Maya Angelou was born Marguerite Ann Johnson on April 4th 1928 in St. Louis, Missouri, in the United States of America. Her parents, Bailey Johnson and Vivian Baxter, divorced when she was only three, and she and her brother Bailey were sent to Stamps, Arkansas to live with their grandmother, Annie Henderson.
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1. Education
2. Career
3. Speeches and Awards
4. Humanitarian Work
5. Legacy
It was in Stamps that Angelou would first experience many of the difficulties and joys that she would later write about. Her grandmother, who was initially leery of her grandson’s presence in her home, would become a positive, caring figure in Angelou’s life. In Stamps she attended a segregated school and was exposed to vibrant African American culture and the racism of the Jim Crow South.
At the age of fourteen, Angelou and her brother decided to return and stay with their mother in San Francisco, California. Living in Northern California and attending high school, Angelou was confronted with another type of racism, one which was more subtle and hidden yet still oppressive.
At the age of sixteen, Angelou gave birth to her son, Clyde, who she would later give the nickname ‘Guy’. Her experiences as a young mother, combined with her experiences in St. Louis and San Francisco, would form the background for many of her autobiographical works, including I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.
At the age of nineteen, Angelou moved to New York City and began a career as a singer and dancer, performing under the stage name Maya Angelou. Unfortunately, her career was short-lived, and she returned to San Francisco in 1952 to focus on raising her son and writing.
Since then, Angelou has continued to write and publish, producing over 20 autobiographical works, poems, and essays. In her works, Angelou has continued to explore and document the experiences of being an African American in the United States. Her works have had an incalculable impact on readers around the world.
Education
Maya Angelou was an avid student; while pursing writing accomplishments, she never neglected education. She attended local schools in Stamps and went on to study music and dance at the California Labor School. She then studied at the California University, and Howard College, where she studied drama and philosophy. She was awarded a lifetime membership to both the San Francisco Writers Workshop and the Harlem Writers Guild.
Angelou furthered her studies with a full academic scholarship to the University of Ghana. During her stay in Ghana, she discovered her love of African culture, celebrated in many of her later works. She also met Malcolm X while in Ghana, which helped propel her activism.
Angelou returned to the U.S. to study at the University of Southern California, where she earned her Master’s degree. She then went on to teach early childhood education at the University of California, Berkeley, from which she was considered for many awards. Angelou even helped launch the diversity scholarship at Wake Forest University, where she taught for many years.
Career
Angelou’s career spanned a variety of disciplines. She worked as a coordinator for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference under Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a civil rights activist and top spokesperson for the movement. Angelou was also a prolific writer, publishing numerous essays, poems, books, and plays.
In the years following her work with the civil rights movement, Angelou embarked on an acting career. She starred in numerous plays and even made an appearance in the 1985 film adaptation of Alice Walker’s novel The Color Purple. She also pursued a career in television and film and appeared in several documentaries and other films.
Aside from writing and acting, Angelou was an accomplished singer and dancer. She toured with Porgy and Bess and appeared in films based on her life, such as the 1977 production of Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water ‘Fore I Diiie. Angelou also wrote for television, an accomplishment for which she won an Emmy.
In her later career, Angelou wrote poetry and authored several biographies, including three autobiographical works, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, All God’s Children Need Traveling Shoes, and The Heart of a Woman. These works brought her numerous awards, honors, and recognition, including an honorary doctorate from Yale University and a Pulitzer Prize nomination for her book of poetry, Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water ‘Fore I Diiie.
Speeches and Awards
Angelou was a tireless public speaker, giving public lectures and readings on college campuses, public events, and national television programs. She was even invited to the inaugurations of Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, writing and delivering original poems in honor of the historic events. She was awarded more than 30 honorary degrees, which she accepted and held with pride.
Her speeches were often delivered with humor and grace, and ranged in topic from geopolitics and civil rights to education and literature. Angelou also participated in inclusive discussions on racism and economic inequality, often offering personal anecdotes about her own experiences and the experiences of her friends and family.
She actively sought out awards and honors to demonstrate her accomplishments, from the 1970 Pulitzer Prize nomination for Bind the Chains to the Golden Plate Award from the American Academy of Achievement. Angelou was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Obama in 2011, and she continues to be a symbol of courage and resilience for young people around the world.
Humanitarian Work
Angelou was a tireless humanitarian and advocate for civil rights. She regularly attended rallies and protests and was arrested multiple times in protests against racial injustice. In 1978, she joined the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and was a powerful voice in the civil rights movement.
In 1999, Angelou became a professor at Wake Forest University, where she taught students to think and speak with clarity and courage. She continued to speak at universities and events around the world and pledged her support to charities and organizations, such as the National Women’s Hall of Fame, Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund, the Black Women’s Agenda, the Women’s Media Center, and PEN International.
In 2003, Angelou was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her activism and was the recipient of numerous awards and honors for her humanitarian work. She regularly collaborated with leading political figures, encouraging peace and justice for all in her speeches and writings.
Legacy
Angelou was passionate about making a lasting impact, and her legacy continues to live on through her writings, speeches, and activism. Through her work, she fought against racism and gender inequality, lending her forceful and inspirational voice to causes she believed in. Her work has been translated into several languages, and her books are widely read in schools and universities.
Angelou used her art to inspire and ignite conversations on race, gender, and human rights. Her words have had an immeasurable impact, inspiring multiple generations to stand up for justice and speak their truth. Angelou was instrumental in changing the way people discuss race, bridging the gaps between then and ultimately creating a safer, more inclusive space for people of all backgrounds.
In 2014, Angelou was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor, for her activism and her work as a leader in civil rights, female empowerment, and education. She was also featured in numerous documentaries, magazines, and television shows, cementing her legacy and inspiring generations to come.
