Maya Angelou

Dr. Maya Angelou is one of the great voices of contemporary literature and a remarkable Renaissance woman. Poet, educator, historian, best-selling author, actress, playwright, civil rights activist, producer and director, Dr. Angelou travels the world making appearances, spreading her legendary wisdom.

She has authored twelve best-selling books, including I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, A Song Flung Up to Heaven and Even the Stars Look Lonesome, and holds a lifetime position as the first Reynolds Professor of American Studies at Wake Forest University. In January 1993, she became the second poet in U.S. history to write and recite original work at the presidential inauguration.

She has been nominated for two Grammy Awards for Best Spoken Word or Non-Musical Album for “On The Pulse Of Morning” (1993) and “Phenomenal Woman” (1995). In 2004, she received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Spoken Word Album for “Hallelujah! The Welcome Table.” She holds over 50 honorary degrees from colleges and universities worldwide.

MB: How long have you been appearing before audiences?

MA: In one way or another, for about fifty years.

MB: Most people know you as a writer and a poet. But you’ve done a considerable amount of acting and singing.

MA: And dancing.

MB: What were the circumstances when you began performing?

MA: I was a mute from the time I was seven until I was thirteen, or thereabouts. But I memorized poetry. I loved it.

A lady in my town had told me (encouraging me to read and memorize) that I didn’t really like poetry. But I wrote her back and said, “I do, yes ma’am!” She wouldn’t even look at it. She said, “You will never love it until you speak it. Till you speak and feel it come across your tongue, over your lips, you will never love poetry.”

In my privacy, I decided to try. And I realized that I had left my voice, my voice had not left me. So I accepted that I could recite poetry aloud. And then in San Francisco, at about fourteen, I received a scholarship to a college at night. And I studied drama and dance. And I was almost six feet tall. [Laughs]

MB: you probably still are, too.

MA: I shrunk a little bit. I shrunk a half an inch.