Maya Angelou Filmography

Tyler Perry's Madea's Family Reunion

Actors: Tyler Perry, Blair Underwood, Lynn Whitfield, Boris Kodjoe, Henry Simmons

Synopsis: Actor and playwright Tyler Perry returns as Madea, a brash but loving African-American grandmother with her own way of doing things in this screen adaptation of his popular stage comedy drama. Madea has her work cut out for her when she finds herself dealing with a handful of family crises the Read More

The Ballad of Greenwich Village

Synopsis: Ever since the 1850s, Greenwich Village has been the center of New York City's (and perhaps America's) creative and bohemian community; long a bastion of artists, authors, radicals and free-thinkers, Greenwich Village was a community where outsiders of various stripes would be welcomed with open Read More

Sisters in Cinema

The Living Edens: Madagascar - A World Apart

Synopsis: Journey to Madagascar, one of the most exotic places on earth. Created by world-acclaimed natural history filmmakers, this video's state-of-the-art cinematography transports the viewer to an extraordinary island paradise. Located about 300 miles east of southern Africa, across the Mozambique Read More

Down in the Delta

Crew: Director

Actors: Alfre Woodard, Al Freeman, Jr., Mary Alice, Esther Rolle, Loretta Devine

Synopsis: Poet Maya Angelou made her feature directorial debut with this African-American family drama, shown theatrically but originally produced for the Showtime cable network. Unemployed single mother Loretta (Alfre Woodward) lives with her mother, Rosa Lynn (Mary Alice), in a Chicago apartment. Drugs Read More

Bobby Jones: Just Churchin

Sesame Street: Get Up and Dance

Actors: Garth Brooks, Rosie O'Donnell, Maya Angelou

Synopsis: If you're looking for a gentle video to entertain your preschooler quietly, this is NOT it! Sesame Street: Get Up and Dance is an all-star musical dance-a-bration! Kids will need lots of space to dance the "I'm a Little Airplane," "Birdland Jump," "Do the Dog," "Do the Jelly," "Cat Had a Read More

Best of the Chris Rock Show

Synopsis: Chris Rock's on-the-edge comedy style has made his HBO comedy series a fan favorite. This video collects highlights from The Chris Rock Show, as Chris petitions to have Cross Bay Boulevard (in a primarily white neighborhood) re-named "Tupac Shakur Boulevard;" introduces "The Rules," as presented Read More

Images & Realities: African American Women

Synopsis: This documentary explores the accomplishments and inspirations of African-American women and examines some of the issues they face in contemporary society. The program, hosted by actresses Queen Latifah and Halle Berry, discusses women's efforts to balance work and family, deal with economic Read More

Issues in Women's Studies: Ndebele - Women and Art

America's Dream

Crew: Short Story Author

Actors: Danny Glover, Wesley Snipes

Synopsis: Made especially for the HBO cable network, this well-wrought feature is comprised of three short stories by three noted black American authors, each of which is directed by a respected black director. The first tale, Long Black Song, was written by Richard Wright and is set in Alabama, 1938. It Read More

Sesame Street: Elmo Saves Christmas

Synopsis: When is Christmas too much of a good thing? When Elmo gets his wish and suddenly every single day is Christmas! In this fun family video, Elmo makes new reindeer friends and learns important lessons about the Christmas holiday (including why it's best celebrated only once each year!). ~ Mark Read More

How to Make an American Quilt

Actors: Winona Ryder, Anne Bancroft, Maya Angelou, Ellen Burstyn, Kate Nelligan, Jean Simmons

Synopsis: A young woman at a crossroads in her life finds herself receiving plenty of advice from her older and wiser counterparts in this drama. Finn Dodd (Winona Ryder) is a graduate student trying to finish up her doctoral thesis on women's folk art while deciding if she should marry her fiancé Sam (Dermot Mulroney Read More

The Gospel According to Jesus

Synopsis: This program is designed to take viewers on a spititual journey. The Gospel According to Jesus features a video montage of the enduring state of Jesus' teachings in America today. Includes discussions by everyday people on topics such as the parables, a showcase of poetry, readings from the Read More

Touched By an Angel: Reunion

Synopsis: Maya Angelou is more or less typecast as celebrated poet Clarice Mitchell, the mother of Sam Mitchell (Michael Beach) and godmother of HIV-positive Megan Brooks (played by singer Natalie Cole). A lifelong friend and admirer of Megan, Sam valiantly disregards her illness and proposes Read More

By River, By Rail: History of the Black Migration

Synopsis: Poet Maya Angelou authored the successful book I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings in 1979, and received a 1993 Grammy for Best Spoken Word Recording for her work entitled {^On the Pulse of the Morning}. During this program, Angelou, NAACP President Kweisi Mfume, and other distinguished Read More

Poetic Justice

Actors: Billy Zane, Janet Jackson, Tupac Shakur, Regina King, Joe Torry, Tyra Ferrell

Synopsis: R&B star Janet Jackson made an impressive film debut in Poetic Justice as Justice, a hairdresser at a small salon in South Central Los Angeles. Justice uses her poetry to deal with her grief after her boyfriend is killed in a shooting incident at a drive-in. Hired to work at a hair stylists' event Read More

The Ebony/Jet Guide to Black Excellence: The Entertainers

Synopsis: Children need positive role models to understand the values and perseverance necessary to be successful in today's world. The Ebony/Jet Guide to Black Excellence series is a project designed to educate young African-Americans about leaders they can look up to. Ebony/Jet Guide to Black Excellence Read More

Sister, Sister

Crew: Screenwriter

Synopsis: Maya Angelou may be eminently qualified for her position as America's poet laureate, but her skills as a scriptwriter areat play in Sister Sister. Diahann Carroll plays a Southern schoolteacher who lives in the large house willed to her by her pullman-porter father; here she takes care of younger Read More

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

Crew: Book Author

Actors: Diahann Carroll, Ruby Dee, Esther Rolle, Madge Sinclair

Synopsis: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is based on the writings of African-American poet/playwright Maya Angelou. Though she eventually became America's poet laureate, Angelou was once just another little black girl growing up in Depression-era Arkansas. Her efforts to better herself run up against the Read More

The Richard Pryor Special?

Actors: Richard Pryor

Georgia, Georgia

Crew: Book Author, Screenwriter, Songwriter

Actors: Andrew Bates Jr., James Thomas Finlay, Jr., Randolph Henry, Artie Sheppard, Beatrice Wendin

Synopsis: Diana Sands stars in the provocative romantic drama Georgia, Georgia. While performing in Sweden, black singer Georgia (Diana Sands) falls in love with white photographer Michael Winters (Dirk Benedict). The issue of miscegenation weighs heavily upon the proceedings, though it is Georgia's black Read More

For Love of Ivy

Crew: Songwriter

Actors: Sidney Poitier, Abbey Lincoln, Beau Bridges, Nan Martin, Lauri Peters

Synopsis: When it was released in 1968, For Love of Ivy was the first mainstream Hollywood film to depict a mature romantic relationship between a black man and woman. Sidney Poitier stars as Jack Parks, a trucking executive who runs an illegal travelling casino out of one of his vehicles. Abbey Lincoln Read More

Calypso Heat Wave

Actors: Alan Arkin, Johnny Desmond, Merry Anders, Meg Myles, Paul Langton, Joel Grey

Synopsis: This lively musical was made to capitalize on the popularity of calypso music and features some excellent production numbers. It all begins when a jukebox magnate tries to force his way into a record company. They succeed and this angers the labels biggest star, who doesn't want to change his Read More