Maya Angelou was a poet, memoirist, and civil rights activist whose work has become a symbol of resilience and the American experience. She rose to international fame with her 1969 memoir, 'I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,' which broke new ground as the first non-fiction bestseller by an African American woman. Her poetry, such as 'Still I Rise' and 'Phenomenal Woman,' celebrates Black beauty, female strength, and the triumph over adversity. Angelou was a close associate of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, and her activism was deeply intertwined with her writing. In 1993, she became the first female poet to recite a poem, 'On the Pulse of Morning,' at a U.S. Presidential Inauguration (for Bill Clinton). Her lyrical voice and profound wisdom earned her over 50 honorary degrees and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.