Get a Glimpse of Maya Angelou's Days as a Calypso Singer in a New Documentary

"Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise" chronicles the famed author's remarkable beyond her time as a respected poet and essayist. Directed by Bob Hercules and Rita Coburn Whack, the documentary explores her rise to prominence.

In a new clip from the film, Actress Diahann Carroll recalls going to see Angelou perform in the late 50s. Angelou was a gifted performer then known as Miss Calypso. She released an album of the same name in 1957.

Shots of Angelou singing and dancing in barefeet are shown between interviews with Carroll and Don Martin, who danced with her.

These moments are so important to see. They remind us of Mother Maya's humanity. While she will be remembered forever for her literary feats, she lived a full and diverse life.

The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, and is not yet slated for wide release. But if you're in Washington, DC. You can catch a screening at the AFI Docs Film Festival from June 22-26.

Watch below.

documentaries Dr. Maya Angelou