Collaged image of Maya Angelou
 
 

MAYA ANGELOU

1928 - 2014

St. Louis, Missouri

Author, poet

One of the greatest storytellers of our time, Angelou, was prolific in writing poignant stories. She wrote over 36 books, 30 of them being best sellers. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, her most famous book, was once banned due to content. Fast forward to now, where it is one of the most recognizable autobiographies.

Angelou joined the Harlem Writers Guild, a group to support Black authors, in the '50s as one of their earliest members. During her time with the Guild, she began writing I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, published in 1969 and nominated for the National Book Award.

In 1972, she became the first Black woman to turn her screenplay into a movie with "Georgia, Georgia."

Work cited:

Spring, Kelly. “Maya Angelou." National Women's History Museum. National Women's History Museum, 2017.

  • First Black woman to work as a streetcar conductor in San Francisco, California

    First female inaugural poet in U.S. presidential history

    New York Times Bestseller, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

    Presidential Medal of Freedom

  • “Maya Angelou because she is an inspiration to all women. She is like that mother or aunt that you go to for advice. Even though she is not here, all of her work still inspires us to elevate to the next level.”

    -Terri M.

  • Website

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