Maya Angelou

Introduction

Maya Angelou is perhaps right to claim that she is "the only serious writer who has chosen the autobiographical form to carry her work, her expression." She has been duly recognized as being one of the most successful serial writers of black autobiography. In her five autobiographies (and also in her poetry), she dramatizes both the pleasure and the plight of a young black female in America's socially segregated society.

Maya Angelou has lived many lives - poet, performer, political activist and professor. She's also a mother, great-grandmother and mentor. And now she is celebrating his 80th birthday. Born in St. Louis on April 4, 1928, her parents named her Marguerite Johnson. She decided to change that name when she started that life as a performer and began her transition to the artist she is today.

Proved to be a poet, historian, songwriter, playwright, teacher, dancer, producer of films and performances, director, actress and singer. Human rights activist. Born April 4, 1928 in Sent Louis (Missouri). She worked as a cook, streetcar conductor, bartender and dancer.

Discussion

Angelou's voice sounds powerfully in contemporary literature. It is called a Renaissance woman type. In 1954-1955, she played in Porgy and Bess during a tour of 22 countries in 1957 - in the off-Broadway production of the play Calypso Heat (Calipso Heatwave), in 1960, was occupied in the play Black (The Blacks). Its first literary works began to play. Two-act drama most insignificant (The Least of These) was staged in Los Angeles in 1966. She owns the play tear inside and two-act musical Ajo Amiss (Lauret, 0).

I know why a bird sings in a cage (I Know Why the Caged Bird sings), chronicles her life up to 16 years (ending with the birth of a son, Guy), was published in 1970 and has brought financial and literary success. Many of the stories is very grim, such as the one where it is recognized that the age of eight had been raped by a friend of the mother and five years could not speak, yet the book tells the story of the awakening of personality in young Angela. I know why a bird sings in the cage was put forward in 1970 the National Book Award and remains the most famous product of the writer (Lauret, 0).

Her first poetry book - Give me a sip of cool water before I die (Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water 'fore I Die, 1971), and in 1972 was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. The following - two volumes of autobiography, Gather in my name and Sing, dance, fun, like Christmas (Singin and Swingin 'and Letting Merry Like Christmas, 1976), telling about parting with youth and youth associated with avant-garde theater of the 1950's. The second poetry book, pray to get my wings, did not deny (Oh Pray My Wings Are Gonne Fit Me Well), published in 1975, third, and still I climb (And Still I Rise), - in 1978, the poem was first headword staged as ...