A poet, writer, civil rights activist and a feminist, Marguerite Annie Johnson was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on April 4, 1928. Fondly known as Maya Angelou, she is respected as a spokesperson for black people and women. Her works are considered a defence of black culture. She also had a fine taste in music and recorded her first album, Miss Calypso in 1957. Her music later inspired modern hip-hop singers like Kanye West, Common and Nicki Minaj.
She was active in the civil rights movement in the USA, along with Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. As a writer, her books centred mostly around racism, identity, family and travel. She is best known for her series of seven autobiographies, which focus on her childhood and adult experience. Her best-remembered works are I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings and On the Pulse of Morning.
She breathed her last on May 28th, 2014 in North Carolina. On her death anniversary, we bring to you some of her celebrated works:
Read the full poem here: Caged Bird
Read the full poem here: Phenomenal woman
Read the full poem here: Alone
Read the full poem here: Human Family
Read the full poem here: Still I Rise
