Maynard first became interested in journalism when, after a fire destroyed the elementary school she once attended, she was unhappy with the portrayal of her community in the coverage by the news media.

[1] During her first few years at The New York Times, Maynard covered important race-related stories such as race riots and Columbia and Cornell University black student takeovers, as well as politically significant events like a memorial for Robert F. Kennedy.

Among her other story topics were the Medicare system, an explanation of the arrangement of whiskers on a lion's face, and coverage of the Apollo program.

The Oakland Tribune became the first and, at the time of Maynard's death, the only major metropolitan daily newspaper to be owned by African Americans.

[3] Maynard, who made her home with partner Jay T. Harris in Santa Monica, California, died at UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles in 2008 at the age of 61, after an extended illness.