Maya Angelou: Quick Facts

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American poet, memoirist, and actress Maya Angelou wrote several volumes of autobiography that explore the themes of economic, racial, and sexual oppression. She is perhaps best known for her autobiographical work "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" (1969).

Facts

Also Known As	Marguerite Annie Johnson
Born	April 4, 1928 • St. Louis • Missouri
Died	May 28, 2014 (aged 86) • Winston-Salem • North Carolina
Awards And Honors	Presidential Medal of Freedom (2011) • Grammy Award (2002) • Grammy Award (1995) • Grammy Award (1993) • Grammy Award (2003): Best Spoken Word Album • Grammy Award (1996): Best Spoken Word or Non-Musical Album • Grammy Award (1994): Best Spoken Word or Non-Musical Album • National Medal of Arts (2000) • National Women's Hall of Fame (inducted 1928) • Presidential Medal of Freedom (2011) • Spingarn Medal (1994)
Notable Works	“A Song Flung Up to Heaven” • “And Still I Rise” • “Down in the Delta” • “Gather Together in My Name” • “Georgia, Georgia” • “His Day Is Done” • “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” • “I Shall Not Be Moved” • “Life Doesn’t Frighten Me” • “Now Sheba Sings the Song” • “On the Pulse of Morning” • “Singin’ and Swingin’ and Gettin’ Merry Like Christmas” • “The Heart of a Woman” • “Wouldn’t Take Nothing For My Journey Now”
Notable Family Members	daughter of Bailey Johnson, Sr. • daughter of Vivian Baxter • married to Tosh Angelos • married to Paul du Feu • mother of Guy Johnson • sister of Bailey Johnson, Jr.
Education	George Washington High School (San Francisco, California)
Taught At	Wake Forest University
Movies/Tv Shows (Acted In)	"The Journey of August King" (1995) • "Roots" (1977) • "The Runaway" (2000) • "Madea's Family Reunion" (2006) • "Sesame Street" (1995) • "There Are No Children Here" (1993) • "Poetic Justice" (1993) • "Touched by an Angel" (1995) • "Calypso Heat Wave" (1957) • "Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child" (2000) • "How to Make an American Quilt" (1995) • "Talking with David Frost" (1997)
Published Works	"Renie Marie of France" (2004) • "Mother: A Cradle to Hold Me" (2006) • "All God's Children Need Traveling Shoes" (1986) • "Angelina of Italy" (2004) • "The Heart of a Woman" (1981) • "Amazing Peace" (2005) • "And Still I Rise" (1978) • "The Collected Autobiographies of Maya Angelou" (2004) • "On the Pulse of Morning" (1993) • "Izak of Lapland" (2004) • "Shaker, Why Don't You Sing?" (1983) • "Soul Looks Back in Wonder" (1993) • "Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water 'fore I Diiie" (1971) • "My Painted House, My Friendly Chicken, and Me" (1994) • "Mrs. Flowers: A Moment of Friendship" (1986) • "Phenomenal Woman: Four Poems Celebrating Women" (1995) • "Hallelujah! The Welcome Table" (2004) • "Kofi and His Magic" (1996) • "Mom & Me & Mom" (2013) • "A Brave and Startling Truth" (1995) • "Letter to My Daughter" (2008) • "Life Doesn't Frighten Me" (1993) • "Lessons in Living" (1993) • "I Shall Not Be Moved" (1990) • "Singin' and Swingin' and Gettin' Merry Like Christmas" (1976) • "Mikale of Hawaii" (2004) • "Now Sheba Sings the Song" (1987) • "Wouldn't Take Nothing for My Journey Now" (1993) • "A Song Flung Up to Heaven" (2002) • "Oh Pray My Wings Are Gonna Fit Me Well" (1975) • "Poems" (1986) • "The Complete Collected Poems of Maya Angelou" (1994) • "Even the Stars Look Lonesome" (1997) • "Gather Together in My Name" (1974) • "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" (1969)

Did You Know?

Angelou was nominated for a Tony Award for her performance in "Look Away" (1963), despite the fact that the play closed on Broadway after only one performance.
Angelou recited her poem "On the Pulse of Morning" at Bill Clinton's presidential inauguration in 1993, becoming the second poet ever to read a poem at a presidential inauguration; the first was Robert Frost, who in 1961 recited "The Gift Outright" at John F. Kennedy's inauguration.