History of Maya Angelou in Timeline

Maya Angelou was a celebrated American memoirist, poet, and civil rights activist with a prolific career spanning over 50 years. She is best known for her seven autobiographies, the first of which, "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings," brought her international acclaim. This autobiography details her life up to the age of 17. In addition to her autobiographical works, she published several books of essays and poetry, and contributed to a wide range of plays, movies, and television shows. Throughout her career, Angelou received numerous accolades, including dozens of awards and over 50 honorary degrees.

April 4, 1928: Birth of Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou was born Marguerite Annie Johnson on April 4, 1928.

1951: Marriage to Tosh Angelos

Maya Angelou married Tosh Angelos in 1951.

1954: Professional Name Change and European Tour

In 1954, she adopted the professional name "Maya Angelou" and toured Europe with the opera "Porgy and Bess".

1955: European Tour with Porgy and Bess

During 1955, Maya Angelou continued touring Europe with a production of the opera Porgy and Bess.

1957: Miss Calypso Album Release

In 1957, Maya Angelou released her first album, "Miss Calypso".

1959: Move to New York and Harlem Writers Guild

In 1959, Maya Angelou moved to New York and joined the Harlem Writers Guild.

September 19, 1960: Support for Fidel Castro

On September 19, 1960, Maya Angelou joined the crowd cheering for Fidel Castro in Harlem.

1961: Performance in The Blacks and Meeting Vusumzi Make

In 1961, Angelou performed in Jean Genet's play "The Blacks" and met Vusumzi Make.

1961: Relationship with Vusumzi Make

Maya Angelou began her relationship with Vusumzi Make in 1961. They never formally married.

1962: Move to Accra, Ghana

In 1962, Maya Angelou and her son moved to Accra, Ghana.

1965: Return to the U.S. and Witnessing Watts Riots

Angelou returned to the U.S. in 1965 and witnessed the Watts riots.

1965: Work and Life in Ghana

By 1965, Angelou was working as an administrator at the University of Ghana and contributing to various media outlets.

1967: Return to New York

Maya Angelou returned to New York in 1967 to focus on her writing.

1968: A Year of Pain, Loss, and Genius

1968 marked a tragic turning point for Maya Angelou. Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination on her birthday deeply affected her. Despite this, she demonstrated resilience by creating the documentary series "Blacks, Blues, Black!" and beginning work on her acclaimed autobiography, "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings".

1969: Publication of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

In 1969, Maya Angelou published her autobiography, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, which garnered significant recognition for its groundbreaking portrayal of a Black woman's life and experiences.

1971: Publication of "Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water 'fore I Diiie"

Maya Angelou's poetry volume "Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water 'fore I Diiie" was published in 1971 and nominated for a Pulitzer Prize.

1972: Georgia, Georgia Screenplay

In 1972, Maya Angelou wrote the screenplay for Georgia, Georgia, which was the first original script by a Black woman to be produced.

1972: Georgia, Georgia: A Milestone in Film

In 1972, Maya Angelou's screenplay "Georgia, Georgia" became the first produced screenplay by a Black woman, marking a significant achievement in film history. She also composed the film's soundtrack.

1973: Marriage and a Tony Nomination

1973 was a year of personal and professional milestones for Angelou. She married Paul du Feu and received a Tony Award nomination for her role in the play "Look Away".

1973: Tony Award Nomination

Maya Angelou was nominated for a Tony Award for her role in the 1973 play Look Away.

1974: Marriage to Paul du Feu

Maya Angelou married Paul du Feu in 1974.

1977: Appearance in "Roots" and Growing Recognition

In 1977, Angelou appeared in the acclaimed miniseries "Roots" and continued to receive numerous awards and honorary degrees, solidifying her status as a prominent figure.

1977: Roots Mini-series

In 1977, Maya Angelou appeared in the television mini-series Roots.

1981: Reynolds Professorship at Wake Forest

In 1981, Angelou accepted the lifetime Reynolds Professorship of American Studies at Wake Forest University, embracing her role as a "teacher who writes."

1981: Divorce and a Return to the South

In 1981, Angelou divorced Paul du Feu and returned to the southern United States to confront her past, embarking on a new chapter in her life.

1981: Grandson's Disappearance

The mother of Maya Angelou's grandson disappeared with him in 1981. It took four years to locate him.

1982: Appointment at Wake Forest University

In 1982, Maya Angelou became the first Reynolds Professor of American Studies at Wake Forest University.

1986: Publication of "All God's Children Need Traveling Shoes"

Maya Angelou published her fifth autobiography, "All God's Children Need Traveling Shoes", in 1986.

1988: Directing "Moon on a Rainbow Shawl"

In 1988, Angelou furthered her theatrical career by directing a revival of Errol John's play "Moon on a Rainbow Shawl" in London.

1989: Angelou Discusses Writing Process

In a 1989 interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Maya Angelou described her writing ritual, which involved renting a hotel room and writing on legal pads. She explained how she used this process to access memories and "tell the human truth" about her life.

1990: Start of ALA's Most Challenged Books List Inclusion

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings was frequently challenged from 1990 to 2000, appearing third on the ALA's list.

1991: Death of Vivian Baxter

Maya Angelou's mother, Vivian Baxter, passed away in 1991.

1992: Comparison to 1992 Sales

Angelou's book sales in January 1993 vastly exceeded those of the entire year of 1992.

January 1993: Sales Surge and Reprint

In January 1993, following a public reading, Angelou's book sales dramatically increased, prompting Random House to reprint 400,000 copies.

1993: "On the Pulse of Morning" Recital

Angelou recited her poem "On the Pulse of Morning" at President Bill Clinton's inauguration in 1993.

1993: Inaugural Poem for Bill Clinton

In 1993, Angelou delivered her powerful poem "On the Pulse of Morning" at President Bill Clinton's inauguration, becoming the first poet to do so since Robert Frost in 1961. This brought her wider recognition and a Grammy Award.

1993: Inaugural Recitation

Maya Angelou recited her poem "On the Pulse of Morning" at President Bill Clinton's inauguration in 1993.

1994: Spingarn Medal

In 1994, Angelou was awarded the Spingarn Medal.

June 1995: "A Brave and Startling Truth" at the UN

In June 1995, Angelou presented her poem "A Brave and Startling Truth" at the 50th anniversary of the United Nations.

1995: Angelou Discusses Her Life

In a 1995 interview, Maya Angelou discussed various aspects of her life and career.

1996: Film Direction and Music Collaboration

1996 was a year of diverse creative endeavors for Angelou. She directed her first feature film, "Down in the Delta," and collaborated with Ashford & Simpson on their album "Been Found".

1996: Miss Calypso Re-release

Angelou's album "Miss Calypso" was reissued on CD in 1996.

1997: Caged Bird Analysis in Stories of Resilience in Childhood

Daniel Challener analyzed events in Caged Bird for his 1997 book Stories of Resilience in Childhood.

1998: Down in the Delta Directorial Debut

In 1998, Maya Angelou directed Down in the Delta, becoming the first African American woman to direct a major motion picture.

2000: Hallmark Collection

In 2000, Angelou launched a successful collection of products for Hallmark, further expanding her reach and influence as "the people's poet."

2000: National Medal of Arts

Maya Angelou received the National Medal of Arts in 2000.

2000: Death of Bailey Johnson Jr.

Maya Angelou's brother, Bailey Johnson Jr., died in 2000 after suffering a series of strokes.

2000: End of ALA's Most Challenged Books List Inclusion, and beginning of 2000-2009 List Inclusion

The book continued to be challenged into the 2000s, appearing sixth on the ALA's list for 2000-2009 and marking the end of its inclusion on the prior list.

2002: Publication of "A Song Flung Up to Heaven"

In 2002, Angelou published "A Song Flung Up to Heaven," the sixth installment in her autobiographical series.

2004: Purchase of Harlem Brownstone

In 2004, Maya Angelou purchased a brownstone in Harlem. It housed her extensive book collection and artwork.

2004: Publication of "Hallelujah! The Welcome Table"

Maya Angelou published her first cookbook, "Hallelujah! The Welcome Table", in 2004.

2008: Political Activism and Support for Obama

In 2008, Angelou actively campaigned for Hillary Clinton and later Barack Obama, celebrating his historic victory as the first African American president.

2008: Angelou's Ancestry Revealed

In 2008, DNA testing and a PBS documentary revealed details about Maya Angelou's ancestry. The DNA test showed that 45% of her African ancestors were from the Congo-Angola region and 55% were from West Africa. The documentary explored the story of her maternal great-grandmother, Mary Lee, and her relationship with her former owner, John Savin, after the Civil War.

2008: Letter to My Daughter Publication

Maya Angelou published her third book of essays, Letter to My Daughter, in 2008.

2009: Erroneous Hospitalization Report

In 2009, TMZ falsely reported that Maya Angelou had been hospitalized, leading to rumors of her death.

2009: End of ALA's 2000-2009 Most Challenged Books List Inclusion

Up until 2009, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings remained on the ALA's Most Challenged Books list.

2010: Donation to Schomburg Center

In late 2010, Angelou donated her personal papers and career memorabilia to the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, preserving a valuable record of her life and work.