Poets

Maya Angelou (1928-2014) was an American poet, memoirist, and civil rights activist. She was born Marguerite Annie Johnson in St. Louis, Missouri and spent much of her childhood in Stamps, Arkansas. She experienced trauma early in life when she was raped at the age of 7 by her mother's boyfriend, who was subsequently killed by her uncles. Angelou was so traumatized by the incident that she became mute for several years, using writing as a form of self-expression.

Angelou eventually moved to San Francisco, California, where she began performing in the arts scene and joined the civil rights movement. She worked with both Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, and her activism inspired much of her later writing.

Angelou's first memoir, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, was published in 1969 and became a best-seller. The book is a coming-of-age story that explores Angelou's childhood experiences and the racism and sexism she faced throughout her life. It is widely regarded as a classic of African-American literature.

Over the course of her career, Angelou published several more memoirs, as well as poetry collections and essays. Her writing often addressed issues of race, identity, and social injustice, and her powerful and inspiring words resonated with readers around the world.

In addition to her writing, Angelou was also a talented singer and actress. She appeared in several films and television shows, and she was nominated for a Tony Award for her performance in..