1. Name Ms. Edwards English 9-A2 Date
Maya Angelou
Name
Ms. Edwards
English 9-A2
Date

2. Early Life Maya Angelou was born April 4, 1928 in St. Louis, Missouri.
After her parents divorced, Angelou was sent to live in Stamps, Arkansas with her grandparents. Her life in Stamps would inspire many of her works.
When she was eight, she was sexually abused by her mother’s boyfriend. He went to jail, but was released early. After his release, he was murdered. Angelou stayed mute for five years after this event, believing that her voice killed him.

3. Early Life

4. Major Works
Angelou is best known for her autobiography, “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.”
She is also known for several poems, including “Phenomenal Woman.”
She also wrote a series of other autobiographies.

5. Influences
Angelou was inspired by other famous authors, including James Baldwin.
She was also inspired by the Civil Rights Movement and hearing Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., speak.
Finally, she was influenced by her own experiences living in Stamps, St. Louis, and Long Beach, CA.

6. Contributions to Literature
Angelou’s impact on literature has been great. She is considered one of the first African American writers to openly discuss her childhood and problems.
She was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize. She won the National Medal of Arts in 2000 and she has won three Grammy awards for her spoken word albums.
She also was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Barack Obama in 2011.

7. Contributions to Literature

8. Sources http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/maya-angelou