Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou (1928-2014) was an American poet, memoirist, actress, and civil rights activist best known for her groundbreaking 1969 memoir I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, which became the first nonfiction bestseller by a Black woman. Her powerful autobiographical works explored themes of racial, economic, and sexual oppression, while her famous poems like 'Still I Rise' and 'On the Pulse of Morning' (recited at President Clinton's 1993 inauguration) inspired generations of readers. She was a multitalented performer and world-renowned literary figure who published seven autobiographies throughout her career.