Legendary Poet, Author and Civil Rights Activist Maya Angelou Dies at the age of 86

Maya Angelou, world-renowned poet, award winning author, civil rights activist and actress, died Wednesday morning. She was 86.

The author of the highly influential “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” was found dead in her Winston-Salem, N.C., home. Angelou, who was also known as “America’s Poet,” rose above her own early abuse to give voice to the oppressed and trumpeted justice, peace and equality through her writing, her acting, her singing and her life.

Some of the benchmarks in Angelou’s life included:

• Presidential Medal of Freedom

• Presidential Inaugural Poem “Still I Rise”

• Three-time Grammy winner

For more information about Angelou and her life, visit:

Remembering Maya

America’s Poet Laureate

“Still I Rise”