1970 - "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" is published. It is later broadcast on national television in 1979, with a script and musical score written by Angelou.
1972 - Nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for "Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water 'fore I Diiie."
1972 - Becomes the first African-American woman to have an original screenplay produced as a movie for "Georgia, Georgia."
1975 - Appointed to the Bicentennial Commission by President Gerald Ford.
1975-1976 - Member of National Commission on the Observance of International Women's Year.
1977 - Appears in the television mini-series "Roots."
1981 - Appointed lifetime chair as Reynolds Professor of American Studies at Wake Forest University.
January 20, 1993 - Recites her poem "On the Pulse of Morning" at the inauguration of Bill Clinton, becoming the second poet to participate in a president's inauguration after Robert Frost read at President John F. Kennedy's 1961 ceremony.
February 1993 - Wins Grammy for Best Spoken Word or Non-Musical Album for "On The Pulse Of Morning."
March 1995 - Wins Grammy for Best Spoken Word or Non-Musical Album for "Phenomenal Woman."
October 16, 1995 - Recites poem "From a Black Woman to a Black Man" at the Million Man March in Washington.
1998 - Film directorial debut for "Down in the Delta."
2000 - Receives the National Medal of Arts.
February 2002 - Wins Grammy for Best Spoken Word Album for "A Song Flung Up To Heaven."
2006-2010 - Hosts a weekly show for Oprah Radio on Sirius XM Radio, formerly XM radio's "Oprah and Friends."
January 21, 2008 - Is the keynote speaker for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration at Virginia Tech.
February 15, 2011 - Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama.
August 30, 2011 - Angelou is critical of the new Martin Luther King Jr. memorial on the Mall in Washington, DC. She says the paraphrased quote about King being a drum major for peace, justice and righteousness makes him sound like an "arrogant twit." Federal officials later announce that the controversial inscription will be removed.
2013 - Her eighth autobiographical book, "Mom & Me & Mom", a tribute to her mother and grandmother, is published.