(ThyBlackMan.com) Life is what you make it. You are the master of your own destiny. These two facts have been proven intelligently and passionately by someone the world has known to be Maya Angelou. Marguerite Ann Johnson is her real name. She was born on April 4, 1928 at St. Louis, Missouri.
Her parents were Bailey Johnson who worked as a dietician for the navy and as a doorman; and Vivian Baxter Johnson who is a card dealer and a nurse. Maya Angelou had a brother named after his father. Like any other families, theirs have encountered some problems that she was sent to Stamps, Arkansas to live with her paternal grandmother.
Her Ordinary yet Meaningful Life
Maya Angelou lived her life in Arkansas since then. She was married to an electrician, a musician and a sailor in one. Her husband was Greek but their marriage pushed through despite the condemnation for the union of individuals of different races. While married, she enrolled in classes for modern dance and she met Alvin Ailey along with Ruth Beckford who were both choreographers and dancers. Together, they all formed a dance team which was known as Al and Rita. After such venture, Maya and her family moved back to New York so she can pursue her interest for Trinidadian Dance and African dance.
It was during this time that she was acquainted to James O Killens and was urged to pursue her writing career. She participated in the Harlem Writers’ Guild where she opened the chance to meet popular authors who are also African-Americans. Maya Angelou had also the chance to hear Martin Luther King and she was then inspired by his speech. Along with Killens, they organized the so-called Cabaret for Freedom which is a legendary organization. It was also that moment when she declared her support for Castro.
The Career Even Brighter
Maya Angelou went to Accra and became friends with Malcolm X. She returned to the United States in the year 1965 to help Malcolm build the Organization of Afro-American Unity. This is known to be a civil rights organization which was doubted to have brought about the assassination of Malcolm. Maya had no choice but to go back to Hawaii and join her brother after the tragic incident. There, she maximized her chance for an acting career as she joined certain plays and wrote for the acts.
It was in 1968 when Martin Luther King asked her to stage a march. She agreed but eventually did not implement the plan. Not long after the request, Martin was killed during his 40th birthday. This again devastated the hopes of the brave Maya but she never stopped. She considered the year 1968 as something of great loss, sadness and pain.
From that sad portion of her career’s history, Maya Angelou was able to earn international fame and recognition through her autobiography entitled I Know Why the caged Bird Sings. From then on, people all over the world have viewed her as an iconic figure when it comes to courage, freedom and advocate for human rights.
Staff Writer; LadyK
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