Maya Angelou was an influential American author and poet. She had a difficult childhood growing up during the Jim Crow era but found success as a dancer and writer. Some of her major published works included her autobiographies and books of poetry such as "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings", "And Still I Rise", and "Human Family". Angelou became the first black woman to write and present a poem for a presidential inauguration. Her writing explored themes of racism, identity, family and empowerment. She received numerous honors in recognition of her influential work and impact on American literature and society.

1. Maya Angelou
Due date: April 26,2011
Xavier Salter
April 19, 2011
English 3

2. Table of Contents
Slide 1 contains : Title Slide
Slide 2 contains : Table of contents
Slide 3 contains: Childhood & background history
Slide 4 contains: Educational & Achievement History
Slide 5 contains: Author‟s writing career
Slide 6 contains: Published works of the author
Slide 7 contains: Poetry Highlight: “And Still I Rise”
Slide 8 contains: Poetry Highlight: “Alone”
Slide 9 contains: Poetry Highlight: “Human Family”
Slide 10 contains : Discuss the influence of your chosen author on American
literature and society
Slide 11 contains: Note how the author‟s work has been adapted by the media
Slide 12 Contains: Note how you have been influenced by the author

3. Childhood & Family Background
Maya Angelou, born on 4th 1928, in St. Louis
Missouri
Maya Angelou grew up during a time of racism
and discrimination.
Although Maya Angelou dealt with the harsh
realities of a racial society, she was still able to
focus on the things that mattered most in her
personal life. Such as her faith, the values of a
traditional African American family, culture and
the Community.
As a teenager Maya Angelou won a scholarship
to study dance and drama, at San Francisco's
Labor School, Maya Angelo loved art.

4. Educational history &
Achievements
As a teenager Maya Angelou won a scholarship to
study dance and drama, at San Francisco's Labor
School, Maya Angelo loved art.
Maya Angelou dropped out of school at the age of
14, but later went back to high school after the
birth of her son, Guy.
During Maya Angelou‟s time away from school
she became San Francisco‟s first African-
American female cable car conductor
In 1993 Maya Angelou was asked by Bill Clinton
to read a poem at his inauguration. The poem,
On the Pulse of the Morning was heard world
wide.
Maya Angelou has received 3 Grammy awards. In
2000 Maya Angelou was awarded the Presidential
Medal of Arts, and in 2008 she was awarded the
Lincoln Medal.
Maya Angelou has also received over 30 honorary
degrees.
Maya Angelou also fluently speaks six different
languages: English, French, Spanish, Italian,
Arabic, and West African Fanti.

5. Author’s writing career
 Maya Angelou‟s
writing career
consists of the
following:
poetry, personal
essays, children‟s
books,
autobiographies,
plays, and
screenplays.

6. Published works of the author
Poetry by Maya Angelou:
Maya Angelou’s Children’s books: Personal Essays:
Autobiographies:
Just give me a cool drink of
water „fore I diiie, which was Life doesn't frighten me, Wouldn't take nothing for
nominated for the Pulitzer I know why the 1993 my journey now, 1993
prize in 1971 caged bird sings,
1970 My painted house, my Even the stars looked
Oh pray my wings are gonna lonesome, 1997
fit me well, 1975 friendly chicken and me,
Gather together in 1994
Still I rise, 1978 my name, 1974
Kofi and his magic, 1996
Shaker, why do you sing, Singin‟ and swinging Screenplays:
1983 and getting merry Plays:
like Christmas, Georgia, Georgia, 1972
Now Sheba sings the song, 1976 Cabaret for freedom,1960
1987
All day long, 1974
The heart of a
On the pulse in the morning, The least of these, 1966
1993 woman, 1981
All God‟s children Gettin‟ up stayed on my,
A brave and startling truth,
1995 Need Traveling 1967
shoes, 1986
From a black man to a black Ajax, 1974
woman, 1995 A song Flung up to
heaven, 2002 And still I Rise, 1976
Extravagant spirits, 1997
Amazing peace,2005 Moon on a rainbow shawl,
1988
Mother, a cradle to hold me,
2006
A pledge to rescue our youth,
2006
Celebrations, rituals of peace
& prayer,2006

7. And Still I Rise..
What this poem means to me
You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies, is that no matter how hard a
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I'll rise. person tries to break your spirit
Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells
they can‟t
Pumping in my living room.
Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I'll rise.
Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops,
Weakened by my soulful cries.
Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don't you take it awful hard
'Cause I laugh like I got gold mines
Diggin' in my own back yard.
You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I'll rise.
Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I've got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs?
Out of the huts of history's shame
I rise
Up from a past that's rooted in pain
I rise
I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise.

8. Alone
Lying, thinking
Last night
How to find my soul a home
The world is a cold and
Where water is not thirsty
And bread loaf is not stone lonely place when
I came up with one thing
And I don't believe I'm wrong
That nobody, people do not care for
But nobody
Can make it out here alone. one another
Alone, all alone
Nobody, but nobody
Can make it out here alone.
There are some millionaires
With money they can't use
Their wives run round like banshees
Their children sing the blues
They've got expensive doctors
To cure their hearts of stone.
But nobody
No, nobody
Can make it out here alone.
Alone, all alone
Nobody, but nobody
Can make it out here alone.
Now if you listen closely
I'll tell you what I know
Storm clouds are gathering
The wind is gonna blow
The race of man is suffering
And I can hear the moan,
'Cause nobody,
But nobody
Can make it out here alone.
Alone, all alone
Nobody, but nobody
Can make it out here alone.

9. Human Family
I note the obvious differences
 People have more in
in the human family.
Some of us are serious,
some thrive on comedy.
common with each
Some declare their lives are lived
as true profundity,
other than we realize
and others claim they really live
the real reality.
The variety of our skin tones
can confuse, bemuse, delight,
brown and pink and beige and purple,
tan and blue and white.
I've sailed upon the seven seas
and stopped in every land,
I've seen the wonders of the world
not yet one common man.
I know ten thousand women
called Jane and Mary Jane,
but I've not seen any two
who really were the same.
Mirror twins are different
although their features jibe,
and lovers think quite different thoughts
while lying side by side.
We love and lose in China,
we weep on England's moors,
and laugh and moan in Guinea,
and thrive on Spanish shores.
We seek success in Finland,
are born and die in Maine.
In minor ways we differ,
in major we're the same.
I note the obvious differences
between each sort and type,
but we are more alike, my friends,
than we are unalike.
We are more alike, my friends,
than we are unalike.
We are more alike, my friends,
than we are unalike.

10. Ms. Angelou‟s writing, dance career,
political activism, acting career and
speaking engagements have made her a
national treasure. She is known as a
“global renaissance woman”. Her impact
has been felt throughout the literary world
and the general media.
Influences…

11. Author’s influence
Ms. Angelou is interesting to me because
she has made such an impact on American
literature and culture.

12. Quotes From Maya Angelou