Maya Angelou was an African American poet, novelist, and civil rights activist. She spent her life travelling and living around the world, and was noted for her work in women’s rights and activism for the African American community. Born in St Louis, Missouri in 1928, she spent most of her life based in the United States, but did travel and live abroad at different times.
From 1928 to 1940, Angelou lived with her grandmother in the rural town of Stamps in Arkansas. It was during this period that Angelou encountered racism and poverty which shaped her later writings and opinions. After starting school at local segregated schools, Angelou’s grandmother reunited her with her mother and brother in San Francisco.
After changing schools eleven times, Angelou graduated high school at the age of 14. She then took dance classes and pursued a career as a singer while continuing her education. Once Angelou finished school she decided to travel to Europe, and lived in France and the United Kingdom from 1951 to 1954.
After her trip abroad, Angelou returned to the U.S. and settled in New York City, where she was a singer and an actor in Porgy and Bess. She then relocated to Egypt, Cameroon, and Ghana for 14 years, where she taught and worked as a journalist.
Upon returning to the United States, Angelou settled in North Carolina and taught at Wake Forest University. During this time Angelou became a member of the Civil Rights Movement and a leader in America’s racial justice battle. From 1981 to 2014, Maya Angelou split her time between North Carolina and California, writing poems and books and giving lecture tours.
Although Angelou still resided in North Carolina and traveled around the United States giving lectures, most of her work was created in her home in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It was here that she wrote her last book, Mom & Me & Mom, released shortly before her death at the age of 86.
What did Maya Angelou do while in France and the UK?
While in France and the UK, Angelou supported herself as a cook and entertainer. She performed in nightclubs throughout the UK and recorded a single song, “Miss Otis Regrets”. She also enrolled in the University of London in order to pursue her education, and delivered lectures and talks around Europe. In London she wrote her first volume of autobiography, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.
What kind of Journals did Angelou write in Africa?
Angelou often wrote for regional magazines and newspapers throughout Africa. During her trips to Africa, Angelou wrote for the Ghanaian Times, serving as both a feature writer and as an editor. During her stay in Egypt, Angelou also wrote for The Arab Observer, a Cairo-based newspaper.
What Social justice Movement did Angelou join in the United States?
After her return to the United States, Angelou joined the Civil Rights Movement, joining in the historic Selma to Montgomery March in 1965. She wrote articles on the subject, and gave speeches at civil rights rallies around the country.
What did Maya Angelou Contribute to the Women’s Movement?
Angelou was one of the key figures in the women’s lib movement of the 1970s and 1980s. She wrote several articles on the plight of women and the growing push for equality. Angelou was an advocate for the Equal Rights Amendment and pushed for women to be more involved in politics and public office.
What were Maya Angelou’s Achievements throughout Her Career?
During her career, Angelou received more than 50 honorary degrees and several awards, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom awarded in 2011. She wrote several books and poems, and was the first African-American woman to have a screenplay produced, based on her book, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.
What impact did Angelou have on the African-American community?
Throughout her life, Angelou was a champion for the African-American community, often speaking out against institutional racism and inequality. Her published works, lectures, and Civil Rights activism shed light on the struggle for equality, and her iconic book, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, has become an essential piece of African-American literature. Her words still inspire and empower the African-American community today.
What writing style did Maya Angelou adopt?
Angelou adopted a lyrical and poetic style of writing in her work, incorporating music and jazz poetry into her pieces. Her works often took the form of extended metaphors and philosophical observations on life. Her poems focus heavily on identity and her experiences as an African-American woman. Much of her work promoted love, strength, and justice and her works remain an important part of American literature.
