Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou overcame a troubled childhood marked by racism, abandonment, and violence to become one of Americas most beloved writers. Growing up in the segregated south, Maya experienced the harsh realities of discrimination. As an adult, she dedicated herself to the fight for civil rights. Today, her voice represents people from all walks of life. From her breakthrough autobiography I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings to On the Pulse of Morning, the poem she wrote for President Bill Clintons 1993 inauguration, Mayas writings have moved and inspired people around the world.