Maya Angelou was born Marguerite Annie Johnson (April 4, 1928 – May 28, 2014) was an American poet, memoirist, and civil rights activist. She published seven autobiographies, three books of essays, several books of poetry, and was credited with a list of plays, movies, and television shows spanning over 50 years. She received dozens of awards and more than 50 honorary degrees. Angelou is best known for her series of seven autobiographies, which focus on her childhood and early adult experiences. The first, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969), tells of her life up to the age of 17 and brought her international recognition and acclaim.
18 Interesting Facts About Maya Angelou
1. Maya Angelou was born April 4, 1928, in St. Louis, Mo.
2. Her actual birth name is Marguerite Annie Johnson.
3. Maya’s older brother, Bailey Jr., nicknamed her “Maya,” meaning “my sister.”
4. She grew up in Stamps, Ark.(the state where she recently had to cancel a reading because of “an unexpected ailment”).
5. She was friends with Nelson Mandela, and they first met while she was a journalist in Cairo in 1962. Shortly after his death in Dec. 2013, she recited a poem in memory of the former South African president in a video that has racked up more than 1 million views on the YouTube channel for the U.S. Department of State.
6. As a teenager, Maya won a scholarship to study dance and drama at San Francisco’s Labor School.
7. At 14 years old, she dropped out of school to become San Francisco’s first African-American female cable car conductor.
8. A country music lover, she listened to Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Montgomery Gentry and Jennifer Nettles from Sugarland. “I’ve been seriously affected by the breakup of Brooks & Dunn,” she told Parade.
9. She never went to college but has received more than 50 honorary degrees.
10. She recorded an album in 1957 titled Calypso.
11. She moved to New York in 1958 and joined the Harlem Writers Guild.
12. She acted in the Off-Broadway show, The Blacks.
13. She wrote and performed in Cabaret for Freedom.
14. She moved to Cairo, Egypt, and was the editor of The Arab Observer.
15. After one year in Cairo, she moved to Ghana where she taught at the University of Ghana’s School of Music and Drama.
16. She worked as feature editor for The African Review and wrote for The Ghanaian Times.
17. She helped Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the Civil Rights movement as the Northern Coordinator for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.
18. King died on her birthday in 1968, and she didn’t celebrate her birthday in the years that followed.
Quotes From Maya Angelou
I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.
If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.
When you learn, teach, When you get, give.
Awards won by Maya Angelou
| Year | Honor | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Chubb Fellowship | Given by Yale University, provides the recipient with an opportunity to make a public address open to the Yale and New Haven communities, as well as a meal, reception, or seminar with groups of students and faculty | |
| 1971 | Coretta Scott King Award | Given to African-American authors and illustrators of books for children and young people | |
| 1972 | Pulitzer Prize nomination | For Angelou’s first book of poetry, Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water ‘fore I Die | |
| 1973 | Tony Award nomination | For her role in the Broadway play Look Away | |
| 1975–76 | Member, American Revolution Bicentennial Council | Appointed by President Gerald Ford; The council developed and planned activities and events celebrating the 200th anniversary of the American Revolution. | |
| 1975 | Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Center Resident | Competitive residency program at the foundation’s property in Bellagio, Italy, where scholars and artists from all over the world work on projects of their own choosing for a period of four weeks | |
| 1976 | Ladies’ Home Journal “Woman of the Year in Communication” Award | Yearly award given by the magazine | |
| 1977 | Member, Presidential Commission for International Women’s Year | Appointed by President Jimmy Carter, the commission was established to make recommendations to end barriers to women’s equality in the U.S. | |
| 1981 | Reynold’s Professor of American Studies, Wake Forest University | Lifetime appointment | |
| 1983 | Ladies’ Home Journal “Top 100 Most Influential Women” | Yearly award given by the magazine | |
| 1983 | Matrix Award | Given by the New York Association for Women in Communications to women who excel in the field of communication | |
| 1984 | Member, North Carolina Arts Council | Committee that gives recommendations to the state’s art counsel, especially its policies regarding the arts | |
| 1986 | Fulbright Program 40th Anniversary Distinguished Lecturer | Recognition by the U.S. Department of State for African Americans who have contributed to “increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries …” | |
| 1987 | North Carolina Award in Literature | Highest honor bestowed by North Carolina; recognizes residents for contributions in scholarship, research, the fine arts, and public leadership | |
| 1990 | Golden Plate Award, Academy of Achievement | Given for accomplishments in the sciences, business, industry, arts, literature, sports, entertainment, and public service | |
| 1990 | Candace Award, National Coalition of 100 Black Women | Given to African-American women for leadership and achievement | |
| 1991 | Langston Hughes Medal | Awarded to African-American writers who explore their cultural heritage | |
| 1992 | Horatio Alger Award | Yearly award to those “who have overcome adversity and made significant contributions in their fields” | |
| 1992 | Distinguished Woman of North Carolina award | Given by the North Carolina Council for Women to women who make major contributions in the arts, business, education, government, recreation, or volunteerism | |
| 1992 | Crystal Award | Honors women who have helped expand the role of women in entertainment | |
| 1992 | St. Louis Walk of Fame | Honors individuals from the St. Louis, Missouri area who made major national contributions to our cultural heritage. | |
| 1993 | Inaugural Poet | Named for reading her poem “On the Pulse of Morning” at President Bill Clinton’s inauguration | |
| 1993 | Arkansas Black Hall of Fame | Part of the first group of those native to Arkansas honored as role models for young people | |
| 1993 | Grammy, “Best Spoken Word Album” | First Grammy, for inaugural poem “On the Pulse of Morning” | |
| 1994 | Rollins College Walk of Fame | Stone dedicated on campus walkway made up of rocks and bricks from the homes of over 600 historical figures | |
| 1994 | Spingarn Medal | Given by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) for outstanding achievement by an African American | |
| 1994 | Peace Abbey Courage of Conscience Award | Presented by Wesley College for her soaring inspiration to live life with intensity, integrity and intelligence. | |
| 1995 | Frank G. Wells American Teachers Award | Recognizes those outside the teaching profession who teach | |
| 1995 | Grammy, “Best Spoken Word or Non-Musical Album” | For Angelou’s performance of her poem Phenomenal Woman | |
| 1996 | American Ambassador | Given by UNICEF to assist with their fundraising efforts | |
| 1997 | NAACP Image Award | Honors African Americans’ accomplishments in film, television, music, and literature, and for Angelou’s work in nonfiction | |
| 1997 | Homecoming Award | Given every two years by the Oklahoma Center for Poets and Writers to authors from the U.S. South and Southwest | |
| 1998 | Alston-Jones International Civil & Human Rights Award | Bestowed by the International Civil Rights Center & Museum in Greensboro, North Carolina, honoring individuals who have contributed to the Civil Rights movement | |
| 1998 | National Women’s Hall of Fame | Inducted for making contributions to society and for the freedom and progress of women | |
| 1999 | Christopher Award | The Christophers’ annual media award, given to Angelou for her directorial debut (Down in the Delta) | |
| 1999 | Shelia Award | Given by the Tubman African American Museum annually to “extraordinary black women of achievement” | |
| 2000 | National Medal of Arts | Awarded by President Bill Clinton; Selected by the U.S. National Endowment for the Arts and awarded by the President of the United States to Americans who have contributed to the arts and culture | |
| 2002 | Lifetime Achievement Award | Given as part of the Ethnic Multicultural Media Awards (EMMAs) presented at the annual Hay Festival of Literature & Arts in Wales | |
| 2002 | Grammy, “Best Spoken Word Album” | For the audio book of A Song Flung Up to Heaven, Angelou’s sixth autobiography | |
| 2003 | Museum of Tolerance “Finding Our Families, Finding Ourselves” multimedia exhibit | Featured with Billy Crystal, Joe Torre, and Carlos Santana | |
| 2004 | Charles Evans Hughes Award | Presented by the National Conference for Community and Justice for civic and humanitarian contributions | |
| 2005 | Heart’s Day Honoree | Presented during Howard University English Department’s annual celebration and conference | |
| 2006 | Mother Teresa Award | Presented by the St. Bernadette Institute of Sacred Art in Albuquerque, New Mexico, after being nominated by the public at large | |
| 2007 | Martha Parker Legacy Award | Given by the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance studio in Denver; attendees of the ceremony were served dishes from Angelou’s cookbook Hallelujah! The Welcome Table | |
| 2008 | Voice of Peace award | First recipient of award presented by the Hope for Peace and Justice Center in Dallas; also in honor of Angelou’s 80th birthday | |
| 2008 | Gracie Award | Honors accomplishments in the media; for Angelou’s radio show on XM Radio | |
| 2008 | Marian Anderson Award | Honors “artists whose leadership benefits humanity” | |
| 2008 | Lincoln Medal | Presented by Ford’s Theatre to those who exemplify the legacy and character embodied by President Abraham Lincoln | |
| 2009 | Literary Award | Given by the Black Caucus of the American Library Association, recognizing excellence in adult fiction and nonfiction written by African Americans | |
| 2010 | Presidential Medal of Freedom | The highest American civilian honor; awarded by President Barack Obama | |
| 2012 | Black Cultural Society Award | Given by Elon University in North Carolina, for humanitarian contributions for the promotion of world cultures | |
| 2013 | Literary Award | Given by the National Book Foundation, to those whose work has “enhanced the literary world during a lifetime of service” | |
| 2013 | Norman Mailer Prize (Lifetime Achievement) | Given by the Norman Mailer Center and The Norman Mailer Writers Colony to celebrate writers and their works | |
| 2014 | Conference of Minority Transportation Officials Lifetime Achievement award | Given to celebrate the contributions of women leaders who work in transportation, and to recognize Angelou for being the first Black female streetcar conductor in San Francisco. | |
| 2015 | Stamp issued by the U.S. Postal Service | The stamp features a quote, “A bird doesn’t sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song”, which was often cited by Angelou during interviews, but was written by Joan Walsh Anglund in 1967. President Obama wrongly attributed the sentence to Angelou during the presentation of the 2013 National Medal of Arts and National Humanities Medal. |
