Black History Live

Maya Angelou

Actor and scholar Becky Stone portrayed Maya Angelou in presentations in Canon City, Pueblo, Littleton, Colorado Springs, Denver, Glenwood Springs, Rifle, Aurora, and Longmont for our Black History Live tour February 18 – 28, 2019. This living history portrayal gave insight into how Dr. Angelou wrote and why, and reflect on her philosophy of life, which included a strong belief in the power of words.

Maya Angelou was born April 4, 1928 in St. Louis, Missouri. Dr. Angelou published seven autobiographies, three books of essays, several books of poetry, and many plays, movies, and television shows in a celebrated career spanning over 50 years. Her autobiography I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings tells of her life up to the age of 17 and brought her international recognition and acclaim and a National Book Award upon its publication in 1969.  Hailed as a new kind of memoirist, Angelou was one of the first African-American women to publicly discuss her personal life. She was respected as a spokesperson for black people and women, and her work has been considered a defense of black culture and is taught in schools and universities worldwide.

We’re all about the conversation here at Colorado Humanities. Performances are followed with question and answer with Maya Angelou and then with Becky Stone. Almost all are free, thanks to our partners and sponsors, unless otherwise noted.

To plan next year’s program at your college, school or library, please contact Program Coordinator Gina Huett at ghuett@coloradohumanities.org or 303.894.7951 x13.

Black History in Action

For our 2017 Black History Live tour, Becky Stone portrayed Harriet Tubman, showing audiences how one woman became an abolitionist who led hundreds of slaves to freedom on the Underground Railroad, a Union spy during the American Civil War, and one of America’s most beloved humanitarians.