Maya Angelou Timeline

By edessauer

  • Birth

    Maya Angelou is born as "Marguerite Johnson" in St Louis, Missouri

  • Raped by Mother's Boyfriend

    Angelou was sexually abused and raped by her mother's boyfriend. This event made Maya mute.

  • Moved to San Francisco

    Angelou moved with her family to San Francisco

  • Dropped out of High School

    Angelou dropped out of high school to become San Francisco's first African American female car conductor

  • Had First Child

    While in her final year of high school, Angelou became pregnant and gave birth to her son, Guy, a few weeks after graduating

  • Began Career as Nightclub Singer

    Angelou began her career as a nightclub singer, which is when she took the name Maya Angelou

  • Beginning of Writing Career

    Joined Harlem Writers Guild after moving to New York and developing her writing skills in poetry

  • Beginning of Activism

    Became involved with Civil Rights Activists and became the northern coordinator for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference

  • Life in Africa

    Met Vusumzi Make and moved with him and her son, Guy, to Cairo, Egypt. They later moved to Ghana

  • Return to America

    Angelou returned to America to help Malcom X build the Organization of African American Unity

  • Autobiography Published

    Published her autobiography titles "I Know Why the Caged Birds Sing"

  • Langston Hughes Medal

    Received the Langston Hughes Medal for African American heritage writers

  • Grammy

    Received a Grammy award for Best Spoken Word Album for "On the Pulse of Morning"

  • Mother Theresa Award

    Received the Mother Theresa Award for her service to humanity

  • Death

    Maya Angelou passed away at the age of 86