Maya Angelou: Poet, Author, Actress and Dancer
Noel Alford
University of Phoenix
Maya Angelou: Poet, Author, Actress and Dancer On April 4th, 1928 an extraordinary woman was born in St. Louis Missouri to the late Bailey Johnson and Vivian Baxter Johnson when they seen her gorgeous face she was given a beautiful name Marguerite Ann Johnson. At the time of her birth no one knew how great she would be in our history of poetry, novels, movies, and plays. Sometime in her life she changed her name to Maya Angelou. Maya came from her brother he used to call her my-a-sister; it was his nickname he gave to her. During her years Maya has had rough times especially in her first seventeen years of life. She has been highly honored for her many bodies of work including being awarded with over thirty honorary degrees and nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for her 1971 volume of poetry, “Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water “Fore I Diiie.” (Wikipedia.org) Maya has been through trials and tribulations in her life that she has managed to get through with her head held high and a determined persona of herself. Maya is considered a legend in her own time and a powerful role model for several of our inspiring poets including Nikki Giovanni and Gwendolyn Brooks just to name a few. Maya Angelou has written six autobiographies which have all focused on her growing up and her early childhood years. In Maya’s first published book “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” Maya speaks about her family, parents divorce, her and her brother Bailey living with relatives, and the abuse and rape she endured from her mother’s boyfriend. Maya Angelou has overcome racism, rape, and being a mute and when you look at this spectacular woman and all of her accomplishments she deserve a standing ovation. Maya the Person Marguerite Johnson was born in St. Louis Missouri to two caring parents, Mr. and Mrs. Johnson. When Maya was three and her brother four