Maya Angelou

Source: AARP.org

Maya Angelou, one of the great voices of contemporary literature, is a remarkable Renaissance woman.  She has more than a dozen best-selling books, including the first volume of her autobiography, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.  Her most recent book is Letter to My Daughter, dedicated to the daughter she never had but sees all around her.  Born in St. Louis, Angelou and her brother were raised by in Stamps, Ark., by their grandmother, who owned a general store.   She later studied dance and drama, and went on to a theater career.  She holds a lifetime position as the first Reynolds Professor of American Studies at Wake Forest University.