Maya Angelou’s work has shaped generations. The poet, author, and civil rights activist was born in 1928 in St. Louis, Missouri, as Marguerite Ann Johnson. For Angelou — a name adapted from the surname of her former husband Anastasios Angelopulos — words held a very personal significance. She endured sexual abuse as a child, a traumatic experience that left her mute for years until she found her voice through writing. Her most famous work, her 1969 autobiography I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, became a literary touchpoint and achieved monumental success as the first nonfiction bestseller by an African American woman. The book details her difficult early life and her resilience in the face of adversity; its candid portrayal of abuse, trauma, race, and survival resonated deeply, inspiring a generation of not only writers, but also activists. 

Angelou herself was a prominent figure in America’s Civil Rights Movement, working alongside Martin Luther King Jr. to organize and support nonviolent resistance through the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. While her influence also extended into theater, performance, film, and television, her writing remains her most prominent voice. Renowned for its empowerment of African American women, its emotional directness, and its candid explorations of the human experience, Angelou’s writing has become synonymous with wisdom and resilience. She published six more autobiographies after I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, several collections of poetry including the Pulitzer Prize-nominated Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water ‘fore I Diiie, three essay collections, and many more impactful works. 

In 1993, Angelou was invited to recite a poem at President Bill Clinton’s inauguration; in 1994, a recording of the poem, titled “On the Pulse of Morning,” won her the Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album. It was one of many awards and honors Angelou received throughout her career, including the 2010 Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the U.S., which was bestowed by President Barack Obama for the many civic and cultural contributions she made in her life. She continued to write until her death in 2014 at age 86.