| Maya (Johnson) Angelou is a part of US Black history. Join: US Black Heritage Project Discuss: black_heritage |
Maya Angelou, acclaimed American poet, memoirist, and civil rights activist, was born Marguerite Ann Johnson on 4 April 1928 in St. Louis, Missouri, the second child of Bailey Johnson and Vivian Althea Baxter.[1][2][3][4][5] Her father worked as a doorman, navy dietitian, and taxi driver,[3][5] while Vivian was a nurse and card dealer, and easily distracted by her pursuits -- a trait which made her sometimes carry motherhood as a burden, according to Maya.[5][6]
Marguerite's older brother, Bailey Jr., nicknamed her "Maya."[5]
In 1930, Maya and her parents were living with her maternal grandparents in St. Louis, Missouri.[2][6]
Around 1932, her parents ended their tumultuous marriage and her father sent the children by train to live with his mother, Annie Henderson, in Stamps, Arkansas.[5] Annie, or Momma, as her grandchildren called her[7], unlike so many other African-Americans living during this time period, had prospered financially because her general store sold basic items people needed, and because she made "honest, wise investments."[4]
Four years later, Maya's father showed up again without warning.[4] He and the two children were living in his brother's home, along with his mother Annie, in 1940.[3][6] He soon after sent the children back to the care of Vivian in St. Louis.[6]
At the age of 8, while still living with her mother, Maya was abused and raped by Vivian's boyfriend, a man named Freeman.[4][5][6] Maya told her brother, who then told the rest of her family. Freeman was tried and found guilty but was jailed for only one day. Four days after his release, he was kicked to death, probably by relatives of Maya's.[4]
Maya and her brother were sent back to live with their Grandmother Annie.[6] Maya blamed herself for Freeman's death, thinking that because she spoke his name, he'd died, and so for five years she did not speak.[6][8]
It was during this period of silence that Maya developed her remarkable memory, her love of books and her ability to listen and observe.[4] She eventually started to speak again with the help of her grandmother's friend, Mrs. Bertha Flowers.[1]
At 13, Maya moved once again, this time to California to live with her mother in San Francisco.[5][6] During this time she went by the name Rita Johnson.[7]
At 17, she gave birth to her only child, a son, Clyde, better known as Guy Johnson.[5]
Maya worked a variety of jobs in her life including fry cook, sex worker, night club dancer, singer/songwriter, cast member of a stage production of Porgy and Bess, journalist, and first female streetcar conductor, which all contributed to her better known occupations of author, poet, speaker, professor, and actress.[5][6]
She was active in the Civil Rights movement, alongside Martin Luther King Jr and Malcolm X.[5][6]
Maya was married twice, first to Thomas J "Tosh" Angelos from 1951[9] to 1954,[4] and then to Paul de Feu from 1974[10] to 1983.[4] Maya took the name Angelou during her marriage to Tosh, having fashioned it after his surname.[1] She had other lengthy relationships, but no other confirmed marriages.
During the course of her life, Maya published seven autobiographies, several books of poetry, three books of essays, as well as writing, producing, directing, and acting in plays, television, and movies.[4]
She made a point to learn the language of every country she visited.[4]
Maya was well-known for her skills in the kitchen, as well, and an invitation to her home for a meal was a treasured one.[1][7][11]
She received numerous awards and was also the recipient of over 30 honorary doctoral degrees.[4][5] One of her greatest honors was receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom, awarded to her by U.S. President Barack Obama in 2011.[4]
After a period of bad health, Maya was found dead by her caregiver on 28 May 2014. [1] [5]
She was memorialized with several services, and her book, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, rose to number 1 on the New York Times Bestsellers List. [1]
Maya Angelou was cremated and her ashes were scattered.[12]
Featured Eurovision connections: Maya is 41 degrees from Agnetha Fältskog, 37 degrees from Anni-Frid Synni Reuß, 37 degrees from Corry Brokken, 32 degrees from Céline Dion, 38 degrees from Françoise Dorin, 38 degrees from France Gall, 40 degrees from Lulu Kennedy-Cairns, 37 degrees from Lill-Babs Svensson, 31 degrees from Olivia Newton-John, 43 degrees from Henriette Nanette Paërl, 42 degrees from Annie Schmidt and 31 degrees from Moira Kennedy on our single family tree. Login to see how you relate to 33 million family members.
J > Johnson | A > Angelou > Marguerite Ann (Johnson) Angelou
Categories: Actors | Poets | Wake Forest University | Arkansas Black Hall of Fame | Persons Appearing on US Postage Stamps | Featured Authors | Literature, Literature and Journalism Notables | United States, Authors | Presidential Medal of Freedom | This Day In History April 04 | This Day In History May 28 | National Women's Hall of Fame (United States) | Example Profiles of the Week | Spingarn Medal | Langston Hughes Medal | 100 Greatest African Americans | Featured Connections Archive 2021 | US Black Heritage Project Managed Profiles | African-American Notables | Notables | Order of the Eastern Star
We are featuring this profile in the Connection Finder this week. Between now and Wednesday is a good time to take a look at the sources and biography to see if there are updates and improvements that need made, especially those that will bring it up to WikiTree Style Guide standards. We know it's short notice, so don't fret too much. Just do what you can.
Thanks!
Abby
Mags