American Masters

Learn why Maya Angelou signed with Porgy and Bess

Clip: Season 31 Episode 2 | 57s

Dr. Maya Angelou started her career in singing and dancing and eventually signed a contract with Porgy and Bess in order to further her career. Learn more about her time with the company in this video.

Aired: 02/21/17

Rating: NR

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Major support for American Masters is provided by AARP. Additional funding is provided by Rosalind P. Walter, The Philip and Janice Levin Foundation, Judith and Burton Resnick, Ellen and James S. Marcus, Lillian Goldman Programming Endowment, The Blanche & Irving Laurie Foundation, Vital Projects Fund, Cheryl and Philip Milstein Family, The André and Elizabeth Kertész Foundation, Lenore Hecht Foundation, Michael & Helen Schaffer Foundation, and public television viewers.

More Extras From This Episode

Video thumbnail: American Masters Hear how Maya Angelou met Tupac Shakur for the first time

American Masters

Hear how Maya Angelou met Tupac Shakur for the first time

Without realizing it, Maya Angelou met Tupac Shakur.

Clip: S31 Ep2 | 1m 52s

Hear how Maya Angelou met Tupac Shakur for the first time

Clip: S31 Ep2 | 1m 52s

Video thumbnail: American Masters Maya Angelou & James Baldwin

American Masters

Maya Angelou & James Baldwin

“Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise” Film Excerpt: Maya Angelou & James Baldwin

Clip: S31 Ep2 | 1m 30s

Maya Angelou & James Baldwin

Clip: S31 Ep2 | 1m 30s

Video thumbnail: American Masters Listen to Dr. Maya Angelou's take on creative writing

American Masters

Listen to Dr. Maya Angelou's take on creative writing

Dr. Maya Angelou describes the challenges she faced as a writer.

Clip: S31 Ep2 | 49s

Listen to Dr. Maya Angelou's take on creative writing

Clip: S31 Ep2 | 49s

Video thumbnail: American Masters Dr. Angelou's inauguration poem for President Bill Clinton

American Masters

Dr. Angelou's inauguration poem for President Bill Clinton

Bill Clinton decided to have a poet read at his inauguration: Dr. Maya Angelou.

Clip: S31 Ep2 | 2m 10s

Dr. Angelou's inauguration poem for President Bill Clinton

Clip: S31 Ep2 | 2m 10s

Video thumbnail: American Masters Learn about Norman Lear's friendship with Dr. Maya Angelou

American Masters

Learn about Norman Lear's friendship with Dr. Maya Angelou

Learn how Norman Lear struck up a friendship with Dr. Maya Angelou.

Clip: S31 Ep2 | 2m 2s

Learn about Norman Lear's friendship with Dr. Maya Angelou

Clip: S31 Ep2 | 2m 2s

Video thumbnail: American Masters Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise - Trailer

American Masters

Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise - Trailer

Maya Angelou gave people the freedom to think about their history in a way they never had.

Preview: S31 Ep2 | 2m 38s

Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise - Trailer

Preview: S31 Ep2 | 2m 38s

Video thumbnail: American Masters Behind the Scenes: Common, Rita Coburn-Whack & Maya Angelou

American Masters

Behind the Scenes: Common, Rita Coburn-Whack & Maya Angelou

Rita Coburn-Whack originally introduced Maya Angelou and Common.

Clip: S31 Ep2 | 1m 37s

Behind the Scenes: Common, Rita Coburn-Whack & Maya Angelou

Clip: S31 Ep2 | 1m 37s

Video thumbnail: American Masters Go behind the scenes with John Singleton

American Masters

Go behind the scenes with John Singleton

John Singleton shares why he believes Dr. Angelou's story is so important.

Clip: S31 Ep2 | 1m 30s

Go behind the scenes with John Singleton

Clip: S31 Ep2 | 1m 30s

Video thumbnail: American Masters See Maya Angelou's early performances in the Bay Area

American Masters

See Maya Angelou's early performances in the Bay Area

Maya Angelou transitioned from dancing to singing early in her career.

Clip: S31 Ep2 | 59s

See Maya Angelou's early performances in the Bay Area

Clip: S31 Ep2 | 59s

Video thumbnail: American Masters Maya Angelou's missed opportunity to work with Pearl Bailey

American Masters

Maya Angelou's missed opportunity to work with Pearl Bailey

Maya Angelou nearly had an opportunity early in her career to work with Pearl Bailey.

Clip: S31 Ep2 | 1m 26s

Maya Angelou's missed opportunity to work with Pearl Bailey

Clip: S31 Ep2 | 1m 26s

Video thumbnail: American Masters Dr. Maya Angelou's Inspiration and Poetry

American Masters

Dr. Maya Angelou's Inspiration and Poetry

Learn how Dr. Maya Angelou began writing and reading poetry as a child.

Clip: S31 Ep2 | 3m 53s

Dr. Maya Angelou's Inspiration and Poetry

Clip: S31 Ep2 | 3m 53s

Video thumbnail: American Masters PBS Previews: Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise

American Masters

PBS Previews: Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise

A behind-the-scenes look at American Masters - Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise

Preview: S31 Ep2 | 2m

PBS Previews: Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise

Preview: S31 Ep2 | 2m

Video thumbnail: American Masters Explore the friendship between Maya Angelou and Malcolm X

American Masters

Explore the friendship between Maya Angelou and Malcolm X

While Maya Angelou was living in Ghana, she met and began working with Malcolm X.

Clip: S31 Ep2 | 2m 4s

Explore the friendship between Maya Angelou and Malcolm X

Clip: S31 Ep2 | 2m 4s

Video thumbnail: American Masters Maya Angelou On Teaching

American Masters

Maya Angelou On Teaching

Maya Angelou speaks about her work as a teacher and what she shares with her students.

Clip: S31 Ep2 | 2m 13s

Maya Angelou On Teaching

Clip: S31 Ep2 | 2m 13s

Video thumbnail: American Masters Louis Gossett Jr. shares a story about his great-grandmother

American Masters

Louis Gossett Jr. shares a story about his great-grandmother

Louis Gossett Jr. shares a story about his great-grandmother.

Clip: S31 Ep2 | 32s

Louis Gossett Jr. shares a story about his great-grandmother

Clip: S31 Ep2 | 32s

Video thumbnail: American Masters See Behind the Scenes of Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise

American Masters

See Behind the Scenes of Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise

Bob Hercules and Rita Coburn-Whack share the inspiration and process behind their film.

Clip: S31 Ep2 | 3m 57s

See Behind the Scenes of Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise

Clip: S31 Ep2 | 3m 57s

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