Maya Angelou Speaks 5 Languages Without a College Degree, Plus More Facts

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Reported by Sommer P. 

Global renaissance woman Maya Angelou has redefined the meaning of what it means to be a Black woman and artistic writer in America. A member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Angelou has had the distinguished honor of performing her poem titled “On the Pulse of the Morning” at President Bill Clinton’s inauguration, making her the first poet to make an inaugural recitation since Robert Frost at John F. Kennedy’s inauguration in 1961.

Before she rose to fame as a poet, Angelou worked several careers to support she and her son. Below are five things you probably didn’t know about Maya Angelou:

1. Although she is actively involved in academic institutions, she has never matriculated at a college. Maya has spoken at a number of college institutions throughout the world, but she’s never actually matriculated at a college institution. Of course, the absence of a college matriculation does not equate to an absence of intellect, as Maya has proven her intelligence in more ways than one.
2. She was the first African-American female cable car conductor. Maya dropped out of school at the young age of 14 to become a cable car conductor, making her the first African-American female conductor. Little did she know — or maybe she did know — she’d become the first of many more things in her future. Many years later, she produced her own screenplay becoming the first African-American woman to do so.
3. She worked as a waitress and a cook to support her son. After the birth of her son, Maya was forced to take on several odd end jobs to support she and her son. At one point and time she took on the jobs of a waitress and cook just to make ends meet. 
4. She’s fluent in five languages. Once again proving that a formal education is not indicative of one’s ability to learn and exude intelligence, Maya studied many languages during her stay in foreign countries. As of a result of her international travels, she became fluent in French, Spanish, Italian, Arabic, and Fanti.
5. Angelou has received over thirty honorary degrees. As previously noted, Maya spends quite a bit of her time at college institutions. She has been given more than 30 honorary degrees from colleges and universities all over the world.