My Sojourn in the Lands of My Ancestors

Maya Angelou

Angelou

• Born April 4, 1928

• author, poet, playwright, stage and screen performer, and director

• born Marguerite Johnson

More Angelou…• was raised in rural Stamps, Arkansas and

experienced segregation first hand • told the story of her childhood in the

novel, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings • She became one of the most important

African-American writers and has written many books of prose and poetry

Still More Angelou…• won the Pulitzer Prize for literature and

National Book Award nominations • was also nominated for an Emmy

Award for her acting role in Roots • lived in  Egypt and Ghana

–said the first time she felt at home in the world was when she lived in Ghana

Career• went on to become a professor of

American Studies at Wake Forest University, to write screenplays and travel the United States as a lecturer

• became the first woman to read a poem at a presidential inauguration in 1993 at President Clinton's invitation

Photos & Signature

Currently• speaks French, Spanish, Italian

and West African Fanti • Maya Angelou is currently

Reynolds Professor at Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina