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Maya Angelou is born Marguerite Ann Johnson in St. Louis, Missouri, to Bailey Johnson and Vivian Johnson.
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At the age of 3, Maya and her brother Bailey are sent to live with their paternal grandmother, Annie Henderson, in Stamps, Arkansas, after their parents’ separation. This period marks the beginning of her awareness of racial segregation.
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Maya and Bailey are sent back to live with their mother in San Francisco, where Maya slowly regains her voice and begins to explore literature, developing a deep love for poetry and storytelling.
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At age 16, Maya becomes the first African American female streetcar conductor in San Francisco, symbolizing her independence and resilience.
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Maya moves to New York City, where she becomes part of the vibrant arts scene. She studies dance and drama, performing in various productions and eventually joining the Harlem Writers Guild.
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Maya publishes her first autobiography, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, which becomes an instant classic. The book chronicles her early life, including her trauma, racial struggles, and her path to self-empowerment.
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Maya moves to Ghana in 1961, where she works as an editor for the African Review. She becomes involved in the political and cultural life of the country, meeting key figures like Malcolm X and Kwame Nkrumah, and advocates for African unity.
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Maya Angelou is nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song for the film Georgia, Georgia, which she also wrote. She becomes one of the first Black women to receive an Oscar nomination for writing.
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Maya accepts a teaching position at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where she teaches American Studies and remains a beloved professor for many years.
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Maya Angelou recites her poem "On the Pulse of Morning" at the inauguration of President Bill Clinton, becoming the first African American woman to perform at a presidential inauguration.
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Maya Angelou passes away at the age of 86 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Her legacy as a poet, memoirist, civil rights activist, and cultural icon endures.
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