Dr. Maya Angelou1928 to Present

By Beccia ClevelandProfessor Elizabeth Owens

ENG 1102 XTIH

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•She won Grammy Awards for the spoken word for the years 1993, 1995 and 2002.•In 1981, Dr. Angelou was appointed to a lifetime position as the first Reynolds Professor of American Studies at Wake Forest University.

•In January 1993, she became only the second poet in U.S. History to have the honor of writing and reciting original work at the Presidential Inauguration

•Dr. Maya Angelou is a Renaissance woman who is one of the great voices of literature.

•She was a poet, educator, historian, best-selling author, actress, playwright, civil-rights  activist, producer and director.

•She travels the world, spreading her wisdom.

• Within the rhythm of her poetry and elegance lies Angelou's unique power to help readers of every race.

•Angelou captivates audiences through the beauty of her words and lyrics.

• Maya Angelou has given us such best-selling titles as I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

•Dr. Angelou has been nominated for two Grammy Awards for "Best Spoken Word or Non Musical Album" for On The Pulse Of Morning (1993) and Phenomenal Woman (1995). In 2004, she received a Grammy Award nomination in the "Best Spoken Word Album" category for Hallelujah! The Welcome Table. Dr. Angelou has garnered over 50 honorary degrees from colleges and universities worldwide.

• http://answers.com/topic/maya-angelou

Accomplishments

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Brief Biography1928-Maya Angelou was Born Marguerite Johnson on April 4 in St. Louis, Missouri.

1931 Parents divorce. Sent with her brother, Bailey, to Stamps, Arkansas to live with their grandmother. 1935 Moves to Chicago with Bailey to live with their mother.

1944 Drops out of high school and works as the first Black cable car conductor in San Francisco.

1945 Becomes a single mom with birth of her son, Guy

1952 Marries Tosh Angelos

*Still living @ the age of 80

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1928-Maya Angelou was Born Marguerite Johnson on April 4 in St. Louis, Missouri.

1931 Parents divorce. Sent with her brother, Bailey, to Stamps, Arkansas to live with their grandmother.

1935 Moves to Chicago with Bailey to live with their mother.

1936 Traumatized by a sexual assault by her Mother’s boyfriend when she is only eight. She thinks that because she said his name is why he was the man, who assaults her is murdered. Refuses to speak to anyone but her brother. Sent back with Bailey to live with their grandmother in Stamps, Arkansas.

1939  Begins speaking after four years of silence because of the incident.

1940  Moves to San Francisco with Bailey to live with their mother.

1944 Drops out of high school and works as the first Black cable car conductor in San Francisco.

http://nwhp.org/tlp/biographies/angelou/angelou_bio.html

Timeline of Events

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1945 Becomes a single mom with birth of her son, Guy 1952 Marries Tosh Angelos 1953 Performs at the Purple Onion nightclub in San Francisco and adopts the stage name Maya Angelou (Maya is what her brother called her in childhood, and Angelou was a corruption of her married name). 1954-55 Tours internationally in the chorus with the Everyman's Opera Company production of Porgy and Bess 1959 Writes lyrics, which turn into poetry and short stories and her singing career blossoms Moves to Brooklyn, New York, to join the Harlem Writers Guild.

Timeline Continued…..

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On-air host Dr. Maya Angelou is honored with a Gracie Award from Women in Radio Television (AWRT) for XM Radio's exclusive "Oprah & Friends." Recipients of this award are recognized for exemplary

programming created for women, by women and about women in all fecets of electronic media, as well as individuals who have made

contributions to the industry. “If you have only one smile in you give it to the people you love.” May 2008

Dr. Angelou receives rave reviews from the University of South Florida. "Working with Dr. Angelou was a privelege. Her lecture gave

the audience insight into her life and the inspiration that has motivated her throughout her career. The USF Community and the

surrounding Tampa area is still buzzing from her visit. She contributed to the largest ULS event to date. I recommentd Dr.

Angelou to any university in need of an inspiration message for its students." - Lindsey Grossman, Director of Student Programming.

January 2008

Dr. Angelou becomes the first African-American woman and living poet to be featured in the Poetry for Young People series of books

from Sterling Publishing.December 12, 2000 President, First Lady and National Endowment

for the Arts honor America's Distinguished Artists

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Dr. Maya Angelou and Hallmark Cards, Inc. have collaborated to make a gift selection that offers inspiration, hope and joy.  Now

available in select Hallmark stores, the collection features vases, pillows, wind chimes, frames and other charming trinkets. With compassion and candor, Dr. Angelou's works speak to the heart,

encouraging us to love life, to perservere through its challenges and to share our gifts with others.

Washington, DC - President William Clinton is pleased to announce the distinguished recipients of the National Medal of Arts for the

year 2000. The President and First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton will present the Medal to ten artists, an arts patron, and a cultural

broadcaster during ceremonies in the nation's capital to be held at Constitution Hall on December 20, 2000 at 10:00 am.   The Medal of

Arts, established by Congress in 1984, honors individuals and organizations who, in the President's judgment, are deserving of

special recognition by reason of their outstanding contributions to the excellence, growth, support and availability of the arts in the

United States.   National Medal of Arts Recipients for the year 2000:

http://www.mayaangelou.com/RecentEvents.html

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I speak to the black experience, but I am always talking about the human condition - about what we can endure, dream, fail at, and still survive.

Words mean more than what is set down on paper. It takes the human voice to infuse them with shades of deeper meaning.

A bird doesn't sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song.

Alone, all alone Nobody, but nobody Can make it out here alone.

I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

All my work, my life, everything is about survival. All my work is meant to say, 'You may. encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated'".

While I know myself as a creation of God, I am also obligated to realize and remember that everyone else and everything else are also God's

creation.”

http://www.fadedgiant.net/html/angelou_maya_quotes.htm

http://thinkexist.com/quotes/maya_angelou/

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http://womenshistory.about.com/cs/quootes/a/qu_maya_angelou.htm

http:www/nwhp.org/tlp/biographies/angelou/angelou.bio.html

www.Google. Com

www.unitedstreaming.com

Informational Sources

http://www.mayaangelou.com/RecentEvents.html

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