She lived with her grandmother when she was 3 years old after her parents divorced. When she turned 7 years, she went to live with her mother and brother. Her mother’s boyfriend cruelly raped her at that age.  The boyfriend found guilty was sentenced to just one day in jail. However, four days after release from jail, he was murdered. Maya blamed herself for speaking out, causing the death of her mother’s boyfriend. She went mute without talking for 5 years.

During that period that she was mute, she began reading a lot and attended her classes in mute silence. She was encouraged by teachers and family thereabout she found her voice especially through dance. She began her career in dancing in nightclubs after studying African dance in New York and toured the Europe.

Her first music was MISS CALYSPSO. She went into activisms after an encounter with Martin Luther King. She helped in funding the civil rights group through travels as a writer and radio broadcast. She was involved in organizing marches and protests with freedom fights all over the world. After the assassination of Martin Luther king, she fell into depression. She went into writing and published her first autobiography title ‘’I KNOW WHY THE CAGED BIRD SINGS’’. It was a best seller. She went on to write and produce plays, music and screen plays fir television and film.

She became the first black woman to produce a screenplay. Even though she never attended a college or university, she received 30 honorary degrees. She won 3 Grammy awards for her album ’’SPOKEN WORDS’’

She died in August 28^th 2014, she was honored as ‘’Ultimate Teacher”. Even though she is dead her words continue to inspire millions all around the world.

‘’YOU MAY NOT CONTROL ALL EVENTS THAT HAPPEN TO YOU BUT YOU CAN DECIDE NOT TO BE REDUCED BY THEM’’

COURTESY: Goal Cast.