Maya Angelou
1928 – 2014 · United States
Known for: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, poet, civil rights activist
“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you”
Biography
Maya Angelou was an American memoirist, poet, and civil rights activist. She published seven autobiographies, three books of essays, several books of poetry, and is credited with a list of plays, movies, and television shows spanning over 50 years. She received dozens of awards and more than 50 honorary degrees.
Born Marguerite Annie Johnson in St. Louis, Missouri, Angelou had a difficult childhood marked by trauma and racism. Her first autobiography, "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" (1969), brought her international recognition and acclaim. The book tells of her life up to age 17 and is considered a classic of American literature.
Angelou was active in the Civil Rights Movement and worked with Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. She spoke six languages and worked as a journalist in Egypt and Ghana during the decolonization of Africa. As a poet, her works explored themes of identity, family, racism, and travel. She recited her poem "On the Pulse of Morning" at President Bill Clinton's inauguration in 1993, making her the first poet to make an inaugural recitation since Robert Frost at John F. Kennedy's inauguration in 1961.