Maya Angelou

Introduction

Maya Angelou is, true to the title of her own poem, a “Phenomenal Woman.” Few people can say they have been a novelist, actress, singer, director, poet, and brothel madam, yet Angelou has filled all of these roles and many more. She was an integral part of the civil rights movement, working closely with both Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr. And as a survivor of poverty, familial discord, and a harrowing childhood, Angelou was able to turn her remarkable, tumultuous life into creative inspiration, particularly in the autobiographical work I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, which launched her career. Today, she is celebrated as one of the most notable African-American women of the twentieth century, yet her accomplishments cross lines of race, gender, sexuality, and culture.

Essential Facts

1. Though heralded for her writing, Angelou is no stranger to acting. She received a Tony nomination for her role in Look Away and an Emmy nomination for her performance in the landmark miniseries Roots.
2. Following sexual abuse and murder in her family, Angelou was electively mute for several years of her childhood. She began speaking again at the age of 13.
3. Maya Angelou read her poem “On the Pulse of the Morning” at President Bill Clinton’s inauguration. The only other poet to have performed at a presidential inauguration was Robert Frost, who read at Kennedy’s.
4. Despite numerous honorary degrees and academic engagements, Maya Angelou does not have a college education.
5. In August 2006, Angelou received the Mother Teresa Award “for her untiring devotion and service to humanity.”