Image Courtesy: Google Doodle
Dr. Maya Angelou (4 April 1928 – 28 May 2014) was an American memoirist, popular poet, and civil rights activist. She published seven autobiographies, three books of essays, several books of poetry, and is credited with a list of plays, movies, and television shows spanning over 50 years.
Life and Career
She was born on 4 April 1928, in St. Louis, Missouri, and spent much of her childhood living with her grandmother in rural Arkansas. Her early life was marked by hardship and trauma, including the experience of rape at a young age.
Despite these challenges, Angelou went on to become a prolific writer and artist, with a career spanning over five decades. She published numerous books of poetry, essays, and memoirs, including the critically acclaimed “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” (1969), which tells the story of her early life and has become a classic of African American literature.
Angelou was also an active participant in the civil rights movement, working alongside figures such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. She was a powerful voice for social justice and equality and used her art and writing to advocate for change and inspire others to do the same.
Dr. Maya Angelou passed away on 28 May 2014, at the age of 86, but her impact on literature and civil rights continues to inspire and influence people around the world. She is remembered as a trailblazer, a powerful voice for change, and a literary icon who gave voice to the experiences and struggles of marginalized communities.
Award and Legacy
In recognition of her achievements, Angelou received numerous awards and honors throughout her life, including over 50 honorary degrees from universities around the world. She was also the first Black woman to have a screenplay produced in Hollywood, and in 1993, she became the first African American woman to recite a poem at a presidential inauguration, reading her poem “On the Pulse of Morning” at the inauguration of President Bill Clinton.
On 4 April 2018, Google celebrated Dr. Maya Angelou’s 90th Birthday with a doodle.