angelou’s works have been celebrated and honored around the world, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Lincoln Medal, the National Medal of Arts, and more than 50 honorary degrees. Her words have been printed in textbooks, magazines, and television shows and have become part of the curricula taught in schools.
Angelou has also become an icon of empowerment and resilience and has been cited as a source of inspiration by people of all backgrounds. She was even appointed the Poet Laureate of the United States in 1993, making her the first African-American and the first woman to hold the position.
Philanthropy
Maya Angelou was a highly generous woman who dedicated much of her time and resources to charities and organizations. She founded the Maya Angelou Foundation, which is dedicated to helping people in need, particularly those in underserved communities. The foundation also provides educational opportunities and leadership training to women, children, and people of color around the world.
Angelou was also heavily involved in the House of Anna, an intergenerational care facility for elderly African-American women. She was a tireless advocate for civil rights and worked closely with various organizations to support social justice in her community.
Influence
Maya Angelou has had a huge influence on many of the people who have read her works and heard her words. Her message of courage, resilience, and compassion has inspired many people to stand up for justice and to strive for inequality. Her work will continue to be celebrated and her words will continue to influence generations to come.
