Maya Angelou (original name Marguerite Johnson) was born April 4, 1928, in St Louis, Missouri.
Maya Angelou had a turbulent childhood, but she was able to retell her experiences with great poignancy and effect in her book I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings (1969). This book is a collection of stories from her childhood, and this book made her one of the first African-American women to reach the bestsellers list. I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings was also nominated for the National Book Award.
Despite the inequities of her life as a child, Maya Angelou was able to provide a positive message of humanity and hope. Maya Angelou said that “The honorary duty of a human being is to love.”
Works by Maya Angelou:
Maya Angelou, and still I rise / producer, Rita Coburn Whack, Bob Hercules, Jay Alix, Una Jac ; director, Bob Hercules, Rita Coburn Whack
Maya Angelou [sound recording] : a glorious celebration / Marcia Ann Gillespie, Rosa Johnson Butler and Richard A. Long
Letter to my daughter [sound recording] / Maya Angelou
Celebrations [sound recording] : [rituals of peace and prayer] / Maya Angelou
Interviews with Maya:
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWvDJNQa9TE&w=560&h=315] [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jDKAXG8cb4&w=560&h=315] [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNiHqCGBg28&w=560&h=315] [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xurY5Na3AQ&w=560&h=315]AWARDS
The Spingarn Medal is awarded annually by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) for outstanding achievement by an African American. The award was created in 1914 by Joel Elias Spingarn, chairman of the Board of Directors of the NAACP.
The BET Honors were established in 2008 by the network to honor the lives and achievements of African-American luminaries. The awards are presented annually and broadcast on BET during Black History Month each February.
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.
If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.
Nothing will work unless you do.
