Maya Angelou – 10 Fascinating Facts About the Iconic Poet and Civil Rights Activist

Maya Angelou was born as Marguerite Annie Johnson on April 4, 1928, in St. Louis, Missouri.

She was an American poet, memoirist, and civil rights activist.

Maya Angelou’s most famous work is her autobiography, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.

She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama in 20

5. Maya Angelou’s birth name, Marguerite, was inspired by her brother’s favorite name brand of French chocolate.

She worked as a streetcar conductor at the age of

7. Maya Angelou was named the Reynolds Professor of American Studies at Wake Forest University in 1982.

She became the first black female streetcar conductor in San Francisco.

Maya Angelou spoke six languages: English, French, Spanish, Italian, Arabic, and West African Fanti.

She was good friends with Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X.

Maya Angelou was an avid cook and wrote two cookbooks.

She was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for her book of poetry, Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water ‘fore I Diiie.

Maya Angelou was the second poet in history to recite a poem at a presidential inauguration. She read her poem On the Pulse of Morning at President Bill Clinton’s inauguration in 1993.

She received over 50 honorary degrees during her lifetime.

Maya Angelou’s first job as a playwright was writing for Broadway alongside actor James Earl Jones.

She was the first black woman to have a screenplay produced.

Maya Angelou – 10 Fascinating Facts About the Iconic Poet and Civil Rights Activist part 2

Maya Angelou was a published essayist, playwright, and film director.

She was once a calypso singer and dancer.

Maya Angelou wrote the iconic poem Still I Rise, which has become one of her most famous works.

She was a strong advocate for women’s rights and gender equality.

Maya Angelou’s first album, Miss Calypso, was released in 1957.

She received the National Medal of Arts from President Bill Clinton in 2000.

In addition to her writing, Angelou was also an accomplished actress and appeared in numerous films and TV shows.

Maya Angelou received the Spingarn Medal from the NAACP in 1994.

She was sexually abused as a child and became a mute for five years as a result.

Angelou’s life and writings often addressed themes of overcoming adversity and finding strength in difficult times.

Maya Angelou taught American studies at the University of Ghana’s School of Music and Drama in the early 1960s.

She served on two presidential committees: for Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter.

Angelou’s son, Guy Johnson, is also a poet and novelist.

She wrote and directed the feature film Down in the Delta in 1998, starring Alfre Woodard.

Maya Angelou won three Grammy Awards for her spoken-word albums.

She composed and performed a poem in memory of the victims of the 1963 16th Street Baptist Church bombing in Birmingham, Alabama.

Angelou was a close friend of Oprah Winfrey and made several guest appearances on her talk show.

She was nominated for a Tony Award for her performance in the 1973 play Look Away.

Maya Angelou’s poems and writings often explore themes of identity, race, and prejudice.

She was honored with the Literary Award at the Women of Achievement Awards in 20

Angelou’s book Letter to My Daughter is a collection of personal essays and advice.

She received the Langston Hughes Medal from the City College of New York in 199

Maya Angelou wrote and delivered a poem, A Brave and Startling Truth, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the United Nations in 1995.

She was a vocal critic of apartheid in South Africa and supported the anti-apartheid movement.

Angelou was granted lifetime membership to the Harlem Writers Guild.

Maya Angelou received the BET Honors’ Literary Arts Award in 20

She was a member of the Coretta Scott King Book Awards Committee.

Angelou worked as a coordinator for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.

Maya Angelou was fluent in African-American Sign Language and used it as a way to communicate with her mother during her childhood.