# Maya Angelou

> A singer, dancer and civil rights organizer who turned to writing in her forties; her seven autobiographies began with *I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings* in 1969.

- Memoirist and poet · I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings · Still I Rise
- Known for: *I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings*, the first of her seven autobiographies, and poems such as "Still I Rise" and "On the Pulse of Morning," which she read at Bill Clinton's 1993 inauguration.[1][5]
- Born: April 4, 1928
- Died: May 28, 2014
- Last updated: 2026-11-14
- Editorial review: approved 2026-11-14
- Web page: https://authorbackstories.com/classic/maya-angelou/
- Reading list (PDF): https://authorbackstories.com/classic/maya-angelou/reading-list.pdf

## Featured book: Best known

*I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings* (1969). The first of her seven autobiographies, covering her childhood in Stamps, Arkansas, St. Louis and California.[1][4]

## At a glance

- Born: Marguerite Annie Johnson, April 4, 1928, in St. Louis, Missouri[3]
- Raised: In Stamps, Arkansas, largely by her paternal grandmother, Annie Henderson[3][2]
- Her name: "Maya" came from her brother's name for her; "Angelou" from a version of her first husband's surname[3][2]
- Before writing: Streetcar conductor, calypso singer and dancer, actor, journalist in Egypt and Ghana, and civil rights organizer[2][9]
- Honors: National Medal of Arts (2000); Presidential Medal of Freedom (2011); three Grammy Awards for spoken-word albums[11][14]
- Died: May 28, 2014, at her home in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, aged 86[16]
- Major award: Literarian Award for Outstanding Service to the American Literary Community (National Book Foundation), 2013[10]

## Maya Angelou's Backstory

### Early life

Maya Angelou was born Marguerite Annie Johnson in St. Louis, Missouri, on April 4, 1928.[3] When she was three, her parents' marriage ended and she and her brother, Bailey, were sent to Stamps, Arkansas, to live with their paternal grandmother, Annie Henderson, who ran a store there.[3] It was Bailey who began calling her "Maya."[3] In *I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings* she described being raped by her mother's boyfriend at the age of seven; she stopped speaking for years afterward, and, as the Smithsonian notes, spent that time reading and memorizing poetry.[1][22]

### Many careers

As a teenager in San Francisco she studied dance and drama at the California Labor School and, in 1943, became the city's first Black streetcar conductor.[26][9] She sang calypso and danced at the Purple Onion nightclub, where she adopted the name Maya Angelou, toured Europe and Africa in *Porgy and Bess* in 1954 and 1955, and recorded *Miss Calypso* in 1957.[2][6] In New York she joined the Harlem Writers Guild, and in 1960 Martin Luther King Jr. recruited her as northern coordinator of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.[8][2]

### Africa and the civil rights movement

She edited the *Arab Observer* in Cairo, then moved to Ghana in 1963, where she wrote for the *Ghanaian Times* and met Malcolm X.[2][25] She returned to the United States in 1964 to help him build the Organization of Afro-American Unity; he was assassinated soon after.[26] King was killed on her 40th birthday in 1968.[26]

### The autobiographies

*I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings*, published in 1969, was the first of seven autobiographies that carried her story from Arkansas to Africa and back, ending with *Mom & Me & Mom* in 2013.[1][13] Her first book of poems, *Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water 'fore I Diiie* (1971), was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize.[14] She went on to publish more poetry, books of essays, children's books and two cookbooks.[13]

### Later years

In 1993 she read "On the Pulse of Morning" at Bill Clinton's inauguration, which brought her wide fame.[5] She received the National Medal of Arts in 2000, the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011 and the National Book Foundation's Literarian Award in 2013, and won three Grammy Awards for spoken-word recordings.[11][10][14] She died at her home in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, on May 28, 2014, aged 86.[16] In 2022 she became the first Black woman to appear on a U.S. coin.[18]

## Fun facts

- "Maya" began as her older brother Bailey's version of "my sister."[3]
- In 1957 she released an album of calypso songs, *Miss Calypso*.[6]
- Before he became famous, Alvin Ailey danced with her as the duo "Al and Rita."[25]
- She worked as editor of the *Arab Observer*, a weekly newspaper in Cairo.[2]
- Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on her 40th birthday, April 4, 1968.[26]
- She wrote the poetry for the 1993 film *Poetic Justice* and played Aunt June in it.[1]
- She made her debut as a film director with *Down in the Delta* (1998).[12]
- In 2020 the San Francisco Arts Commission approved a sculpture honoring her, citing her role as the city's first Black woman streetcar conductor.[7]

## Books

In order of first publication; each series is kept together in reading order.

Titles and years from Wikipedia's list of Maya Angelou's works; collected and omnibus editions are left out.[13]

- **The autobiographies** (series, 7 books, 1969–2013). Seven volumes, published from 1969 to 2013 and read in that order.[4][13]
  - 1969: Book 1, *I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings* (Memoir). ISBN 9780345514400. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9780345514400) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9780345514400)
  - 1974: Book 2, *Gather Together in My Name* (Memoir). ISBN 9780812980301. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9780812980301) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9780812980301)
  - 1976: Book 3, *Singin' and Swingin' and Gettin' Merry Like Christmas* (Memoir). ISBN 9780812980318. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9780812980318) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9780812980318)
  - 1981: Book 4, *The Heart of a Woman* (Memoir). ISBN 9780812980325. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9780812980325) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9780812980325)
  - 1986: Book 5, *All God's Children Need Traveling Shoes* (Memoir). ISBN 9780679457749. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9780679457749) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9780679457749)
  - 2002: Book 6, *A Song Flung Up to Heaven* (Memoir). [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=A%20Song%20Flung%20Up%20to%20Heaven%20Maya%20Angelou)
  - 2013: Book 7, *Mom & Me & Mom* (Memoir). ISBN 9781400066117. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9781400066117) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9781400066117)
- 1971: *Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water 'fore I Diiie* (Poetry). Nominated for the Pulitzer Prize.[14] ISBN 9780679457091. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9780679457091) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9780679457091)
- 1975: *Oh Pray My Wings Are Gonna Fit Me Well* (Poetry). ISBN 9780679457077. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9780679457077) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9780679457077)
- 1978: *And Still I Rise* (Poetry). ISBN 9780679449881. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9780679449881) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9780679449881)
- 1983: *Shaker, Why Don't You Sing?* (Poetry). [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=Shaker%2C%20Why%20Don't%20You%20Sing%3F%20Maya%20Angelou)
- 1986: *Mrs. Flowers: A Moment of Friendship* (Children's book). [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=Mrs.%20Flowers%3A%20A%20Moment%20of%20Friendship%20Maya%20Angelou)
- 1987: *Now Sheba Sings the Song* (Poetry). [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=Now%20Sheba%20Sings%20the%20Song%20Maya%20Angelou)
- 1990: *I Shall Not Be Moved* (Poetry). ISBN 9780679457084. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9780679457084) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9780679457084)
- 1993: *Life Doesn't Frighten Me* (Children's book). ISBN 9781419727481. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9781419727481) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9781419727481)
- 1993: *On the Pulse of Morning* (Poetry). The poem she read at Bill Clinton's 1993 inauguration.[5] [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=On%20the%20Pulse%20of%20Morning%20Maya%20Angelou)
- 1993: *Wouldn't Take Nothing for My Journey Now* (Nonfiction). Her first book of essays.[15] ISBN 9780553569070. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9780553569070) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9780553569070)
- 1994: *My Painted House, My Friendly Chicken, and Me* (Children's book). ISBN 9780375825675. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9780375825675) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9780375825675)
- 1995: *A Brave and Startling Truth* (Poetry). [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=A%20Brave%20and%20Startling%20Truth%20Maya%20Angelou)
- 1995: *Phenomenal Woman: Four Poems Celebrating Women* (Poetry). [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=Phenomenal%20Woman%3A%20Four%20Poems%20Celebrating%20Women%20Maya%20Angelou)
- 1996: *Kofi and His Magic* (Children's book). ISBN 9780375825668. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9780375825668) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9780375825668)
- 1997: *Even the Stars Look Lonesome* (Nonfiction). [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=Even%20the%20Stars%20Look%20Lonesome%20Maya%20Angelou)
- 2004: *Hallelujah! The Welcome Table: A Lifetime of Memories with Recipes* (Nonfiction). [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=Hallelujah!%20The%20Welcome%20Table%3A%20A%20Lifetime%20of%20Memories%20with%20Recipes%20Maya%20Angelou)
- **Maya's World** (series, 4 books, 2004). Four picture books published together in 2004.[13]
  - 2004: *Angelina of Italy* (Children's book). [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=Angelina%20of%20Italy%20Maya%20Angelou)
  - 2004: *Izak of Lapland* (Children's book). [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=Izak%20of%20Lapland%20Maya%20Angelou)
  - 2004: *Mikale of Hawaii* (Children's book). [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=Mikale%20of%20Hawaii%20Maya%20Angelou)
  - 2004: *Renée Marie of France* (Children's book). [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=Ren%C3%A9e%20Marie%20of%20France%20Maya%20Angelou)
- 2005: *Amazing Peace* (Poetry). ISBN 9780593518618. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9780593518618) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9780593518618)
- 2006: *Mother: A Cradle to Hold Me* (Poetry). [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=Mother%3A%20A%20Cradle%20to%20Hold%20Me%20Maya%20Angelou)
- 2008: *Letter to My Daughter* (Nonfiction). ISBN 9780812980035. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9780812980035) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9780812980035)
- 2010: *Great Food, All Day Long: Cook Splendidly, Eat Smart* (Nonfiction). [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=Great%20Food%2C%20All%20Day%20Long%3A%20Cook%20Splendidly%2C%20Eat%20Smart%20Maya%20Angelou)

## Latest news

- Feb. 10, 2026: Her estate joined a lawsuit, first filed by the ACLU for Kurt Vonnegut's estate, challenging Utah's Sensitive Materials Law, after two Utah school districts banned *I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings*.[20]

## Myth and record

- Claim: Angelou said, "People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel"; the line is widely quoted under her name.[24]
  The record: Quote Investigator's earliest evidence for the saying is a 1971 quotation book that credits it to Carl W. Buehner, a Latter-day Saints church official, long before it was linked with Angelou.[23] The record does not show where the version credited to her first appeared.
- Claim: She wrote "A bird doesn't sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song," the line printed beside her portrait on the 2015 U.S. Postal Service Forever stamp.[22]
  The record: After the stamp was unveiled, the Emerson College professor Jabari Asim pointed out that the line appears in Joan Walsh Anglund's 1967 book of poems *A Cup of Sun*, two years before *I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings*, NPR reported.[21]

## Timeline

- Apr. 4, 1928: Born Marguerite Annie Johnson in St. Louis.[3]
- 1931: After her parents' marriage ends, she and her brother are sent to their grandmother in Stamps, Arkansas.[3]
- 1943: Becomes San Francisco's first Black streetcar conductor.[9]
- 1954–1955: Tours Europe and Africa in a State Department production of *Porgy and Bess*.[2]
- 1960: Martin Luther King Jr. recruits her as northern coordinator of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.[2]
- 1963: Moves to Ghana, where she meets Malcolm X.[2]
- 1969: *I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings* is published.[1]
- 1993: Reads "On the Pulse of Morning" at Bill Clinton's inauguration.[5]
- Feb. 15, 2011: Receives the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Barack Obama.[17]
- 2013: Publishes *Mom & Me & Mom*, her seventh autobiography, and receives the Literarian Award.[13][10]
- May 28, 2014: Dies at home in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.[16]
- January 2022: Becomes the first Black woman on a U.S. coin, the first quarter in the American Women Quarters Program.[18][19]
- Feb. 10, 2026: Her estate joins a lawsuit against Utah's school-library book law.[20]

## What came after

April 4, 2028, is the centenary of her birth.[3]

## Sources

1. [Maya Angelou](https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/maya-angelou). Poetry Foundation. (reference)
2. [Maya Angelou (1928–2014)](https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/Maya-Angelou-1085). CALS Encyclopedia of Arkansas. (reference)
3. [Angelou, Maya (1928—)](https://www.encyclopedia.com/women/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/angelou-maya-1928). Encyclopedia.com (Women in World History). (reference)
4. [Angelou, Maya](https://www.ncpedia.org/biography/angelou-maya). NCpedia (State Library of North Carolina). (reference)
5. [Maya Angelou summary](https://www.britannica.com/summary/Maya-Angelou). Encyclopaedia Britannica. (reference)
6. [Maya Angelou](https://www.biography.com/writer/maya-angelou). Biography.com. (reference)
7. [Maya Angelou](https://www.biography.com/author/maya-angelou). Biography.com. (reference)
8. [Maya Angelou](https://www.biography.com/activist/maya-angelou). Biography.com. (reference)
9. [Maya Angelou Thrived in Multiple Careers Before Becoming a Writer](https://www.history.com/news/maya-angelou-careers). History.com. (reference)
10. [Maya Angelou](https://www.amacad.org/person/maya-angelou). American Academy of Arts and Sciences. (reference)
11. [Maya Angelou](https://arblackhalloffame.org/honorees/1993/angelou/). Arkansas Black Hall of Fame. (reference)
12. [Maya Angelou](https://arblackhalloffame.org/?p=1043). Arkansas Black Hall of Fame. (reference)
13. [List of Maya Angelou works](https://wikiwand.com/en/articles/List_of_Maya_Angelou_works). Wikipedia (via Wikiwand). (reference)
14. [List of awards and honors received by Maya Angelou](https://wikiwand.com/en/List_of_honors_received_by_Maya_Angelou). Wikipedia (via Wikiwand). (reference)
15. [Top 10 Works of Maya Angelou](https://www.blackenterprise.com/top-10-works-of-maya-angelou/amp/). Black Enterprise. (news)
16. [Maya Angelou, Poet, Activist And Singular Storyteller, Dies At 86](https://www.wunc.org/2014-05-28/maya-angelou-poet-activist-and-singular-storyteller-dies-at-86). NPR (via WUNC). (news)
17. [Maya Angelou Fast Facts](https://abc17news.com/?p=1603486). CNN (via ABC 17). (news)
18. [Poet Maya Angelou becomes the first black woman to be on a US coin](https://origin01-en.protothema.gr/2022/01/12/poet-maya-angelou-becomes-the-first-black-woman-to-be-on-a-us-coin). Proto Thema (AP). (news)
19. [A new US coin launched to honour late author Maya Angelou's legacy](https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/culture/2022/01/11/a-new-us-coin-launched-to-honour-late-author-maya-angelou039s-legacy). The Star. (news)
20. [Maya Angelou Estate Joins Utah Book Banning Suit](https://lunch.publishersmarketplace.com/2026/02/maya-angelou-estate-joins-utah-book-banning-suit/). Publishers Lunch. (news)
21. [Postal Service Slips Up With Special-Edition Stamp For Maya Angelou](https://www.wusf.org/2015-04-08/postal-service-slips-up-with-special-edition-stamp-for-maya-angelou). NPR (via WUSF). (news)
22. [Dr. Maya Angelou Spoke Her Truth through Art and Activism](https://womenshistory.si.edu/blog/dr-maya-angelou-spoke-her-truth-through-art-and-activism). Smithsonian American Women's History Museum. (reference)
23. [Quote Origin: They May Forget What You Said, But They Will Never Forget How You Made Them Feel](https://quoteinvestigator.com/2014/04/06/they-feel). Quote Investigator. (reference)
24. [Quotes for Public Speakers (No. 204) – Maya Angelou](https://mannerofspeaking.org/2015/08/07/quotes-for-public-speakers-no-204-maya-angelou/). Manner of Speaking. (website)
25. [Remembering Maya Angelou](https://znetwork.org/zmagazine/remembering-maya-angelou-3/). Z Magazine. (news)
26. [Maya Angelou](https://awpc.cattcenter.iastate.edu/directory/maya-angelou). Archives of Women's Political Communication, Iowa State University. (reference)