Maya Angelou, celebrated poet, memoirist, and civil rights activist, passed away at the age of 86.
Born in 1928, Angelou rose from a childhood marked by trauma and racism to become one of the most powerful literary voices of the 20th century. Her groundbreaking 1969 memoir I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings redefined autobiography, exploring themes of Black identity, womanhood, trauma, and survival.
Angelou’s work spanned poetry, memoir, theatre, film, and public service. She was a confidante of Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, recited at President Clinton’s inauguration, and became a symbol of resilience for generations.
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said,
people will forget what you did,
but people will never forget how you made them feel.” — Maya Angelou
