Maya Angelou was an American poet, singer, memoirist, and civil rights activist. She is best known for her poem 'Still I Rise, ' which has become a cultural phenomenon. Angelou was born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1928 and died in 2014. She wrote seven autobiographies, three books of essays, several books of poetry, and was credited with a list of plays, movies, and television shows spanning over 50 years. Her work has been highly acclaimed and she has received numerous awards, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom.