Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou was an American poet, author, and civil rights activist. She was born in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1928. She wrote the famous autobiography I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. Her words have inspired millions of people around the world.

Early Life

Angelou had a difficult childhood. She was raised by her grandmother in Arkansas. She stopped speaking for nearly five years after a traumatic event. She found her voice through reading, writing, and performing.

Big Achievements

Angelou wrote seven autobiographies and many books of poetry. She read her poem On the Pulse of Morning at President Clinton's inauguration. She received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. She was a professor, actress, singer, and dancer. She showed that one person can do many great things.

Fun Facts

• Angelou did not speak for almost five years as a child but went on to become one of the greatest speakers in America.
• She was a streetcar conductor in San Francisco at age 16, the first Black woman to hold that job.
• She spoke six languages.

Did You Know?

Angelou's most famous work, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, tells the story of her childhood. The title comes from a poem by Paul Laurence Dunbar. The book has been used in schools around the world to teach about resilience.