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Marguerite Annie Johnson Born
Maya Angelou was born with the name Marguerite Annie Johnson. She was born in St. Louis, Missouri, to her parents, Bailey Johnson and Vivian Baxter Johnson -
Raped by Mother's boyfriend, Freeman
Maya's father took her and her brother to St. Louis to be left in the care of her mother. While there, her mother's boyfriend, a man named Freeman, raped her. Maya told her brother, Bailey, who in turn told the family, who in turn told the police. Freeman was jailed for one day, and once released, killed, supposedly by Maya's uncles. She then becomes mute for the next 5 years as a result, which became the basis for her autobiography, "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings." -
Becomes First Black Female Cable Car Driver in San Francisco
Maya Angelou moved to San Francisco, California, to live with her mother in 1942 and operating her own cable car was considered to be her "dream job." She was the first black female cable car driver in San Francisco. Later, in 2014, she received a lifetime achievement award from the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials. She was considered a "Woman who moved the nation." -
Maya gives birth to her only child
Maya gave birth to her only son at age 17. The child was named Clyde Johnson, who was referred to as Guy Johnson -
Actress in the production of "Porgy and Bess" abroad
From 1954-1955, Maya Angelou was an actress in a State Department-sponsored production of the play "Porgy and Bess" abroad in Italy and Israel. It was during this time that she became proficient in both Italian and Hebrew and made it a personal goal to become fluent in the language of each country she visited. -
Becomes Northern Coordinator for SCLC
In 1960, Martin Luther King Jr. requests that Maya lead the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), after she wrote, produced, and directed the musical "Cabaret for Freedom" to benefit the SCLC. She then succeeded the previous coordinator, Bayard Rustin, as the Northern Coordinator. -
Move to Middle East/ Africa
Maya Angelou moved from California with her son to Cairo, Egypt, to work at an English-speaking news agency. It was assumed that during that time she became proficient in Arabic. In 1963, she moved to Accra, Ghana, so her son could attend university. It was during that time that she became an administrator at the university and became well-known in the expatriate community. During this time, she became proficient in West African Fanti. -
Performed in the play "The Blacks"
In 1961, Maya Angelou was an actress in a play called "The Blacks," originally performed in France (which is where she may have developed a proficiency in French) but then was transferred to being an off-Broadway production in New York. -
Published "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings"
Maya Angelou published what is considered her greatest work, the autobiography "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings." The book has been translated into 17 languages and sold approximately 1 million copies worldwide. -
Release of Maya's First Original Screenplay
In 1972, in Sweden, Maya wrote the screenplay and soundtrack for the film "Georgia, Georgia," which was the first screenplay written by a black woman. -
Poem Nominated for Pulitzer Prize
Maya Angelou's poem, "Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water 'fore I Diiie," was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in 1972. The Pulitzer Prize is one of the most prestigious awards that an author can receive for their work. -
Appointed to the National Commission on the Observance of International Women's Year
In 1975, Maya Angelou was appointed by former President Jimmy Carter to the National Commission on the Observance of International Women's Year. -
Became Reynolds Professor of American Studies
Maya Angelou was named the Reynolds Professor of American Studies at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. -
Awarded a Grammy for Best Spoken Word or Non-Musical Album
Maya Angelou received a Grammy award for the recording of her original poem "On the Pulse of Morning." She had recited this same poem at the inauguration of former President Bill Clinton. She would go on to receive two additional Grammys for her spoken word albums in her lifetime. -
Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom
In 2011, Maya Angelou was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by former President Barack Obama. The award is the highest award available to civilians during peacetime and is meant to symbolize the extraordinary contributions made by Americans to society. -
Maya Angelou dies
Maya Angelou died due to mostly unknown causes, although it is suspected that she suffered from respiratory failure. She died in Winston-Salem, NC at the age of 86.
