1. Maya Angelou By: Sara Clark

2. Biography April 4 th 1928, St. Louis, as Marguerite Ann Johnson Parents were Bailey and Vivian Johnson Older brother, Bailey Jr., nicknamed her Maya from “Mya sister” Parents divorced when she was three Went to live with grandmother in Stamps, Arkansas

3. Cont. Sexually abused and raped by mother’s boyfriend at 8 years old She studied dance and drama at California Labor School At 17, she gave birth to her son, Clyde 1951, married Enistasious (Tosh) Angelos Other than being a writer, she was also a singer, an actress, a producer and director of plays, movies, TV shows

4. Works Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water 'Fore I Die (1971) Oh Pray My Wings are Gonna Fit Me Well (1975) And Still I Rise (1978) Shaker, Why Don't You Sing (1983) Now Sheba Sings the Song (1987) I Shall Not Be Moved (1990)

5. Cont. On The Pulse of the Morning (1993) The Complete Collected Poems of Maya Angelou (1994) Phenomenal Women: Four Poems for Women (1995) A Brave and Startling Truth (1995) From a Black Woman to a Black Man (1995)

6. Cont. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969): Up to 1944 (age 17) Gather Together in My Name (1974): 1944–1948 Singin’ and Swingin’ and Gettin’ Merry like Christmas (1976): 1949–1955 The Heart of a Woman (1981): 1957–1962 All God’s Children Need Traveling Shoes (1986): 1962–1965 A Song Flung up to Heaven (2002): 1965–1968

7. Themes & Influences Birds trying to escape cages Identity Family Travel

8. The Peckerwood Dentist and Momma’s Incredible Powers Summary Themes

9. Sources Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Themes in Maya Angelou’s Autobiographies. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 2012.. Maya Angelou: Global Renaissance Woman. Books. Penguin Creative. 2012.. Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Maya Angelou. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 2012.. Robinson, Mary. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings: Notes. University of North Carolina: Greensboro. 2006..