Maya Angelou, Heritage Owl Spotlight

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Maya Angelou was an American poet, singer, memoirist, and civil rights activist. She was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and raised in Stamps, Arkansas. She is best known for her seven autobiographical books, including "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings", which is considered a modern classic of African-American literature.

Angelou was also a successful performer, actor, and singer, and appeared in several films, television shows, and stage productions. She was also a respected civil rights activist and worked with Martin Luther King Jr. in the 1960s.

In addition to her personal achievements, Angelou was also an influential figure in the world of literature, known for her powerful and lyrical writing that celebrated the human spirit and spoke to the experiences of African Americans. She received numerous awards and honors for her work, including the National Medal of Arts in 2000 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011.

Angelou's legacy continues to inspire people around the world with her message of hope, resilience, and the power of the human spirit to overcome adversity.

She famously said: "Won't it be wonderful when black history and native American history and Jewish history and all of U.S. history is taught from one book. Just U.S. history".

In 2022, a new U S quarter featuring the late Maya Angelou goes into circulation, making the legendary poet and activist the first Black woman ever to appear on a U.S. coin.