Maya Angelou (1928-2014)

One of America's leading literary voices, she made her name with the 1969 memoir I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.
It was the first of seven volumes of autobiography that traced her life from a childhood of abuse and oppression in the Deep South in the 1930s.
Her family said: "She lived a life as a teacher, activist, artist and human being. She was a warrior for equality, tolerance and peace."She was also a prominent civil rights activist and a friend of Martin Luther King and Malcolm X.Her poem On the Pulse of the Morning, written for US President Bill Clinton's first inauguration, struck a nerve with the nation and sold more than a million copies in the US.The National Medal of Arts and the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the country's highest civilian award, were among her honours.
 
Continuing to act as well as write, she appeared in the groundbreaking 1977 TV drama Roots and earned a Tony Award nomination in 1973 for her performance in the play Look Away.
 
RIP MAYA AND MY YOUR GOD GO WITH YOU WHO EVER IT IS
 
Stox

Seems al. the greats are dying this year - very sad

yes it does. She was a bit of a hero to me too. but i guess it comes to us all in the end? great Lady in my own view and well worth it to read her books too..

I've only read I Know Now Why the Caged Bird Sings of her works but it's well reading for anyone who hasn't had the pleasure. RIP.