As a single mother, Maya Angelou struggled to provide for her son. An opportunity to perform with Pearl Bailey would’ve meant a regular income and less time on the road, but unfortunately Maya was not given the job.
Features
PBS Previews: Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise
Clip | Dr. Maya Angelou On the Creative Writing Process
Clip | Louis Gossett Jr. shares a story about his great-grandmother
Clip | Making the Film
Clip | Learn why Bill Clinton invited Maya Angelou to speak at his inauguration
Clip | Explore the strong friendship between Maya Angelou and Malcolm X in Ghana
Clip | Hear how Maya Angelou met Tupac Shakur for the first time
Clip | Go behind the scenes with John Singleton
Explore Dr. Maya Angelou’s Life through her books
Clip | Learn why Maya Angelou signed with Porgy and Bess
Clip | See Maya Angelou’s early performances in the Bay Area
Clip | Behind the Scenes with Common, Rita Coburn-Whack & Maya Angelou
Clip | Maya Angelou on Teaching
Clip | Maya Angelou & James Baldwin
Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise - Trailer
Sundance Festival Announces Documentary Line-up, Including American Masters films
Maya Angelou: “Still I Rise”
In Memoriam: Maya Angelou
TRANSCRIPT
My mother had a chance to do the understudy in 'Hello Dolly' with Pearl Bailey.
as the lead. For my mother it would have meant living continuously in New York, without leaving me for at least a year. And it was regular money.
The director and the producer both loved her but Pearl Bailey came back and said 'Oh no, I ain't gonna have this big ol' ugly girl be my understudy.' There are very few times in my life that I remember my mother crying, because this meant she had to go back out on the road and find other work.
It was devastating because I knew all the sacrifices my mother made to keep me. 35 years later when Pearl Bailey was getting a Lifetime award, and they asked her, 'Who do you want to give it to you?' She said, 'Maya Angelou.' And guess who gave it to her, and never said a damn thing?
