Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou

Born April 4th, 1928 in St. Louis, MissouriDied May 28th, 2014

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings"Still I Rise""Phenominal Woman" ...and many more

Angelou had a rough childhood. Her parents divorced when she was young, so she and her older brother were sent to live with their grandmother in Stamps, Arkansas. Here she experienced many hardships and prejudices due to her race and gender. At the age of 7, she was raped by her mother's boyfriend, and her uncles killed the man. She was so mortified by the event that she didn't speak for years.

She was an actress, screenwrite, dancer, author, poet, and a major civil rights activist.

References: http://www.biography.com/people/maya-angelou-9185388https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HiE4lt_DUY

Angelou reciting one of her famous poems, "Still I Rise"

Early Life

Major Works

Careers

-Her birthname was Marguerite Ann Johnson-First black female cable car conductor- Had her son, Guy Johnson, when she was 16 - Married for a little while to a Greek Sailor named Tosh Angelos. - Close friends with Martin Luther King, Jr. He was assissnated on Angelou's birthday. - Had one brother, Bailey Johnson, Jr.

Fun Facts