4. Maya Angelou (1928 – 2014)
Maya Angelou had a diverse career spanning over five decades. Angelou was first a singer and dancer, who became a journalist and impactful civil rights activist, finally becoming a memoirist, author, poet and screenwriter. In 1993, during President Bill Clinton’s presidency, Angelou recited “On the Pulse of Morning” and became the first African American and female poet to participate in a U.S. president’s inauguration. Angelou’s poetry often depicted Black beauty, women’s strength, Black survival, and protests.
