Maya Angelou was an American poet, memoirist, and civil rights activist. She is best known for her autobiographical works, such as I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, which made her the first African-American woman to have a nonfiction bestseller.
Maya Angelou was an American memoirist, essayist, poet, and civil rights activist. She published seven autobiographies, three books of essays, several books of poetry, and is credited with a list of plays, movies, and television shows spanning over 50 years. She received dozens of awards and more than 50 honorary degrees. Angelou's series of seven autobiographies focus on her childhood and early adult experiences. The first, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969), tells of her life up to the age of 17 and brought her international recognition and acclaim.