Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou was a renowned American poet, memoirist, and civil rights activist. Born Marguerite Annie Johnson, she rose to international prominence with her first autobiography, 'I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings' (1969). Over her prolific career, she published seven autobiographies, three books of essays, and several volumes of poetry, while also working as an actress, director, and educator. She was a prominent figure in the Civil Rights Movement and served as the Reynolds Professor of American Studies at Wake Forest University.