Maya Angelou, born Marguerite Annie Johnson, was an American memoirist, essayist, poet and civil rights activist who published seven autobiographies, three books of essays and several books of poetry over a career spanning more than fifty years. The first of her autobiographies, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969), told of her life up to age seventeen and brought her international recognition. Active in the Civil Rights Movement alongside Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, she became the first poet since Robert Frost to deliver an inaugural recitation, reading On the Pulse of Morning at Bill Clinton's first inauguration in 1993. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
Facts
AwardArkansas Black Hall of Fame, 1993. 1 AwardArkansas Women's Hall of Fame, 2017. 1 AwardGrammy Award for Best Audio Book, Narration & Storytelling Recording, 1993. 1 Awardhonorary citizen of Baltimore, 1990. 1 Awardhonorary degree from Spelman College, 1983. 1 Awardhonorary doctorate of the University of South Carolina, 1989. 1 AwardHoratio Alger Award, 1992. 1 AwardLangston Hughes Medal, 1991. 1 AwardLiterarian Award for Outstanding Service to the American Literary Community, 2013. 1 AwardMarian Anderson Award, 2008. 1 AwardNAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work, Nonfiction, 2005. 1 AwardNational Medal of Arts, 2000. 1 AwardNational Women's Hall of Fame, 1998. 1 AwardNorth Carolina Award for Literature, 1987. 1 AwardPaul Robeson Award, 1990. 1 AwardPresidential Medal of Freedom, 2010. 1 Classification
Original Language FAQs
What did Maya Angelou do besides write books?
She was a civil rights organizer, a newspaper editor abroad, a film and stage director, and a university professor.
Angelou worked widely outside publishing. In 1959, at the request of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., she became the northern coordinator for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. From 1961 to 1962 she was associate editor of The Arab Observer in Cairo, and from 1964 to 1966 she was feature editor of the African Review in Accra, Ghana. She also wrote, produced and directed for stage, film and television. From 1982 she held a lifetime appointment as Reynolds Professor of American Studies at Wake Forest University.
Which of Maya Angelou's books were nominated for major literary prizes?
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings was nominated for the National Book Award, and Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water 'fore I Diiie for the Pulitzer Prize.
Two of her books were nominated for major American prizes. Her first autobiographical book, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969), was nominated for the National Book Award. Her volume of poetry Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water 'fore I Diiie (1971) was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize.
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Source I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (Wikipedia)
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1. Wikipedia: Maya Angelou
Wikimedia Foundation (Wikipedia)Lead section
Maya Angelou ( AN-jə-loh; born Marguerite Annie Johnson; April 4, 1928, May 28, 2014) was an American memoirist, essayist, poet, and civil rights activist.
Original language statement
Maya Angelou, born Marguerite Annie Johnson, was an American memoirist, essayist, poet and civil rights activist who published seven autobiographies, three books of essays and several books of poetry over a career spanning more than fifty years.
Lead paragraph
Maya Angelou ( AN-jə-loh; born Marguerite Annie Johnson; April 4, 1928 - May 28, 2014) was an American memoirist, essayist, poet, and civil rights activist. She published seven autobiographies, three books of essays, several books of poetry, and is credited with a list of plays, movies, and television shows spanning more than 50 years.
Award: National Women's Hall of Fame
Maya Angelou ( AN-jə-loh; born Marguerite Annie Johnson; April 4, 1928, May 28, 2014) was an American memoirist, essayist, poet, and civil rights activist. She published seven autobiographies, three books of essays, several books of poetry, and is credited with a list of plays, movies, and television shows spanning more than 50 years. She received dozens of awards and more than 50 honorary degrees.
Award: Langston Hughes Medal
Maya Angelou ( AN-jə-loh; born Marguerite Annie Johnson; April 4, 1928, May 28, 2014) was an American memoirist, essayist, poet, and civil rights activist. She published seven autobiographies, three books of essays, several books of poetry, and is credited with a list of plays, movies, and television shows spanning more than 50 years. She received dozens of awards and more than 50 honorary degrees.
Award: Grammy Award for Best Audio Book, Narration & Storytelling Recording
Maya Angelou ( AN-jə-loh; born Marguerite Annie Johnson; April 4, 1928, May 28, 2014) was an American memoirist, essayist, poet, and civil rights activist. She published seven autobiographies, three books of essays, several books of poetry, and is credited with a list of plays, movies, and television shows spanning more than 50 years. She received dozens of awards and more than 50 honorary degrees.
Award: Spingarn Medal
Maya Angelou ( AN-jə-loh; born Marguerite Annie Johnson; April 4, 1928, May 28, 2014) was an American memoirist, essayist, poet, and civil rights activist. She published seven autobiographies, three books of essays, several books of poetry, and is credited with a list of plays, movies, and television shows spanning more than 50 years. She received dozens of awards and more than 50 honorary degrees.
Award: NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work, Nonfiction
Maya Angelou ( AN-jə-loh; born Marguerite Annie Johnson; April 4, 1928, May 28, 2014) was an American memoirist, essayist, poet, and civil rights activist. She published seven autobiographies, three books of essays, several books of poetry, and is credited with a list of plays, movies, and television shows spanning more than 50 years. She received dozens of awards and more than 50 honorary degrees.
Award: Marian Anderson Award
Maya Angelou ( AN-jə-loh; born Marguerite Annie Johnson; April 4, 1928, May 28, 2014) was an American memoirist, essayist, poet, and civil rights activist. She published seven autobiographies, three books of essays, several books of poetry, and is credited with a list of plays, movies, and television shows spanning more than 50 years. She received dozens of awards and more than 50 honorary degrees.
Award: Presidential Medal of Freedom
Maya Angelou ( AN-jə-loh; born Marguerite Annie Johnson; April 4, 1928, May 28, 2014) was an American memoirist, essayist, poet, and civil rights activist. She published seven autobiographies, three books of essays, several books of poetry, and is credited with a list of plays, movies, and television shows spanning more than 50 years. She received dozens of awards and more than 50 honorary degrees.
Award: Literarian Award for Outstanding Service to the American Literary Community
Maya Angelou ( AN-jə-loh; born Marguerite Annie Johnson; April 4, 1928, May 28, 2014) was an American memoirist, essayist, poet, and civil rights activist. She published seven autobiographies, three books of essays, several books of poetry, and is credited with a list of plays, movies, and television shows spanning more than 50 years. She received dozens of awards and more than 50 honorary degrees.
Award: Candace Award
Maya Angelou ( AN-jə-loh; born Marguerite Annie Johnson; April 4, 1928, May 28, 2014) was an American memoirist, essayist, poet, and civil rights activist. She published seven autobiographies, three books of essays, several books of poetry, and is credited with a list of plays, movies, and television shows spanning more than 50 years. She received dozens of awards and more than 50 honorary degrees.
Award: Horatio Alger Award
Maya Angelou ( AN-jə-loh; born Marguerite Annie Johnson; April 4, 1928, May 28, 2014) was an American memoirist, essayist, poet, and civil rights activist. She published seven autobiographies, three books of essays, several books of poetry, and is credited with a list of plays, movies, and television shows spanning more than 50 years. She received dozens of awards and more than 50 honorary degrees.
Award: Arkansas Black Hall of Fame
Maya Angelou ( AN-jə-loh; born Marguerite Annie Johnson; April 4, 1928, May 28, 2014) was an American memoirist, essayist, poet, and civil rights activist. She published seven autobiographies, three books of essays, several books of poetry, and is credited with a list of plays, movies, and television shows spanning more than 50 years. She received dozens of awards and more than 50 honorary degrees.
Award: Paul Robeson Award
Maya Angelou ( AN-jə-loh; born Marguerite Annie Johnson; April 4, 1928, May 28, 2014) was an American memoirist, essayist, poet, and civil rights activist. She published seven autobiographies, three books of essays, several books of poetry, and is credited with a list of plays, movies, and television shows spanning more than 50 years. She received dozens of awards and more than 50 honorary degrees.
Award: Crystal Award
Maya Angelou ( AN-jə-loh; born Marguerite Annie Johnson; April 4, 1928, May 28, 2014) was an American memoirist, essayist, poet, and civil rights activist. She published seven autobiographies, three books of essays, several books of poetry, and is credited with a list of plays, movies, and television shows spanning more than 50 years. She received dozens of awards and more than 50 honorary degrees.
Award: National Medal of Arts
Maya Angelou ( AN-jə-loh; born Marguerite Annie Johnson; April 4, 1928, May 28, 2014) was an American memoirist, essayist, poet, and civil rights activist. She published seven autobiographies, three books of essays, several books of poetry, and is credited with a list of plays, movies, and television shows spanning more than 50 years. She received dozens of awards and more than 50 honorary degrees.
Award: honorary doctorate of the University of South Carolina
Maya Angelou ( AN-jə-loh; born Marguerite Annie Johnson; April 4, 1928, May 28, 2014) was an American memoirist, essayist, poet, and civil rights activist. She published seven autobiographies, three books of essays, several books of poetry, and is credited with a list of plays, movies, and television shows spanning more than 50 years. She received dozens of awards and more than 50 honorary degrees.
Award: honorary citizen of Baltimore
Maya Angelou ( AN-jə-loh; born Marguerite Annie Johnson; April 4, 1928, May 28, 2014) was an American memoirist, essayist, poet, and civil rights activist. She published seven autobiographies, three books of essays, several books of poetry, and is credited with a list of plays, movies, and television shows spanning more than 50 years. She received dozens of awards and more than 50 honorary degrees.
Award: North Carolina Award for Literature
Maya Angelou ( AN-jə-loh; born Marguerite Annie Johnson; April 4, 1928, May 28, 2014) was an American memoirist, essayist, poet, and civil rights activist. She published seven autobiographies, three books of essays, several books of poetry, and is credited with a list of plays, movies, and television shows spanning more than 50 years. She received dozens of awards and more than 50 honorary degrees.
Award: honorary degree from Spelman College
Maya Angelou ( AN-jə-loh; born Marguerite Annie Johnson; April 4, 1928, May 28, 2014) was an American memoirist, essayist, poet, and civil rights activist. She published seven autobiographies, three books of essays, several books of poetry, and is credited with a list of plays, movies, and television shows spanning more than 50 years. She received dozens of awards and more than 50 honorary degrees.
Award: Arkansas Women's Hall of Fame
Maya Angelou ( AN-jə-loh; born Marguerite Annie Johnson; April 4, 1928, May 28, 2014) was an American memoirist, essayist, poet, and civil rights activist. She published seven autobiographies, three books of essays, several books of poetry, and is credited with a list of plays, movies, and television shows spanning more than 50 years. She received dozens of awards and more than 50 honorary degrees.
View the Source I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationWorks Attributed: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Lead section, authorshipQuote, Works Attributed: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Lead section, authorship
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is a 1969 autobiography describing the young and early years of American writer and poet Maya Angelou.
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