What You Should Know About Maya Angelou- Part II, Her Adult Life

Maya Angelou was forty years old when she wrote her first volume of a seven book autobiography, ‘I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings’. However, publishing this book would only be the start of what is objectively considered a powerful career.

• She became the first African American director, producer, and screenwriter in America. She wrote the American- Swedish film Georgia, Georgia as well as its soundtrack, and later directed her first film Down in the Delta.
  
• During the 70s and early 80s Angelou composed music, wrote articles, poems, short stories, TV scripts, autobiographies, and documentaries. All aspects of her work have been awarded in one way or another giving her over thirty honorary awards from several universities. Some of these recognitions include being nominated for a Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize.
  
• In 1981 Angelou moved back to Southern America as she felt she had to forgive the past. During her time here she became one of the few permanent African American Professors at the Wake Forest University where she taught several classes including philosophy and ethics.
  
• In 1993 Maya Angelou became the second poet, after Robert Frost, to recite at a President’s inaugural ceremony. She read ‘On The Pulse of Morning’ for Bill Clinton's ceremony.
  
• She later endorsed the Democratic party in the 2008 elections, supporting first Hillary Clinton and then Barack Obama. To Angelou, the results meant that America was moving past racism and sexism.
  
• In 2013 she published the seventh and last volume of her autobiography called Mom & Me & Mom, which focused on her relationship with her mother.
  
• Angelou later passed away the following year at age 86 in North Carolina.

Maya Angelou lived a rich and complicated life that helped her become the incredible writer that she was. Her books and life’s work have influenced people and modern society in ways we can never imagine. We invite you to explore her work in our online library www.viewermax.com and see the first part of the article where we cover the early years of her life.