10 Fascinating Insights About Maya Angelou

Originally named Marguerite Annie Johnson, Dr. Maya Angelou, though never officially designated as a U.S. Poet Laureate, achieved unparalleled cultural prominence. Her poetry remains central to the American narrative.

Her journey, however, did not begin with poetry. She first ventured into the arts as a dancer, showcasing her talent in San Francisco and honing her skills in New York City. This was merely the beginning for a woman whose extraordinary and daring life transcended her modest beginnings.

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1. Maya Angelou made history as the first Black woman to operate a cable car in San Francisco.

During her teenage years, Angelou received a scholarship to pursue dance and drama at the California Labor School. However, at 16, she temporarily left school to work as a cable car conductor in San Francisco. In a 2013 interview with Oprah Winfrey, she shared, “I noticed women on the streetcars with their small changer belts. They wore caps with bibs and snug jackets. I adored their uniforms and decided that was the job I wanted.” She achieved her goal, becoming the first Black woman in that role.

2. Maya Angelou toured Europe in the 1950s with Porgy and Bess.

After being noticed by actors while singing in a nightclub and asked if she could dance, Angelou seized the opportunity to join a touring production of Porgy and Bess. She declined a leading role in the Broadway play House of Flowers to tour with the company, as it allowed her to explore Europe. In a 2010 NPR interview, she recounted, “The producers of House of Flowers asked, ‘Are you insane? You’re choosing a minor role in a traveling play over a principal role on Broadway?’ I replied, ‘I’m going to Europe. I’ll visit places I’ve only dreamed of from my small Arkansas town. I’m going with Porgy and Bess.’” She later described it as one of her best decisions.

3. Maya Angelou was fluent in six languages.

Her time in Europe allowed Angelou to immerse herself in various languages, and she was deeply attentive. Over time, she became fluent in French, Spanish, Hebrew, Italian, and Fante (a Ghanaian dialect of Akan).

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4. During her youth, Maya Angelou remained silent for five years.

As a young child, Angelou experienced sexual assault by her mother’s boyfriend. After confiding in her brother, she testified against the man in court, resulting in his conviction. However, he spent only a single day in jail. Shortly after his release, he was killed—likely by a member of Angelou’s family—and she held herself responsible for his death.

“I believed my voice had caused his death,” she reflected in her writings about her attacker. “I felt I had killed him by revealing his name. I convinced myself that speaking again would endanger others, so I chose silence.” For five years, Angelou remained mute, eventually rediscovering her voice through literature.

5. Maya Angelou served as an editor for the Arab Observer.

The Arab Observer stood as one of the rare English-language news publications in the Middle East from 1960 to 1966. During her travels in Egypt, Angelou met and wed civil rights activist Vusumzi Make. After relocating to Cairo, she secured a role as an editor at the Observer, thanks to David, the stepson of W.E.B. Du Bois, who embellished her qualifications. Despite lacking prior journalism experience, Angelou was thrust into intensive reporting, working in a male-dominated office unaccustomed to female colleagues.

“Du Bois claimed I was a seasoned journalist, the wife of a freedom fighter, and a skilled administrator,” Angelou recounted. “He asked if I’d consider the associate editor position, warning that my lack of Egyptian, Arabic, or Muslim heritage, combined with being the sole woman in the office, would pose challenges. He then offered a salary that seemed like a fortune to me.”

6. Maya Angelou ventured into filmmaking as both a writer and director.

By the close of her career, Angelou had dabbled in nearly every artistic medium, earning a Tony nomination, a Pulitzer nod, and three Grammy Awards. Yet, it’s astonishing to learn she also made her mark as a filmmaker. She debuted as an actress and singer in 1957’s Calypso Heat Wave, later transitioning to screenwriting for 1972’s Georgia, Georgia, a love story about a Black singer in Stockholm. She further expanded her repertoire by directing 1998’s Down in the Delta, featuring Alfre Woodard and Wesley Snipes.

7. Maya Angelou’s birthday coincided with the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Angelou shared a close friendship with James Baldwin and was set to assist Malcolm X in establishing the Organization of Afro-American Unity, a groundbreaking civil rights group, just before his tragic assassination. She also served as a coordinator for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and collaborated closely with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In early 1968, King invited Angelou to travel across the nation to promote the SCLC, but she delayed the trip to organize her birthday celebration. On her 40th birthday, April 4, 1968, King was assassinated in Memphis, plunging her into a profound depression.

8. Maya Angelou became only the second poet ever to present a work at a presidential inauguration.

Following Robert Frost, who was the first poet to participate in an inauguration during President John F. Kennedy’s 1961 ceremony, Angelou was the first poet in over three decades to grace such a prestigious stage. At President Bill Clinton’s 1993 inauguration, she delivered her powerful poem “On the Pulse of Morning,” composed specifically for the event. This performance earned her a 1994 Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album.

9. Maya Angelou was also a skilled chef and authored two cookbooks.

Was there anything Angelou couldn’t master? In Hallelujah! The Welcome Table, she delved into recipes that carried deep personal significance. With Great Food, All Day Long, she expressed her passion for cooking for others while emphasizing nutritious meals. “If this book reaches bold, adventurous individuals willing to step into the kitchen and experiment, I’ll be delighted,” Angelou wrote in the introduction to the latter.

10. Maya Angelou launched her own line of Hallmark greeting cards.

At 72 years old in 2000, Angelou crafted a collection of concise, heartfelt messages for the renowned greeting card company, which were featured on cards and serving dishes. Despite anticipating criticism for engaging in a commercial project—even from her Random House publisher—she defended her decision, stating, “If I’m considered one of America’s poets, I want my words to reach everyone, including those who might never purchase a book.”