Authors: Maya Angelou

Authors: Maya AngelouBy Biography.com Editors and A E Networks, adapted by Newsela staff on 08.08.16Word Count 846Maya Angelou reciting her poem "On the Pulse of Morning" at President Bill Clinton's inauguration in 1993. Courtesy,William J. Clinton Presidential LibrarySynopsis: Maya Angelou was born on April 4, 1928, in St. Louis, Missouri. She is perhapsbest known for "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings," her 1969 book about her early life. Thebook made history as the first nonfiction best seller by an African-American woman. In1971, Angelou published the poetry collection "Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water 'Fore IDiiie," which was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. In 1993 she recited her poem "On thePulse of Morning" during the inauguration ceremony of President Bill Clinton's first term.Angelou received many honors throughout her career, and was loved by countlessreaders. She died in 2014, at the age of 86.Early YearsBorn Marguerite Annie Johnson, Maya Angelou had a difficult childhood. Her parentsseparated when she was very young, and she and her older brother, Bailey, were sent tolive with their father's mother in Stamps, Arkansas. As an African-American, Angelouexperienced a great deal of prejudice and discrimination growing up. She also suffered atthe hands of a family friend when she was very young. Around the age of 7, she wasassaulted by her mother's boyfriend. The man was then killed by Angelou's uncles out ofrevenge. Angelou was so upset by the experience that for years she stopped talking.This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com.1

During World War II, Angelou moved to San Francisco, where she studied dance andacting. Also during this time, Angelou became the country's first black female cable carconductor, though she only held the job briefly. In 1944, when she was 16, Angelou gavebirth to a son, Guy. The child was born following a short-lived high school relationship. Tosupport herself and her child, Angelou had to work a number of jobs without the help ofthe father. In 1952, Angelou married Anastasios Angelopulos, a Greek sailor. From him shetook her professional name — a blend of her childhood nickname, "Maya," and ashortened version of his family name.Career BeginningsIn the mid-1950s, Angelou's career as a performer began to take off. She landed a role ina touring production of the musical "Porgy and Bess," and later appeared in the offBroadway production "Calypso Heat Wave" in 1957. In that same year, she released herfirst record album, "Miss Calypso." In 1961, Angelou appeared in a rendition of JeanGenet's play "The Blacks," with James Earl Jones, Louis Gossett, Jr. and Cicely Tyson. Theplay explored what it meant to be black in a society filled with prejudice.Though the play earned strong reviews, Angelou decided to move on to other pursuits.She spent much of the 1960s abroad, first in Egypt and then in Ghana. During these years,she worked as an editor and a freelance writer. After returning to the United States,Angelou was urged to write about her life experiences by James Baldwin, a friend andinfluential writer. Her efforts resulted in "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings," the enormouslysuccessful 1969 book about her childhood and young adult years. The heart-wrenchingwork made Angelou an international star.Later SuccessesAngelou wrote several other accounts of her own life, including "All God's Children NeedTraveling Shoes" (1986) and "A Song Flung Up to Heaven" (2002). She also publishedseveral collections of poetry. Among these are the Pulitzer Prize–nominated "Just Give Mea Cool Drink of Water 'Fore I Diiie" (1971).One of Angelou's most famous works is the poem "On the Pulse of Morning," which shewrote especially for and recited at President Bill Clinton's inaugural ceremony in January1993. Angelou went on to win a Grammy Award for the audio version of the poem. In 1995,Angelou was celebrated for being on The New York Times' paperback nonfiction bestseller list for two years. Her run was the longest i

Authors: Maya Angelou Maya Angelou reciting her poem "On the Pulse of Morning" at President Bill Clinton's inauguration in 1993. Courtesy, William J. Clinton Presidential Library Synopsis: Maya Angelou was born