Black History Month celebrates Maya Angelou
BIRTH DATE April 4, 1928
DEATH May 28, 2014
Civil Rights Activist
Poet
Author known for her acclaimed 1969 memoir, ‘I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,’ along with Poetry and Essay Collections.
‘I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings the first nonfiction bestseller by an African American woman
Honors Maya received:
Two NAACP Image Awards in the outstanding literary work (nonfiction) category, in 2005 and 2009.
Maya Angelou parents spilt up and she was sent to live with her fathers mother. At the age of 7 she was Raped by mother’s boyfriend. As vengeance for the sexual assault, Angelou’s uncles killed the boyfriend.
After this she refused to speak and became Mute.
During World War 2 she moved to San Francisco California and Maya won a scholarship to study dance and acting at the California Labor School.
Angelou became the first Black female cable car conductor in San Francisco.
Mid-1950s, her career as a performer began to take off.
Maya landed a role in a touring production of Porgy and Bess,
She appeared in the off-Broadway production Calypso Heat Wave (1957)
Released her first album, Miss Calypso (1957)
Maya joined the Harlem Writers Guild and a civil rights activist, she organized and starred in the musical revue Cabaret for Freedom a benefit for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, serving as the SCLC’s northern coordinator.
1961, Angelou appeared in an off-Broadway production of Jean Genet’s The Blacks
Angelou earned a Tony Award nomination for her role in the play Look Away (1973)
An Emmy Award nomination for her work on the television miniseries Roots (1977)
1960s Maya lived abroad, first in Egypt and then in Ghana. Where she worked as a editor and a freelance writer. She held a position at the University of Ghana for a time.
May joined a community of “Revolutionist Returnees” exploring pan-Africanism. May became close to human rights activist and Black nationalist leader. Malcom X.
1964, Maya returned to the US, where she helped Malcolm X set up the Organization of Afro-American Unity, which disbanded after his assassination the following year.
Poems
‘Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water ‘fore I Diiie’ (1971) which was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize.
Oh Pray My Wings Are Gonna Fit Me Well (1975)
And I Still Rise 1978
Shaker, Why Don’t You Sing? (1983)
I Shall Not Be Moved (1990),
Even the Stars Look Lonesome (1997)
‘On the Pulse of Morning’ (1993) Maya’s most famous work, written especially for and recited at President Bill Clinton‘s inaugural ceremony in January 1993.
She went went on to win a Grammy Award (best spoken word album) for the audio version of the poem.
Lesson Plans:
Maya Angelou Lesson Plan Study.com
Maya Angelou Teacher Resources Lesson Plan
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
