In 1961 she was persuaded by a South African dissident to whom she was briefly married to move to Cairo, where she worked for the Arab Observer. This book brought her international recognition, and was nominated for a National Book Award. The first and most highly acclaimed, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969), tells of her first seventeen years.
#List maya angelou poems series#
She is well-known for her series of six autobiographical volumes, which focus on her childhood and early adult experiences. These issues were the focus of his first autobiographical work, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, which was critically acclaimed and nominated for a National Book Award. The series of traumatic events left her almost completely speechless for several years. When she was not yet eight years old, she was raped by her mother's boyfriend and spoke about it, then he was murdered. She died in 2014 at the age of 86, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most important voices of her generation. She appeared in several films and television shows, and she was nominated for a Tony Award for her performance in the play Look Away.Īngelou was the recipient of many awards and honors, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the United States.
In addition to her writing, Angelou was also a talented singer and actress. Her writing often addressed issues of race, identity, and social injustice, and her powerful and inspiring words resonated with readers around the world. Over the course of her career, Angelou published several more memoirs, as well as poetry collections and essays. It is widely regarded as a classic of African-American literature. The book is a coming-of-age story that explores Angelou's childhood experiences and the racism and sexism she faced throughout her life. and Malcolm X, and her activism inspired much of her later writing.Īngelou's first memoir, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, was published in 1969 and became a best-seller.
Angelou was so traumatized by the incident that she became mute for several years, using writing as a form of self-expression.Īngelou eventually moved to San Francisco, California, where she began performing in the arts scene and joined the civil rights movement. She experienced trauma early in life when she was raped at the age of 7 by her mother's boyfriend, who was subsequently killed by her uncles. Louis, Missouri and spent much of her childhood in Stamps, Arkansas. She was born Marguerite Annie Johnson in St. Maya Angelou (1928-2014) was an American poet, memoirist, and civil rights activist.
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