What was the poet Maya Angelou's birth name?

Maya Angelou was one of the most influential black poets of the 20th and early 21st century, writing on themes of racism, identity, family and travel. Born Marguerite Annie Johnson on 4th April 1928 in Missouri, Maya was given her nickname by her older brother, Bailey Jr. In 1951, Maya married a Greek electrician called Tosh Angelos. At that time, interracial marriages were unusual. For reasons unknown, Maya’s marriage ended in 1954.

Having to fend for herself financially, Maya began dancing in local clubs, such as The Purple Onion, under her professional name, Maya Angelou. In 1954, she toured Europe by acting in the opera 'Porgy and Bess' and, in 1957, wrote and recorded an album called 'Miss Calypso'.

In 1959, African-American author John Oliver Killens encouraged Maya to focus on writing songs and poems rather than solely performing. She joined the Harlem Writers Guild and soon became a published author. In 1969, Maya published her first autobiography, 'I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings'. Initially, the publishers were unsure whether to publish the book, but it went on to become a bestseller, earning Maya international recognition.

In 1972, Maya became the first black woman to write a screenplay, which was filmed in Sweden and released under the name 'Georgia, Georgia'. On 28th May 2014, Maya passed away. She had recently published her 7th autobiography, 'Mom & Me & Mom'.