Maya Angelou  was an American poet, writer, and civil rights activist. She published seven autobiographies, three books of essays, and several books of poetry, and was credited with a list of plays, movies, and television shows.  She received dozens of awards and more than fifty honorary degrees.

Maya Angelou is best known for her series of seven autobiographies, which focus on her childhood and early adult experiences. The first, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969) published with the help of James Baldwin, tells of her life up to the age of seventeen. It brought her international recognition and acclaim. (Adapted from Wikipedia)

If you are viewing this post from email, you’ll likely have to click through to the site to view this wise and touching video presentation.

The photograph – Maya Angelou reading On the Pulse of Morning at the Clinton inauguration 1993 – is courtesy of The William J. Clinton Library and is in the public domain.