During World War II, Angelou moved to San Francisco, California There she won a scholarship to study dance and acting at the California Labor School Also during this time, Angelou became theOct 11, · Maya Angelou was an American author, Angelou became the first Black female cable car conductor — a job she held only briefly — in San Francisco Maya Angelou (b 1928), began her career as a dancer and writer 1957 portrait dressed for her part in the Caribbean Calypso FestivalFeb 19, 21 · Soon after, Maya and her brother moved with their mother to California where Maya finished high school, gave birth to her only son at the age of 17, and became San Francisco's first Black female cable car conductor In the 1940s, she worked as a singer and a dancer, as a cook, and as a prostitute for both men and women Maya Angelou Is Born World History Project Maya angelou cable car conductor